BBC Good Food

• Kerry

  31 March, 1:19PM

  Kerry

  I have never worried about dining alone - mainly because I never realised it was any kind of taboo. I read a good book, chat to the waiters about the food (if they're not too busy) or, my favourite, I people watch. Of course it's nice to dine with good company, but its also nice to order my favourite red wine without caring if someone else has ordered fish!

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• StowmarKate

  31 March, 3:20PM

  StowmarKate

  I love solo dining, but the book (preferably one that stays open by itself) is essential. It's a much more accepted practice in New York, since nobody really cooks anyway. I've had some funny looks eating by myself in the UK.

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• Holly

  31 March, 4:24PM

  Holly

  I'm happy to sit on my own in cafes and have a sandwich and a coffee but not sure how I am eating out properly on my own. I think breakfast and lunch are easier than dinner. I’ve done a bit of travelling on my own and I end up having street food, strangely I am more than happy to sit and have a drink and read, but eating a full meal does intimidate me slightly. I find the best thing to do is dress up and look confident, and pretend it’s nothing you haven’t done before.

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• Darragh

  31 March, 4:24PM

  Darragh

  If you're going to a posh restaurant, I would say that it's actually BETTER to go on your own. You will not be distracted by the banal witterings of your dinner partner, meaning you can focus on the food and immerse yourself in the restaurant's atmosphere. If I'm dining with friends, I'll go to Pizza Express, if I'm on my own, I'm off to Le Gavroche!

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• robin

  31 March, 4:28PM

  robin

  I think it is easier to eat alone if you are in a town or city where you don't know anyone. I'd be a bit embarrassed if friends caught me dining solo, particularly if it was very near my house.

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• Haddock in the Kitchen

  31 March, 9:28PM

  Haddock in the Kitchen

  Like Kerry, I didn't realize that there was a social taboo on eating alone. I dine alone quite frequently as my husband and I are in different countries during the week, so it's not often easy to get a dining partner. Out of preference I would "lunch" alone, but the evening suits as the occasion demands. Books/ mags/newspapers are a useful accessory but I often take some work with me - even if it's just my diary and my never ending "to do list"! I secretly enjoy the askance looks of the bemused (French) diners, as their only work tools at the table are their knives and forks................... I sense they feel am being irreverent towards the sanctity of the ritual of eating in France. Oh dear..................

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• Jenni

  1 April, 1:35PM

  Jenni

  I agree with Darragh. One of the most enjoyable meals I've had in my life was on my tod at Le Gavroche. I'd recently arrived in London, knew hardly anyone, let alone people who'd pay that much for dinner. But they made such a fuss of me, I had a wonderful time.

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• Wendy

  1 April, 2:09PM

  Wendy

  Hi I find solo dining an ordeal, so I try to avoid it. I think there are just a couple of times in 9 years I have done it. I can cope with solo coffee drinking, but as one comment said everyone appears to be in couples, and you feel even lonelier! Wendy

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• Lucy

  1 April, 3:03PM

  Lucy

  I would hate to dine on my own. I suppose since I dont drink coffee I dont really go in coffee shops and just sit there. I was at an italian with my fiance and this old man came in and sat on his own. I nearly cried as I hated the fact that he looked lonely. He probably was completely fine. I suppose I like to surround myself in my friends and family. I rarely do things on my own. I like spending time with people who I can laugh with

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• Tom_or_Astro_Tom

  2 April, 12:10PM

  Tom_or_Astro_Tom

  Hmm...dining alone doesn't make me squirm nearly as much as you Andrea, but I can see your point. If you're not looking to come across as enigmatic or eccentric and you've been forced to dine alone by circumstance, I can understand that it's not something to relish. But occasionally it's nice to hole up away from the madding crowd, and a restaurant or pub can make a great oasis for the world-weary. Not to mention the hungry, too. Plus, if you eat alone no-one can look critically at you if you order a side of onion rings...

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• Andrea

  2 April, 4:48PM

  Andrea

  Excellent, thanks for your comments. I am going to attempt it again in a foreign neighbourhood, dressed up to the nines, armed with a hardcover book that keeps itself open, with a side order of onion rings and I shall conquer this irrational fear!

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• Chris Brack

  3 April, 1:59PM

  Chris Brack

  For me the dinning alone thing is more to do with boredom and as I am a fast eater - I am done in a few minutes if I have no one to talk to or more likely listen to. If you are eating outside it does’nt matter if there is one of you or a whole group it just seems less formal and people do not notice. Other tips hmm....I did read in a Sunday newspaper that there is a person hired in some hotel in london to help people staying there by themselves-he reads to them talks to them even has a meal with them. Thats all the tips i can think of so apart from bring a notepad and pen and write down comments on all the people sitting around you and make up stories about them - that can be fun, good luck.  

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• barrington lloyd walker

  8 April, 5:23PM

  barrington lloyd walker

  I have heard some of the more well known restaurants discourage sole dining.Their argument would be to try to keep the table free in case two diners wanted to occupy it. I have heard you'll either be fobbed off that it's reserved and will stick a reserved sign on the table whilst telling you this or they may oblige but stick you at the back preferably out of site. I have long since gotten over my phobia of eating oout alone.I probably wouldn't dine out on my own on a social night like a friday or saturday night but definitely during the week.I am happy that i can dine out on my own and not feel out of place and self conscious.

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• speccie27

  16 June, 8:45PM

  speccie27

  My biggest issue with dining alone is that I often feel guilty about depriving the establishment of a cover, since you usually occupy a two-person table, but really, you are giving them one cover they may not have otherwise had. The best dining experience I had was alone, in fact I was the only diner one lunchtime at The Horn of Plenty near Tavistock. They made a real fuss of me, and the meal was brilliant - from canopes to petits fours, and a beautful view of the tamar valley!

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• Siryan

  5 August, 5:05PM

  Siryan

  I find one advantage of dining alone is that you often get served much quicker because there are fewer courses for the restaurant to prepare. Most restaurants are used to lone diners due to business people working away from home etc. Personally I don't think you should rely on others and deprive yourself of an experience for lack of company, so go and book a table of that restaurant you've been wanting to try for ages and can't seem to find anyone to go with you. Enjoy.

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