I had an interesting conversation today at the falafel stand in Amsterdam with a guy from Paris. He had come to Amsterdam for the express purpose of buying a didgeridoo. Apparently there's a well-known retailer of said Australian instruments in Amsterdam. Who knew? I doubt I would have had that conversation if I were with someone else.

you gotta look at what's making you feel self-concious. Other people eating with friends and wondering why you're alone? Have you ever been out with friends and wondered why some guy was alone in the resteraunt/bar? I havent. I usually see someone eating alone and just thing...person. eating. Then I move along in my train of thought.
I've eaten alone in many many countries. The only place it felt odd was Tunisia, but that's because I didnt realize I was at an icecream shop and kept getting flustered when I would order a sandwhich and kept getting desserts.
That was awkward.
Anyway look at it this way, nobody cares so neither should you.

I never have a problem eating out alone. I do it on the road and I do it at home as well.You just need to stop caring what other people think.

I feel like this has already been posted elsewhere...

I learned to eat alone when traveling. Like Kathryn (hi!), I too write in my journal or write letters. You can also just enjoy the food and chill, which is nice; people-watch, dream, think.

In NYC I do eat out occasionally alone. I did a week or two ago (wanted this amazing dish before work and no one else wanted to go with me, poor them, lucky me, yum!) and wrote a letter while waiting for the food. Yum.

Oh, and if you want to know some of my fave NYC restaurants, send me a PM message and maybe you won't have to go alone! I'm always happy to host an out-of-towner!

Bright minds think alike. I shouldn't be surprised that all the responses here are positive for eating alone however....

In my "real life", the vast majority of people I know hate to eat alone in restaurants. So much in fact that if they know I'm heading out to eat alone they will offer to come with me even if they've already eaten or not hungry! I've had friends literaly BEG me to go eat with them cause they couldn't bear the thought of going alone. I might add that these people are in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

I do remember being uncomfortable with this years ago, when I first had the opportunity to do it. Now, I kind of like eating solo. I agree with the idea of bringing a book, magazine or journal in case you want something to do, but I often find that I don't read / write, I just watch the scene or chat with others. When eating alone, I'll often pick the bar because it seems less hassle, and sometimes you meet interesting people. I also like to get a sidewalk table and people watch. In cases where the place is packed, I'll sometimes recruit other singletons to share a table so we can get better service without killing the waitstaff.

I think that many of us were scarred by the school cafeteria, where eating alone meant you had no friends. But, we are big people now, and big folk eat alone when they are travelling, hungry at midnight, or when no one else wants falafel. Just relax and try it...solo dining gets easier real fast.

La

Oh yes, make me feel like a freak because I have problems with eating alone in a restaurant.
One time when I was in Mexico I went to this family run restaurant and after looking at the menu for 5 minutes I decided I didn't want to eat anything. The restaurant was empty and an old woman kept looking at me waiting for me to order. I felt guilty so I ordered something and I got a huge plate full of extra spicy enchilladas or something, I started feeling dizzy after 2 bites but then I didn't want her to think that I didn't like her food so I ate everything and then had diarrhea for 3 days.
Maybe that's why I hate walking in to the restaurant alone, I feel pressured to eat or drink

Hey I'm 48 looking hard at 50 and I much prefer eating alone in restaurants. It gives me a chance to enjoy whatever local speciality I come across without interruption. It also gives me a chance to set up my foldable keyboard for my palm to write in my journal on a book or whatever i'm doing.

I love eating alone as well. You overhear some of the weirdest conversations ever.

Jacob, as other's have suggested, try to sit at the bar if there is one. Lots of solo diners in NYC, so don't worry about looking out of place.

If you like sushi at all, that's a very good place to eat alone. Sushi bars in Japanese restaurants see a lot of solo diners.

quote:

Originally posted by La Rosser:
I think that many of us were scarred by the school cafeteria, where eating alone meant you had no friends. But, we are big people now, and big folk eat alone when they are travelling, hungry at midnight, or when no one else wants falafel. Just relax and try it...solo dining gets easier real fast.

haha...Well said.


You've obviously overcome the hurdle of traveling alone -- something that is much more deserving of insecurity than eating alone. So, since you've overcome that, I'm sure you can get over this. And when you do, you'll see just how enjoyable it can be, for all the reasons previously listed.

I found the premise of this thread odd. I go to restaurants pretty much every day by myself and I'd say 95% of the movies I see I go to alone.

If I have the option of eating a good meal alone or not eating one, I'll go alone without thinking about it.

I definitely don’t like eating alone. After a bit of practice I got good at finding someone to eat with. It is not only the company during the meal it is also the stories you hear and in many cases the travel tips you get. The easiest to start a conversation is at the bar but it works in many other settings. Start the discussion from the bus, plane, boat, hotel….
In August I traveled alone10 days through Peru but I ate alone only 6 or 7 times. Out of 20 or so meals that is not bad.
In an empty restaurant, I actually walked right to another lonely tourist and asked them if they mind if I sit at the same table. That was unusual, and most of the time I try to eat in restaurants or bars where there is some action. Same restaurant, two days later I met this French girl traveling alone through South America for two months. Quite a story, left her job, bought a ticket to Sao Paolo and off she went.
In the spring I was in Dusseldorf for business, and being tired on a Sunday night far away from downtown, I have to admit eating alone in the hotel restaurant was the best option. Three weeks later in Netherlands in some middle of the nowhere place during the soccer world cup, eating at the bar I met a guy that was traveling the world making money out of photography. Nothing new but he was a professional photographer specializing in commercials for pharmaceuticals. Quite an interesting story about how many ways you can shoot pills.

Totally for meeting fellow travelers and hear their stories. Listening to travel stories from all over the world is priceless.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Not the first Travis:
Ah crap. I had no idea I was supposed to feel self-conscious eating alone in restaurants. Ever the fool, I guess. This must be why people are always pointing and staring and laughing at me in restaurants. Huh. Bit of a relief, really. I've always figured I had food stuck in my teeth or something.

Well with this post, I don't need to respond-but of course...drumroll.... Also I'm with Piecar and Braslvr.

When the teachers here were eating lunch at the college restaurant (we can't anymore), I sat with other people, or I didn't. The students that I had one day were laughing with eachother when I walked in the room and they were thrilled to pieces over something, I didn't know what. And then one student says. "You eat alone." They told me this means success. They got a real kick out of being around an American and having what they'd heard about culture differences confirmed. I told them, I don't know if it's an American thing. I just like eating alone.

One day I'm with other staff, "We thought you like to eat alone." This kind of stuff I dislike. Cuz I'm like, Yeah. I don't care. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't.

It's just a meal, plus you can what and where ever you want!

I like single diners when I'm waiting, much easier to deal with than a big group or couple entranced with other and too busy with that to order.

Eating alone...NOT a big problem.
1) Get to go where YOU want and try WHAT you want.
No arguments. I don't think there's much stigma to announcing "Table for one"

2)Will invite complete strangers to eat with me on occasion


3)splitting the check in a large group is always a pain in the ass. SOMEBODY always feels cheated

4)Yeah...eating/traveling alone can get lonely. I tend to chat up the wait staff a little too much when that happens.