I'm a bartender/server and have worked in several different venues and have never encountered a colleague who has felt awkward or had any qualms when faced with a solo-diner. Personally, where I work now we have tables and a 10 seat bar. If a solo diner comes in, I'll be directing them to one of the tables if they are free, as like others have said in this thread, they are more conducive for dining. Most of the time they'll happily sit there, though sometimes they've requested to sit at the bar which is absolutely fine.
When I'm on the road and dining alone, I usually sit up at the bar if there is one as it allows me to converse with the staff more which I like as I'm a very chatty person.
Originally Posted by
negs
Well, your method is certainly time-efficient, if you have a need to save the extra thirty seconds that my way takes.
My point is that for *some* people (even those working as a host or hostess), the question of solo dining *is* awkward, and if I can pro-actively help avoid that awkwardness with a lighthearted way to express that I'm by myself, then why not do it?
Should a host or hostess find a patron dining alone to be awkward to handle? No.
But, IME, sometimes they do. (Especially if they're young or inexperienced.) While that employee is there to serve me (that's a part of what I'm paying for), a bit of humor that suggests that I recognize their human dignity as a person goes a long way.
And please, before the flame wars start, I'm *not* suggesting that your way takes away from anyone's dignity. I just think that my way gives the opportunity to affirm another person a bit.
The notion of needing to affirm the server/waiter/bartender could definitely be seen as condescending.