Just tried it again, and yep it worked fine. wierd i tried 4 times and nothing but an error message. tried just now, same search words and boom it showed up.

One of my gazillion business ideas is to develop a social networking website to match-up people who don't want to dine alone. It would be free for users and would generate ad revenue (and sponsored restaurant links).

I've floated the idea to a couple developers and they all poo-poo it saying that "no one wants to meet a stranger off the internet." And they're trying to convince me that there's a huge liability if, heaven forbid, a user were to get raped or something. But, I don't know if I buy that.

Thoughts?

Edited to add - when I travel (I hate eating along too) if I'm not in the mood to eat at the bar I'll tell the host at a restaurant that if another single diner comes in (that looks sane) and they want a companion, I'd be open for it. Amazingly, a lot of people are open to this. I've eaten with some absolute nit-wits (but still better than reading my crackberry at the table) but I've also had some wonderful dinner companions.

I'm actually competing in a cooking competition (fundraiser for a local charity) on the evening of the 7th. If anyone in the NY area wants to laugh at me I'll shoot you over the details.

Thanks blakefish! Fortunately it's not Lubbock, it's Atlanta... not really sure which is worse in some ways. Have fun in Asia! I'd definitely skip out on my going away party too if I was in Singapore.

I definitely like the idea. However, I fear (like most social networking type sites) it would turn into a hook-up site. Lonely business man seeking lonely business woman.

Dinner and sex, dinner optional.:p

Right, and I'm sure it would too. But I'd be pretty clear on the site that, that wasn't what the intention was.

I've thought about including a "rate the companion" feature, where after the dinner people could write things about the evening. e.g. "belynch can't resist a pun and talking with him gave me an ice cream headache" so other users know what they're getting into. Kinda similar to the ebay user rating (and rebuttal) system they have.

Although you run into the whole slander quagmire (edited to add: giggidy giggidy).

I actually do not mind dining alone at all and do it quite frequently when traveling. Heck, I even do it at home sometimes. Guess I am just antisocial.

And there's many out there like you (read: Engineers ;) ).

The idea isn't for everyone, but I think there's a large enough market to make it sustainable. Just going on gut instinct on that one.

I don't know why, but I always feel like there's a stigma about eating alone. Either that or I bore myself.

Apparently. Star Pizza makes a nice deep dish. Mmmmm... Chicago Style Whole Wheat Salsa Verde. {droool}...

If such a thing existed, though, I probably would try it at least once if I were bored.

"no one wants to meet a stranger off the internet"

Yeah, the internet is just a fad, right? That comment seems very short-sighted.

Star Pizza: another Houston institution I'll definitely miss. :(

I plan on being in Nyack that evening for a graduation party for an old neighbor of mine that graduates from West Point that weekend. When is your cooking event?

Also, what is the best way to get there from Manhattan? Car rentals are looking to run about $100+/day after all the fees for being under 25:mad:

I can absolutely concur with you. My first trip to Japan was back in Dec and needless to say my eyes were wandering a bit. I'm pretty sure I'm going out that way for Thanksgiving this year. :)