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The joy of solitary dining
By adamg on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 10:33am
Candelaria Silva has long enjoyed being able to sit alone at a restaurant, with just her thoughts, her food and, often, a good book:
Two other favorites were in Harvard Square - Hong Kong Restaurant - the Chinese food there was very different from what I’d had in my home town of St. Louis - and Wursthaus, a German restaurant. I can’t remember what I ate there but I remember it was delicious and I was thrilled with the feeling of seclusion I had while there.
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Comments
Old Heidelberg
I always wanted to take a date to Wursthaus just like Mark Ratner in Fast Times. I always seemed to be on a Haagen Daaz budget for nights out in the 80s, though. My fake ID worked well enough at Catch a Rising Star, so I figure I could have amassed a few drunken Wursthaus tales had my financial state been different back in the olden days.
Mixed memories
Perhaps the place improved subsequently, but during the 70's the only good thing about the Worst House was the selection of German and Austrian beers.
Solitary Dining
Too many people do not recognize the pleasures of solitary dining, and, it goes without saying, most restaurants do not welcome it.
Have to disagree
I have to disagree about restaurants not welcoming solo diners. I've been to restaurants at all price points & can't remember ever being made to feel unwelcome. Solo diners usually are in and out faster than 2+ people, so why wouldn't restaurants want them?
Maybe it's just me...
Solo Middle-aged Woman is Queen!
Staff will generally treat you like royalty if you dine alone around here. They know that you appreciate the attention and WILL reward good service.
Bars
A lot of restaurants have food service at the bar - it's a good option if you're dining solo.
I've never had problems at most restaurants
Maybe a few have acted weird about it, but that's it. I generally prefer a table over bar seating, though it also depends on the restaurant.
Very true
I was once dining alone and reading on my iPad using the restaurant's free wifi. It was a family restaurant in Eastie and there were plenty of open tables. The owner came out and literally growled at me for using the wifi, like I was tainting his family restaurant atmosphere with work. I never went back.
Deli Haus in Kenmore Square!!
Deli Haus in Kenmore Square!!! Where Mr. Butch would frequent as well!
Hong Kong
Scorpion bowls for one!
Always sad when you see someone eating alone, though.
love dining alone
I discovered this pleasure when I was in college and lived across from a long-gone Indian restaurant on Mass. Ave. I loved bringing a book and enjoying my quiet time.
One thing I appreciated about my ex- was that he, too, enjoyed that experience. We had some lovely dinners sitting there reading until the food came, then being social once our hands were occupied. :)
Quiet time
See, this is how you know you're a grownup with a job and a life and really quite enough people up in your face: your idea of heaven is an hour or two to just sit somewhere with some decent food and some drinks and read a book.
Grown up
So, I've been a grownup since the age of 9 ;)
Some of us...
...are late bloomers ;-)
First professional food / drinks feature I ever wrote was
about why dining at the bar is better than in the dining room: http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/2010/01/from-archives-five-reasons-to-dine-...
A chunk of it is devoted to the notion that it's more fun to be at the bar when dining solo, though lady friends have since pointed out that mine is a man's point of view. Women dining alone at a bar often attract unwanted attention from dudes who assume they're looking to get picked up.
Solitary dining
I look forward to dining alone every once in awhile, and catching up on my reading, people watching, with minimum interruption...my meal is HOT and delish, not cold and unsatisfying!