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[Alienous]

I'd only ever do it if I was wearing a suit and was constantly looking at my phone.

 

[Dio]

I did this in college all the time. It really isn't a big deal. It's especially nice doing it at sushi places.

My roommate hates seafood anyway so I wouldn't get them to go even if I asked.

 

[amaretto]

I sometimes do it. It's nice to go to a semi-fancy place (my usual spot is Grand Lux Cafe), pick a spot at the bar, pop out out a book and just enjoy some wine and food. It's very relaxing.

I only do it on slow days (like Tuesday or whatever) and it's only during lunch, usually around 12-1. I'd never do it on a busy Saturday night.

 

[Tagyhag]

Wow came in to post this. Look gaf most of you are going to be alone the rest of your lifes anyway just get used to it and stop worrying about doing everything alone.

Lol damn it's not like anyone here is clowning on you for eating alone.

 

[tariniel]

I've gone to some movies alone, but never to a sit-down restaurant. I'm not against it really but I just prefer to eat at home to watch something. I'd probably just order the food as takeout.

 

[GatorBait]

I travel regularly for work, so I do it frequently. Do you expect me to get fast food when I have a generous expense budget? If given the choice, I'll usually sit at the bar, but I've taken a seat at a table before.

After I got over the initial awkwardness of it while traveling, I started doing it at home on occasion. Sometimes I want to try a restaurant that my friends can't/don't want to go to, and other times I want to eat something without conversation that goes along with company.

 

[Seductivpancakes]

I've done it twice. Once while on a work project off site, and there wasn't really much places to eat at the neighborhood so I hit up a diner for lunch.

Second time was during jury duty.

What I can't do is watch a movie at the theaters by myself.

 

[BumRush]

I hate going to restaurants on my own. Whenever I do I'm paranoid as fuck, or people ask me to move cos they want/need a table for themselves.

Lol what? People ask you to move from your table at a restaurant?

 

[Ambient80]

I'm actually in a restaurant alone right now. I'm reading a medical article that I present tomorrow while waiting/eating. Do this all the time. Someone else fixes dinner or whatever while I read or just take time to chill out.

 

[shadowkat]

I've done it. It's not a big deal. Usually I read.

 

[TheRagnCajun]

Of course. People go on business trips alone. Gotta eat. It was super-weird the first time but you get used to it.

 

[theepicoftyler]

I usually go to the diner down the street on Saturday or Sunday morning and eat alone. I usually just wake up late and don't feel like cooking myself breakfast. Usually bring something to read, and just eat good a good meal. Just keep an eye on the door and make sure I am ready to leave if the place starts getting full. I'd feel bad if I was taking up a table when a party came in.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I go out to eat for lunch sometimes at work, alone.

It's a nice time. I get to relax and think about stuff and sort of zone out into my own world.

 

[shintoki]

Do it all the time. I get to try new food whenever then. It's fantastic.

 

[y2dvd]

Ever since to moving to a new city, I've been used to doing just about everything by myself. I can easily get friends together to eat with, but sometimes it's just less hassle to eat by yourself.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I hadn't thought about it until I read this thread, but in my head the point of a restaurant isn't the food. Which now that I've typed it looks dumb; but growing up we only ate out on special occasions. The point of a restaurant is to eat with other people, and it's an opportunity to talk and celebrate and stuff. So I wouldn't go to a restaurant alone for the exact same reason I don't drink alcohol alone. There'd be no point. If I'm travelling I'll just get a super market meal deal. Much cheaper. I'm much more comfortable going to a a movie alone because that's sitting quietly in the dark; not precisely a shared experience in the same way as a dinner out is.

Oddly, doesn't apply to cafes. Sitting in a cafe with a book drinking my coffee feels perfectly natural. But not restaurants. Weird.

The point of some restaurants is definitely the food. Not Olive Garden though lol.

 

[Fenderputty]

I'm not sure which is more odd.

Thinking people that enjoy a meal, even a nice one, are weird.

Thinking ruby Tuesday's or olive garden is fancy

 

[GatorBait]

Decided to go grab a burger at a local joint while reading this thread. It's more of a fast casual joint. They serve out of what is functionally a trailer/immobile food truck and have picnic tables to sit at on an adjoining table, so it's not a "restaurant" per se, but I don't see much of a practical difference between eating here alone and a full-service restaurant (other than being afraid of a server judging me, I guess).

Disclosure: I browsed GAF the entire time I was here.

 

[blitzcloud]

so you find a natural behavior such as eating weird to do alone, while you find unnecessary entertainment lonely-abled.

People eat. You don't need company to eat. You shouldn't need company to eat.

 

[Rival]

It doesn't bother me unless I see an older person eating by themselves cause it makes me think their spouse or whatever may have passed away and it's a really sad thought.

 

[richardhawk]

At least twice a week. I've been doing it for years though.

Edit; also go to the movies alone / hiking alone / on long motorcycle rides alone / concerts / bars (usually only if I know the bartender there).

I have a girlfriend as well we just don't share many similar interests and if I want a specific thing for dinner I'll just go get it. I haven't had any friends in a long time so all of this is totally normal to me.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

I've done it when I needed to kill time in between going places. Usually I just take the food to go though.

 

[Sanjuro]

I'm not sure which is more odd.

Thinking people that enjoy a meal, even a nice one, are weird.

Thinking ruby Tuesday's or olive garden is fancy

I'm just going to get a chow mein sandwich later and come home swimming in babes.

That's how it's done solo.

 

[Joey Fox]

Sometimes you need to eat pancakes and I can't be arsed to beg someone out to get pancakes with me. No shame in eating pancakes by yourself, or for any reason for that matter.

 

[FairyD]

Done it plenty of times. I fucking love it.

