Consolidated "Dining Alone - suggestions, experiences, questions" thread
Aug 28, 2010, 10:42 pm
#166
Join Date: May 2010
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When dining at top restaurants (Michelin-starred, and the ilk), I generally prefer to do it alone. Without another person at the table and conversation to distract me, I can focus better on the food and wine. My formation of taste memory is orders of magnitude stronger when dining alone.
I typically have the full tasting menu and enjoy discussing the wine pairings and such with the staff.
Once I had a very enthusiastic sommelier in Europe who was so shocked that I was an American (apparently I didn't fit his negative stereotype) that he gave me a custom wine tasting with each course. "Here," he would say, "is the wine paired on the menu with this dish. Here is the one I prefer. And here is the one the chef prefers." 3 glasses of wine per course, for 8 courses-- I was hammered! If I had had a dining companion, the sommelier would have almost certainly kept his distance and done the cool, Continental thing, as protocol prescribes. And I probably would have ended up paying for two dinners and still not have gotten laid.
I typically have the full tasting menu and enjoy discussing the wine pairings and such with the staff.
Once I had a very enthusiastic sommelier in Europe who was so shocked that I was an American (apparently I didn't fit his negative stereotype) that he gave me a custom wine tasting with each course. "Here," he would say, "is the wine paired on the menu with this dish. Here is the one I prefer. And here is the one the chef prefers." 3 glasses of wine per course, for 8 courses-- I was hammered! If I had had a dining companion, the sommelier would have almost certainly kept his distance and done the cool, Continental thing, as protocol prescribes. And I probably would have ended up paying for two dinners and still not have gotten laid.
If I eat alone, I tend to prefer upscale, traditional pubs (hardwood and fireplaces) and a book. The thoughts conveyed by the book are more elucidating that the average dining companion's, and as Jazzop pointed out, there is no disappointment when retiring to a cold bed.
Aug 29, 2010, 12:39 am
#167
Join Date: Nov 2007
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You do realize that your expectation is counter to traditional standards of good service? The waiter should never bring the bill unless specifically asked by the diner. This can lead to some funny stalemates in French restaurants.
Aug 29, 2010, 3:03 am
#168
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 634
Yes. This is more of a wish than an expectation.
Aug 29, 2010, 12:39 pm
#169
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Mainly in Europe
You reply, "No."
And they will take that to mean, "Check, please," and the check will show up.
However, in Europe, I would sit there for like 10-20 minutes waiting for the check to show up, and they never bring it. It was so painful. You gotta flag them down to bring that check over.
So I think this applies more to European restaurants than to American restaurants.
Aug 29, 2010, 1:15 pm
#170
Join Date: Sep 2005
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I will ask the front desk or Google for anyplace that serves meals family style, where everyone sits at large tables and shares the platters of food which are brought out from the kitchen. This presents a unique dining experience, not to mention the occasional friend or two one will make.
Aug 29, 2010, 1:28 pm
#171
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Interesting how different folks are. I'd rather get takeout at the 7-11 for dinner than be seated "family style" with a group of people I don't know. The prospect sounds like something I'd do only if I were being punished for something.
Give me a small out-of-the-way table and a book/iPhone.
Give me a small out-of-the-way table and a book/iPhone.
Aug 29, 2010, 2:10 pm
#172
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Me too
Interesting how different folks are. I'd rather get takeout at the 7-11 for dinner than be seated "family style" with a group of people I don't know. The prospect sounds like something I'd do only if I were being punished for something.
Give me a small out-of-the-way table and a book/iPhone.
Give me a small out-of-the-way table and a book/iPhone.
Aug 29, 2010, 3:19 pm
#173
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: AA
Posts: 1,754
When I'm travelling for work I prefer to have my evenings, including dinner, to myself. The situation I sometimes find myself in is spending a week in some location for work with a colleague (for example, if we are assigned to teach a training course together). After 10 hrs on your feet with this perfectly agreeable person, as soon as the class is over, he or she says, "when should we meet in the lobby for dinner? Half an hour?" So 4 or 5 nights in a row I have to have dinner with someone I don't know well and don't have much but work to talk about with, or I have to say I'm going to pass, and get that you-don't-want-to-have-dinner-with-me? look.
It's not them, it's me, I'm introverted, and at a certain point at the end of the day, if I can't be relaxing in my own home, I'd at least like to be relaxing by myself. Give me a magazine or a paper or a book and a seat at the bar and a game on TV and ... please just leave me alone for a while.
It's not them, it's me, I'm introverted, and at a certain point at the end of the day, if I can't be relaxing in my own home, I'd at least like to be relaxing by myself. Give me a magazine or a paper or a book and a seat at the bar and a game on TV and ... please just leave me alone for a while.
Aug 29, 2010, 4:12 pm
#174
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Yes. Agony. Doesn't matter if she's the most beautiful creature on earth or he's the funniest guy or the most read-in Red Sox fan... after a whole day with 'em, I want solitude.
Aug 29, 2010, 5:40 pm
#175
Join Date: Sep 2004
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It's not them, it's me, I'm introverted, and at a certain point at the end of the day, if I can't be relaxing in my own home, I'd at least like to be relaxing by myself. Give me a magazine or a paper or a book and a seat at the bar and a game on TV and ... please just leave me alone for a while.
Aug 29, 2010, 6:18 pm
#176
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
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Is it being polite?
After 10 hrs on your feet with this perfectly agreeable person, as soon as the class is over, he or she says, "when should we meet in the lobby for dinner? Half an hour?" So 4 or 5 nights in a row I have to have dinner with someone I don't know well and don't have much but work to talk about with, or I have to say I'm going to pass, and get that you-don't-want-to-have-dinner-with-me? look.
Aug 29, 2010, 10:19 pm
#177
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Northern California
Programs: UA Premier Gold, 1.5 Million Mile Flyer
Posts: 3,547
as soon as the class is over, he or she says, "when should we meet in the lobby for dinner? Half an hour?" So 4 or 5 nights in a row I have to have dinner with someone I don't know well and don't have much but work to talk about with, or I have to say I'm going to pass, and get that you-don't-want-to-have-dinner-with-me? look.
It's not them, it's me, I'm introverted, and at a certain point at the end of the day, if I can't be relaxing in my own home, I'd at least like to be relaxing by myself. Give me a magazine or a paper or a book and a seat at the bar and a game on TV and ... please just leave me alone for a while.
It's not them, it's me, I'm introverted, and at a certain point at the end of the day, if I can't be relaxing in my own home, I'd at least like to be relaxing by myself. Give me a magazine or a paper or a book and a seat at the bar and a game on TV and ... please just leave me alone for a while.
Aug 30, 2010, 1:02 pm
#178
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Aug 30, 2010, 1:53 pm
#179
Join Date: Oct 2008
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(But if it's not true, then you have to find out where they're going so that you can go somewhere else.)
Aug 30, 2010, 7:31 pm
#180
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Northern California
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Posts: 3,547
Unfortunately, for different reasons, I've had to do the "get off work at 5:30 - eat at 6-6:15" too many times to count. I normally won't eat more than an appetizer and a few beers at that hour, so yeah it's great fun.