Is it pathetic to be eating alone at a restaurant?

Question

I all honesty, I never ate alone in a restaurant before - other than the occasional on-the-road fast-food stops. But now I am hungry and my wife left me and the food at the restaurant under my house looks better than what my freezer holds. Should I go and dine there by myself or will I look unbelievably pathetic?

Answer 1

There is absolutely nothing wrong with eating at a restaurant alone, unless you are there looking all lonely and depressed. You have to do it in style lol, make yourself look like you don't care about what anyone thinks. To answer the question, it depends on the individual doing it, if the individual looks confident then people just pass by but looking lonely alone is yeah pathetic.

Answer 2

Go to a restaurant that has a separate lounge area with individual seats or a nice bar that will serve food there. You will be comfortable as there will probably be other people eating alone. These areas sometimes have better service for some reason which might be another plus.

Answer 3

Not pathetic at all, quite the opposite in fact. If anybody even notices that you're eating alone and even gives it a second thought, they'll see you as a guy who is comfortable with himself.

Now eating alone can be a bit boring due to the lack of conversation, so you might want to take a good book to read (or an iPad or other tablet).

Answer 4

Absolutely not. Lots of people dine alone for various reasons. I travel a lot. One of my favorite things is to try local specialties in the places I go. I would never let not having a travel companion stop me from going someplace that interested me and would never let not having a dining companion stop me from eating anywhere. You might be interested in this article on the topic that appeared in the Denver post: http://www.denverpost.com/food/ci_18406550

Answer 5

No, it shows that you are confident and secure enough not to care what other people may think. If you feel self-conscious, take a book or magazine to read, or use your smart phone while you are waiting. Generally people won't notice unless you look like you are miserable being alone. After dinner, go see a movie on your own too.

Answer 6

First of all, there's nothing wrong going in a restaurant and eating alone. All I did was drink coffee and read my newspaper. If I were u i just get over what's in my head and eat there because I would be starving. What's wrong eating alone? It's not like everybody laugh at u or know you. It's not like you're poor or something?

Answer 7

Absolutely not. Everybody has the right to eat where they want to eat for as long as they can afford it. And eating alone would not necessarily mean that the person is sad or lonely. It simply mean that the person has enough self-confidence to do what she wants without concern about what other people would think.

Answer 8

I agree with others who suggested eating at the bar or the counter - it's better than being escorted to an undesirable table (outside the bathroom door or the swinging kitchen doors) when it was just me and I hate that! Sometimes when I see another single diner being seated near me, I invite them to join my table and it usually turns out nicely, that person is usually flattered by the invitation.

Answer 9

I dine by myself when on the road for work. Take in a magazine or something to read. It will prevent you from staring at the other diners. You'll be fine.

Answer 10

It is your money, your time and your decision to do as you chose. If you want to dine alone, go for it.

It is no one elses business who you dine with if anyone at all. No one is going to judge you or point at you and laugh. People who dine out are into the experience and usually do not have time or desire to look around at other guests...or at least they shouldn't.

Answer 11

why do you think it is pathetic to eat alone in a restaurant? There is nothing wrong with eating alone. I prefer it at times.

Answer 12

Nothing wrong with dining alone! Lots of people do it everyday! Go enjoy a good meal!

Answer 13

Eat anywhere you like. Five star restaurant, pizza parlor, family business restaurant, fast food, bistro. Suit your fancy.

Answer 14

I can not eat alone ever in a restaurant, not even grab a coffee and sit down to drink it on my own, and I work as a waitress, it is sad to have a lone customer eating alone, it's heartbreaking, just order some take away.

Answer 15

What is pathetic is you worrying about what others might think of your eating alone.

Answer 16

Hello, often times when one travels for business, you tend to eat alone.

Answer 17

Only if the next table has a happy family sitting there.

Answer 18

Get it "To Go" and bring it home to eat. Bring some home for your wife too and if she will not eat it, put it in the fridge to eat later. That is the honorable thing to do in this situation.

Answer 19

its okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay , some people get back afternoon from work and drop by any restaurant and eat ..so what

Answer 20

Not in New York

Answer 21

hang out at the bar, order a nice appetizer. relax and go from there.

Answer 22

Nope just means your independent

Answer 23

Nothing wrong with that!!! You are worrying too much. Enjoy your meal!!!!

Answer 24

i do it all the time......i just sit at the bar....usually you can chat withthe bartender or a waitress

Answer 25

no it isnt, ive done that before, if anything it shows confidence and independence

Answer 26

It does seem abit weird if it's a proper restaurant

Answer 27

no