I'm embarressed to ask...restaurant question

On 3 Jul 2004 16:32:00 -0700, [email hidden] (janos

petrik) said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

No.

Quoted message said:

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

No.

Quoted message said:

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff
members reply?

Why? There are plenty of people here who dine alone and are
quite capable of telling you there's no special etiquette
involved or required.

It's not a like a cruise or bundled vacation where the
prices are per person, double occupancy.

-sw

janos petrik said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

Don't think twice about it. I see people eating by
themselves all the time. Just make sure they don't sit you
by the kitchen or something, you have every right to be
there. Let us know how it goes?

nancy

janos petrik said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

Do not be embarrassed; there is no shame in dining alone!

One thing I would recommend, having run into this situation
on a couple of occasions, is this: if there is a party to be
seated in line ahead of you, stand back at a distance.
Sometimes the host/hostess will mistakenly think you are
with the other party. This *can* cause some awkwardness.

But no, heck no, go eat by yourself. Enjoy your food. Take a
book or just take in the surroundings. Don't worry about
what other people may think, and certainly do NOT worry
about what the wait staff may think. They are paid to make
*you* comfortable, not the other way around. Enjoy! Life is
too short!

Jill

On 3 Jul 2004 16:32:00 -0700, [email hidden] (janos petrik)

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Nothing special to being alone.

You might want to try going earlier or later than the rush
hour if that's convenient for you.

Sue(tm) Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

[email hidden] (janos petrik) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

I'm not comfortable dining alone myself. But most if not all
restaurants will allow single dinners. The only etiquitte
invovled is if reservations are required then you must state
part of one.

--
Once during Prohibition I was forced to live for days on
nothing but food and water.
--------
FIELDS, W. C.

janos petrik said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

There is no need to call ahead of the place does not require
reservations. Lots of people dine alone in restaurants.

Not only is there no shame in dining alone, it is one of
life's pleasures. I adore sitting to an excellent meal with
my own company watching everything that goes on in a
restaurant, glancing at my book if I feel like it and not
feeling obligated to amuse someone else. I don't do this
often enough.

Every now and then, you will run into a restaurant staff
that has a problem with this. They might give you the worst
seat in the house. They might seat other parties first and
give the single diner the leftovers. The one that drives me
crazy is when the server or restaurant owner gets it into
their head that I'm dying for company and won't leave me
alone obviously thinking that I want them to amuse me. I
don't go back any place where I get bad service.

--Lia

janos petrik said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

On 3 Jul 2004 16:32:00 -0700, [email hidden] (janos petrik)

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

I often go to a restaurant on my own, fine or otherwise and
have never had any problems in recent years. The last
problem encountered was about 1976 in Scotland. I took an
elderly aunt to dinner at the main eatery in Perth. She was
thrilled, they were not sure about two unescorted women
dining there. They tolerated it until I ordered a Remy
Martin with my coffee, then they refused to serve it to me!

I got it in the end, I told them I would refuse to pay my
bill if they would not serve me as a regular (man) customer
might be served.

It isn't silly to wonder. Do it with confidence, nowadays
any customer is welcome, it's your money that counts 🙂

Sheena

[email hidden] (janos petrik) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

There's absolutely no reason not to go alone. I see it
frequently. If the restaurant takes reservations, by all
means make one. Otherwise, just go and you'll be taken in
order. You may even be seated sooner since larger parties
often take longer to arrange seating. I've also seen single
diners reading a book to accompany their meal, even in
somewhat fashionable restaurants. I think most things are
acceptable today except truly bad behavior. Unfortunately, I
see that too.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.

"janos petrik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

Go and be happy; but you really need to make some friends.

janos petrik said:

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

You really shouldn't eat in a sit-down restaurant at all. A
fast-food place like McDonalds, sure, but not at a real
restaurant.

You are occupying a space that could and should be occupied
by two people. You are cutting in half the amount of profit
the restaurant owner makes. Not only that, you are cutting
in half the tips that the server person makes.