 

[ijm72]

I do it mostly while traveling for work. I usually sit at the bar and just watch whatever sports game they have on the TV. The first time it felt kind of strange but I've become used to it after doing it so often.

 

[Goldenroad]

Why do you need people around you in order to eat? Do you drive by yourself? Do you go to the bathroom by yourself? Do you go to the grocery store by yourself? Why can't you go to a restaurant by yourself?

 

[Joey Fox]

Why do you need people around you in order to eat? Do you drive by yourself? Do you go to the bathroom by yourself? Do you go to the grocery store by yourself? Why can't you go to a restaurant by yourself?

I see no reason. That's what the bar is for.

 

[bananafactory]

Sometimes I want to go out to eat. Sometimes no one is free to go with me or maybe I just want alone time

I don't think it's weird at all

 

[John Kowalski]

Why do you need people around you in order to eat? Do you drive by yourself? Do you go to the bathroom by yourself? Do you go to the grocery store by yourself? Why can't you go to a restaurant by yourself?

Because eating is a very social thing to do? And some people see restaurants as a way to engage in social eating first and foremost? I think that's a perfectly normal opinion to have? But maybe that's just me?

 

[Mushroomer25]

I've seen it before at Denny's, usually the person is working. Not all that different than hanging out in a Starbucks, I suppose. And the coffee just keeps coming.

 

[bananafactory]

Because eating is a very social thing to do? And some people see restaurants as a way to engage in social eating first and foremost? I think that's a perfectly normal opinion to have? But maybe that's just me?

There's plenty of things considered social that can be equally enjoyed alone

 

[John Kowalski]

There's plenty of things considered social that can be equally enjoyed alone

That's a very good point.

 

[loki 16]

I eat by myself at lunch time. It's not uncommon.

 

[Butts-a-plenty]

I love sitting at the bar, getting a couple drinks and some food and talking with the bartender and others at the bar.

 

[Jawmuncher]

I go to restaurants and movies by myself all the time.
It's my life now. I'm sorry.

 

[Francis J. Underwood]

I used to do this a lot when I was single. Pubs, restaurants, cafes. Didn't bother me. Sometimes it's better to eat alone so you can properly appreciate the food, rather than having to focus on making small talk.

Even now, I occasionally go out and eat without my partner.

 

[Pizza Booty]

uh, all the time? how have you NEVER noticed this? I'm flabbergasted.

you're eating at olive garden so I'm guessing you live in a tiny town with not a lot happening.

 

[Nosgotham]

If I'm hungry I don't need to find another person to go eat. I eat by myself whenever I want. Lol what a weird topic

 

[Warm Machine]

All the time. I'll get a hightop by the bar.

Movies are better alone. They are not social experiences.

 

[disappeared]

I do it all the time.

 

[MikeDip]

Yeah I do it all the time when I go downtown to go shopping. What's strange about it? People gotta eat.

 

[UltimaPooh]

So I just got back from Olive Garden with some friends, good shit and all, but I couldn't help but notice a couple tables away from us a guy sitting by himself eating. At first I though "The other person's probably in the bathroom or something." But 30 minutes later when we were leaving I glanced back and nope. Just sitting there by himself eating.

This isn't a mock topic or anything, if the guy wants to go to a restaurant alone and enjoy his food in peace, let him. But man I have never seen that before. Stuff like going to the movies alone, yeah that's not uncommon, even I do that sometimes. But eating alone in a restaurant? Never seen or even heard of it before.

Anyone here ever done that before?

Yes. It's like not even that weird.

 

[UltimaPooh]

Movies are better alone. They are not social experiences.

Wrong. Movies are social experiences... At least in the Cinema. Obviously texting and constant talmin are big no nos but with the right crowd and right movie... It's great to laugh and cheer along together. Not to mention If you go with friends the discussions before and after the film.

Nothing wrong going by yourself. I do it... But they are also social gatherings.

 

[TheKaeptain]

I go to bars by myself. Sometimes you just want to eat and drink alone.

 

[JrBaconCheeseburger]

What is wrong with eating alone at a restaurant? This sounds silly.

I have seen people go to nice steak houses on their own and just enjoy the meal and then leave.

You don't need someone with you all the time to enjoy a good meal.

 

[Warm Machine]

Wrong. Movies are social experiences... At least in the Cinema. Obviously texting and constant talmin are big no nos but with the right crowd and right movie... It's great to laugh and cheer along together. Not to mention If you go with friends the discussions before and after the film.

Nothing wrong going by yourself. I do it... But they are also social gatherings.

Sure. That is what other people in the theatre can do but you are not talking to the person beside you. It is like seeing a good stand up comedian. A crowd is good to have but you don't need someone you know sitting beside you to enjoy it.

In terms of the after movie thing I'd rather have the movie settle in a bit before I start talking about it.

 

[Kieli]

There's a pretty interesting game to play whilst at the restaurant.

It involves making small bets. Whoever loses has to do things like walk up to everyone in the restaurant and say "hi" or going up to a random person and pretending to know them.

 

[Apt101]

I do it all of the time. It's nice to get away and have a nice meal by yourself, not having to entertain anyone (so to speak). There is a German place several miles away from me and I go there alone probably once every two or three months, and have been for years. I stopped telling my girlfriends about it years ago because they seem to take offense, like I don't want to be with them. It's not that, I just like some alone time. It's the same reason I hike alone - though nothing crazy, I am always within a few miles of civilization.

 

[Daheza]

There is this bar at my train stop that I really want to check out but all my friends are usually busy.

I just don't want to be the one guy that shows up by himself to a bar and orders a drink.

Is it socially acceptable to bring a laptop to a bar and do some work and order a drink?