Can you go out to eat by yourself

“I really like eating out for lunch by myself and do it often. One time I was waiting for a seat in a crowded restaurant when someone I knew came in to place a take-out order. When in the course of our chit-chatting she discovered that I was there to eat alone, she insisted on changing her plans and eating with me. She made a big, loud deal about "poor thing, eating by herself (me)" and how nobody should ever have to do that, and how it was no trouble she was happy to do such a favor for me. And on, and on. I was embarrassed and more than a little aggrivated that she had barged in on my lunch and wrecked my plans for solitude. Then I realized that she had probably been getting the order to go so she could take it back to her office and eat in private because she didn't have anyone to eat with and was embarrassed to eat by herself. She made such a big deal about feeling sorry for me because that was how she felt about herself.

I let her eat lunch with me. I hid my annoyance and displeasure and swallowed my disappointment at the intrusion, apparently pretty well because she didn't seem to realize she was intruding in any way. It was the first time it had ever even occurred to me that anybody would be uncomfortable eating alone.

I still prefer to eat lunch alone more often than not ¦ ) .”

“I usually eat breakfast and lunch alone at my desk at work. As far as going out to eat alone, I've done it when I was travelling for business. It's a little disconcerting, but I've gotten over that as I've gotten older. The biggest problem is if you have to go to the bathroom, when you get back to your table, it's been cleared. Happened to me more than once, even when I've told the waiter that's what I was doing.”

“Doesn't bother me at all to eat by myself. I get take-out & go off in a far corner every morning to eat by myself. My co-workers usually don't bother me until I finish.”

“Bit, I bring a book with me. When I have to use the facilities, I leave the book on the table. Never once had them clean up while I was preoccupied.”

“Yes I enjoy eating out alone from time to time. I also bring a book otherwise with no distracting conversation, I tend to eat fast and prefer to relax and linger. Of course the big upside is that no one raises an eyebrow when you order the biggest chocolate dessert and eat the whole thing! At least no one that matters.”

“I tried that with a newspaper once, didn't work. A book would probably work better, since you're unlikely to have left a book behind.

That's a better idea than my other one, which was to make a sign that said, "Don't clear this table, moron!" lol....”

“I eat out alone all the time. No biggie!! I usually take something to read, typically a magazine or two. And I people watch.

OK, am trying to think of the most unlikely place I've eaten by myself...

One would be a tavern in a Mississippi River town. They had such good pizza, an exboyfriend and I had discovered. I hated to not have it any more. So I would occasionally go in during the day, but not at night.

As far as nice places or "nice" places... I'll go to Olive Garden and sit by myself. Last time I did that was at a table in the bar area. In and out in about 1/2 hour. Plus carried out a second whole meal to go... LOL!

However, I guess I can say I haven't gone to our local supper club for a steak by myself. I have debated it, though....

NIGAL... Your potential thread was the first thought I had upon seeing this thread title... how long would it take for the obvious to appear.... LOL!!”

“About once a month I take myself out to lunch to a Sushi joint and sit at the bar or a table.
Most days I go alone to a cafeteria on campus and do a crossword puzzle while eating my el-cheapo soup and crackers.

When I was single I used to take myself out to dinner with the newspaper.

I like Gremlin's wine with lunch thing!

Nigal-Half of 69 is either a tongue-lashing or a BJ!”

“I do go to nice restaurants by myself, party of one doesn't phase me at all. Kinda like hutch said, I can order appetizer, meal, and drinks and who cares - I'm paying for it and I'm eating it, or boxing it up to take home. Sometimes I get a kick out of ordering whatever I want and saying to heck with the price.

Perhaps I'm stubborn about it because I used to have a friend who'd say, "let's go to the Anchor Inn and get a fish sandwich" ($5) and that's just what he meant. Never mind that I would have happily paid for my own meal or I the fact that I don't like fried seafood.

Once I went to a restaurant in Moosehead and this poor little old Italian guy didn't quite know what to do with me when I said "one." He disappeared after he seated me, and I had to laugh when the waittress finally got up the nerve to ask me some questions.”

“bit, the same thing happened to me one time. When I got back from the bathroom they had cleaned my table and already had a couple sitting there. Luckily I was just about finished with my meal but they gave it to me for free and also another meal for free the next time I came in.”

“They've never cleared off my spot. I usually leave a coat, magazine, something there. But if it means a free meal plus another, I say, clear it!!”

“It never occurred to me to think someone thought I was a loser when eating alone--now I will probably think it LOL

I seldom go the movies--once a year if that so it is a special occasion complete with a nice dinner with my boyfriend.”

“You are supposed to eat with other people?”

“I don't have any problem eating out alone. I'm not really good at small talk anyway.”

“Tom, that reminds me of the old classic joke,

What do you call a Chineese 69? Tucan Chu.

Why can'r Ms. Piggy count to 100? When she gets to 69 she gets a frog in her throat.

Yep, I'm easily entertained.”

“I do it almost daily/nightly.

I recently returned from the food bar of a truck stop (don't laugh, they have a better food/salad bar than Ryans, et al) to discover a couple had taken my table. I had yet to receive my beverage, so the table was still clear. That didn't bother me except that the nother table I had to settle for was out of view of the truck, wherein were the mutts. I guess the waitress must've said something to the folks, cuz the guy apologized later when we were at the buffet.

Belle and Giz are welcomed in a tavern where I often dine - so I don't ALWAYS eat alone. Great Italian and hot wings, BTW.

When I worked on the road in the 80's, waitresses were a primary source of... uh... "companionship".”

“The trick to meeting waitresses is to enter the restaurant 15 minutes before closing. That way, you're sitting there eating - and talking to them - while they're doing their closing duties. The mood is much more casual after hours...”

“How casual are we talking here? "On the countertop" casual?

I'm never eating at one of those places again, yuck...”

“now you know what those stains are”

“Say what?
The small talk would often be like:
"I'm here working at the YaddaYadda site. I'm from GA, and I'm soooooooo lonely here in this strange place. Yer phone number, please..."

Once a (motel) roommate-slash-coworker brought home a cutey that discreetly passed me her number before departing. We dated the entire six months we were in that town. Parting was not easy for either of us.”

“LMAO @ bitpusher!!”