You obviously don't realize that nearly all restaurants
operate on the barest of thin profit margins. In fact, many
are not actually profitable, which accounts for restaurants
being universally the form of business with the highest
bankruptcy rate.

You obviously don't realize the restaurant service person
survives largely on tips. If her tips are cut in half, she
can't make the rent or the phone bill. You might be able to
afford to spend $20 on a small block of cheese (and then cut
a quarter of it away as rind and throw it in the trash), but
for your restaurant service person that might be an
evening's wages.

A selfish person like you doesn't deserve to eat in a
restaurant. After eating your tiny one-serving meal, you'll
probably proceed to pull out a cigar and stink up the place
for everybody else. People like you make me sick. Hope this
helps! :-)

"janos petrik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

You can request a table for two. Make sure they leave two
menus. To make yourself look less conspicuous, carry on a
conversation with your invisible friend. Order for "both" of
you when the waiter comes. At the end, tell your "friend"
you had a wonderful meal and urge him to leave a big tip
when he pays the bill.

"janos petrik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

I dine alone a few times a week, for various reasons and
never thought twice about it. I like both eating on my own
and with others equally. Give it a try. And don't worry, no
one will be paying any attention and you'll probably see
other single diners around you.

Suzan

One dark day on Usenet said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

I don't work at a restaurant, but here's my opinion anyway:

Although I have a family at home, I love to eat out on my
own at times (it's much quieter that way). I usually take a
book. It never occured to me to ask the staff if that was
okay -- a single person's money spends just as well as
anyone else. If they don't require reservations, I can't see
how your being alone would matter. But it's nice of you to
think of how it might affect them...

--
J.J. in WA ~ mom, vid gamer, novice cook ~ (COLD to HOT for
e-mail) "Why do my knees feel like the wanna tear up?"
- Carl, ATHF

[email hidden] (janos petrik) got [censored] and typed
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

Dining alone is fine. I do it frequently and most of the
time enjoy it. I take a book, read and enjoy the food. AFAIK
no special reservations etc. are required. I've never made
them. Just go and enjoy your lunch or dinner. Single diners
are no longer a sin 😉

Michael

--
Deathbed statement...

"Codeine . . . bourbon." ~~Tallulah Bankhead, actress, d.
December 12, 1968

janos petrik said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

Why woulnd't a restaurant accomodate single diners? I have
dined alone many a time. Its no big deal.

Quoted message said:

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

Yes. Don't spit up your food or talk to yourself.

Go and enjoy a meal at that restaurant by yourself if you
can't find anyone else who wants to try it. Restaurants are
in business to serve people good food. The fact that you
dine alone is irrelevant. Bring a book or something to read
if you want.

"janos petrik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

Don't. Eating dinner alone does not make you a social
outcast.

Quoted message said:

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

No shirt, no shoes, no service. Pants on the other hand ...

Quoted message said:

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Just go and have a good time. If you find that your "booth"
is lined in white tile, I suggest you complain to management
immediately, however.

Paul

janos petrik said:

I've never gone to a restaurant alone. Should I call in
advance and ask if they accomodate single diners?

Of course not. Every decent restaurant accomodates
single diners.

Quoted message said:

There's a new restaurant that I'd I'd like to try that
doesn't require reservations for lunch, but the truth is
that I'm not comfortable going to a fine restaurant by
myself. Is there some kind of etiquitte involved?

No, none at all. That's assuming you have decent table
manners of course LOL! You go in there and order what you
like and enjoy it.

Quoted message said:

Could any restaurant owners, managers, wait staff members
reply? I know it must sound silly to some, but it would
help me greatly.

Thanks all.

It's not silly. I've met some people who won't go into a
nice restaurant alone. But hey sometimes there just isn't
anyone else civilised to eat with.... Have fun!

hahabogus <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I'm not comfortable dining alone myself. But most if not
all restaurants will allow single dinners. The only
etiquitte invovled is if reservations are required then
you must state part of one.

OOOPS! that should read Party of One.

--
Once during Prohibition I was forced to live for days on
nothing but food and water.
--------
FIELDS, W. C.