Friday, September 08, 2006

One thing I hate about being solitary is the shoddy treatment I get in public places. I ate at a restaurant the other night -- not a "nice" restaurant, but a decent one -- and the ever-cordial hostess (or whatever you call them now) promptly escorted me to my seat . . . in the back corner. Next to the kitchen. Where, presumably, I wouldn't be seen by normal, sociable folk despite the restaurant being virtually empty.

But the food was OK.
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8 comments:

Katie said...

One hint. If you're eating in a solitary fashion? Go to the bar. Even if you're not a drinker, you will generally get much better service by sitting with, and chatting, with the bartender. Just make sure to tip well. :o)

11:08 PM
Katie said...

I have to respectfully disagree with W.M. Bear. Eating out by yourself can be fun if you let it.

I used to do it often, and as long as I followed my own advice above, I never had any problems with it.

Plus, sometimes by venturing out you can actually *gasp* meet people! And sometimes you find that *gasp* you have things in common with said people!

You're only isolated if you allow yourself to be.

2:30 AM
Mac said...

I must respectfully agree with *both* of you!

Generally, I don't abhor dining alone, but it *can* be grim -- and when it is it makes me never want to try again. But eventually I do.

Weevee: "pegpu" (When winged horses take a dump...)

2:08 AM
Katie said...

OK, I just have to ask...what is all this "Weevee" stuff that y'all mention all the time? I feel like I'm missing out on something...

9:27 PM
Mac said...

"Weevee" is short for "word verification" -- those randomly generated (?) nonsense-words Blogger prompts you to type in for security.

10:07 PM
Katie said...

Gotcha. Thanks!

8:05 AM
Ray Palm (Ray X) said...

Mac:

I also belong to the solitary diner "club." If you don't want to be shunted off into a dim corner, then you should be a bit firm but diplomatic. Tell the hostess that you prefer the light by the front window and would like to sit there if she isn't short on extra seating at the time. Or just lie and say you're waiting for a friend to show up. And if the "friend" never shows, well, how do they know you're fibbing?

I wouldn't do this if the place was busy and you end up taking a table with extra seats that a party of four could use. At the same time, if the place is kinda dead, you shouldn't allow the natural inclination of the hostess to put the single guy at the back of the bus -- oops, I mean at the back of the restaurant.

The issue is whether there is prejudice involved towards a single person. I could see that the hostess could be thinking in terms of space and seating and isn't deliberately trying to segregate you. But if she is acting prejudical, even subconsciously, then you shouldn't allow it to happen.

As you can tell, I've had many years of being the solitary guy out in public. At times you have to be a bit proactive to deal with people's assumptions about you.

Best,

Ray

3:28 PM
Paul Kimball said...

I prefer dining alone most of the time - just me, a good newspaper, and the food.

Paul

8:45 PM

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