shawbridge

Like most of you, I travel regularly, typically to Europe but within the US and on a less regular basis to various places such as Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, and China. While I am often taken out to dinner by clients, I'm often on my own. I'm often not traveling with a team, so I'm on my own. While there are times that I want to eat alone to unwind or to get immediately back to work, I more frequently would prefer someone interesting to talk with over dinner. It doesn't bother me at all to eat alone at a restaurant -- I'm not insecure and don't feel like I ought to be eating with someone or that people will think less of me because I am not. Planning in advance sometimes works, but I often like to leave time open in case clients want to get dinner.

In another thread, I asked people if they'd prefer to eat alone or with someone and the majority of my statistically unsound poll preferred to eat alone. In that thread, people who sometimes preferred not to eat alone suggested eating at the restaurant bar (though dine-aloners like to do this too), using CommunityBuzz or couchsurfing.com, and finding places with communal tables like Wagamama.

Any other suggestions?

mecabq

I love eating alone, so don't face this issue, but one option is to eat at the bar or counter. As you know, many upscale restaurants in the U.S. now offer this arrangement, although I assume that it's less prevalent in Europe. At least that way the probability of striking up a conversation with another patron is higher.

I have also noticed in most places that the phone book has listings for "escorts." Perhaps this would be a good use of such a function?

Basar

Anyways, I think your best bet might be the bar... I enjoy eating alone while reading a magazine or a book, so never had this problem but if I didn't have something to read, I'd definitely hit the bar. ^

CMK10

You could always make a Craigslist post for the city you're in under the "Strictly Platonic" section. At the very least it won't cost you anything and you might have a great story to tell.

I sympathize with you as I don't like eating alone but end up doing it often when I travel. I usually bring a crossword puzzle.

Cha-cha-cha

I try to find a decent Asian noodle house. They usually have counter seating (where you might be able to strike up a conversation), and many of them, unlike some restaurants, don't mind a single diner taking a table.

travelsavant

Check out FT Community & see if any of your FT cyber friends are in town & want to join up for a drink or dinner. Probably safer than post on Craigslist & FT membership gives you immediate commonality.

shawbridge

I'm going to give the FT community a shot. I think the Craigslist posting has a chance of working but seems to require you to choose the gender of who you'd like to meet, which carries with it overtones that I'm seeking to avoid.

Mr H

I have no problem with eating alone but was frustrated in Korea that I had to order enough food for a small army when I went to restaurants.

aacharya

I tend to veer towards wine bars or that ilk when traveling, but I do use chowhound.com for recommendations, if the Zagat or Yelp is lacking.

I find wine bars are the right crowd (as are tapas bars) since they are set-up for good conversation. I would echo the sentiments of some here - restaurants with bars are also a great way to try a well-regarded restaurant without having to wait.

cyberdad

Put me in the bar with a newspaper and/or a good game on TV, and I'm a happy camper. No worries!

tfar

Depends if you are married and reasonably good looking. If not married but reasonably good looking, just go to the bar. Have a drink. If any woman is solo and strikes your fancy, just approach her very directly (of course you do need to introduce yourself). Say you are feeling hungry and would like to have dinner. You know it is daring but you would be delighted if she agreed to be your guest and not offended (though not less hungry) if she declines.

If you are the least bit charming and the lady is indeed single (not waiting for somebody), the hit rate will be around 50%. Dinner cost will double. Bonus points for cojones. Careful, you might get used to the system.

If my GF reads this, I'm dead.

Till

blondeterp

I would also suggest checking various other online communities for locals in the area to dine with.
Also Alumni Associations and Professional Associations are a good start as well. Anytime I'm in a new city I put a call out on the Mensa message boards and usually find someone to dine with..

CMK10

Are you obligated to pick up the check in this situation?

tfar

Not by law, of course. But I'd still do it. Your invitation will have a higher rate of success if it is a real invitation and you make her your guest. It's much more charming that way because it shows you are willing to take a risk or make an investment to have dinner with her. It will take some pressure off. After all, she could think "Wait a minute. I don't even know this man. He asks me to have dinner with him at a place of his choice and then I should pay half or at least my part. I don't think so."

If she finds the proposition too "close" because this would essentially be a spontaneous date and she refuses because of that, you can still offer to split the bill or go each on his/her own account.

The initial hit is a pretty strong one. I am not proposing to chat her up for a long time before you ask the dinner question. Maybe introduce yourself, tell her what you are doing in town, ask a question or two of her (you could ask if she knows a nice place to eat) and then offer to join you for dinner. No more than 2-3 minutes, after all your priority is food intake not dating. So because the initial hit is a daring proposition, you need to soften the blow and be as much of a gentleman as you can during the entire process.

It should show from your attitude that you are not in it to seduce her but to have a nice dinner with a charming companion (her!). She should feel safe. It'll be exciting enough anyway. If anything does come from it you got lucky. But do not aim for that. What gives you a higher chance is precisely that you make it obvious that you are not hitting her up to sleep with her.

Note that I am not giving you abstract dating advice. I've done this myself and have had very nice evenings due to it.

To come back to the initial payment question. I was once walking in the streets of Lugano, Switzerland with my mother. I was 18 at the time. There were three very pretty girls coming towards us. I must have gotten very big eyes because all three gave me really nice smiles. When I sat down to dinner with my mother in a restaurant, I told her that I was grateful for her company but I could just as well imagine to have dinner here with those three beauties. (I am such an ungrateful son!) She laughed and said: Yes, my son. But then you would also have to pick up the tab for all of them. That calmed my enthusiasm.

Till

OttoMH

Agreed.. nothing worse than another Hilton Club Sandwich!

I guess it depends on whether you had a hellish day or not.. sometimes it is nice to just get room service and chill-out / catch up on emails. Other times I like to take a trip out and about.. can be difficult in the UK as most bars have crappy food and most restaurants are a bit dull if you are by yourself.

I like the wine bar suggestion above.. I think I will buy The Good Food Guide, Good Pub Guide and Michelin Guide.. do you think I can put that on expenses?