Dining Alone

I recommend eating at the bar at Criolla's. The bartender is first class (as is the food). Same goes for Borago's.

The sushi bar at 331 also seems to have a number of solo diners, and the sushi is good.

A friend just clued me into this site when I mentioned what a shame it was that there was no Zagat's for 30-A. It's been wonderful to find so much good advise. There is one feature of the Zagat's that is missing...the Dining Alone list. Always a godsend for business trips, I have used it everywhere and never minded eating out by myself. I am here for a few months and have made a few attempts to go out and it has been so uncomfortable. When I asked for a table for one, one hostess repeated loudly, "You're by yourself? No one else is coming?"

Any suggestions? Maybe a place where it's possible to eat at the bar?

The bar at Borago or Cafe 30A. Both are great places.

Wait staff here probably doesn't see too many singles dining.

I agree about the above suggestions. Also Fish Out of Water at WaterColor has a Sushi bar, Shades and Bud & Alley's, Smiling Fish, Royal Orchid, Pandora's. The Red Bar.

Let us know if you would like to meet somebody (or just let down your hair). ;-)

RAPUNZEL ...........

When I'm at the beach alone, I eat at the bar and talk to the bartender. Then I don't feel alone. It's actually fun.

But please don't read a book while dining alone. It makes you look pathetic. Someone was doing that at the bar at Taqueria Del Sol (ATL) when I was there recently. If you're that uncomfortable, get takeout.

But please don't read a book while dining alone. It makes you look pathetic. Someone was doing that at the bar at Taqueria Del Sol (ATL) when I was there recently. If you're that uncomfortable, get takeout.

I like to call that time management. I could care less of what people think of me reading. Maybe they think, "that guy must be smart, I see him reading instead of watching Fox news on mute while he is dining." FYI - Not everyone thinks alike, Beach Runner. Reading a book while at lunch is also a way to keep to yourself when you don't want to talk to everyone. ;-)

I like to call that time management. I could care less of what people think of me reading. Maybe they think, "that guy must be smart, I see him reading instead of watching Fox news on mute while he is dining." FYI - Not everyone thinks alike, Beach Runner. Reading a book while at lunch is also a way to keep to yourself when you don't want to talk to everyone. ;-)

But I like to talk, in case you haven't noticed. I also like to watch sports on TV at the bar.

But I like to talk, in case you haven't noticed. I also like to watch sports on TV at the bar.

Be careful, it "may make you look pathetic." :funn:

But I like to talk, in case you haven't noticed. I also like to watch sports on TV at the bar.

Reading is NOT pathetic BR!!!!! I find a good book or article very good company!!!

I'm lucky if I can read the label on my beer while I'm at a bar.

Reading is NOT pathetic BR!!!!! I find a good book or article very good company!!!

Reading is not pathetic. Reading while dining is pathetic according to some "Things Not To Do While Dining" lists that I've read. Apparently, a person reading while dining appears uncomfortable in his/her own skin, as well as anti-social.

Reading is not pathetic. Reading while dining is pathetic according to some "Things Not To Do While Dining" lists that I've read. Apparently, a person reading while dining appears uncomfortable in his/her own skin, as well as anti-social.

That's weird...who makes up these "rules"? Love being in my skin and am hardly considered anti-social...and I enjoy reading something at times if I eat out alone. Beats staring at the wall! Well, except that one time I ate French onion soup at a cafe, alone, sitting outside in Paris...that was a delight to look at the passersby!

Reading is not pathetic. Reading while dining is pathetic according to some "Things Not To Do While Dining" lists that I've read. Apparently, a person reading while dining appears uncomfortable in his/her own skin, as well as anti-social.

I think a comfortable person does what they please disregarding any written rules. Maybe your guide of Things not to do while dining works for Atlanta, but at the beach? give me a break sorority girl.

I take the exact opposite stance. I HATE eating at the bar, even when I'm with girlfriends. Nothing could persuade me to make conversation with a bartender, just for the sake of having someone to talk to so I don't look "pathetic." But give me a table and a book and I'm happy! In Europe it's a great tradition to sit at a table and watch the world go by, book and/or pen and paper at the ready. As Sueshore mentioned, it's a wonderful way to enjoy a dinner alone. The solitude of good food and good reading is very welcoming to me (though I am very happy to chatter the dinner away if I have company :funn: )

Just the thought of sitting by myself in a restaurant with good food, a nice glass of wine, something interesting to read, and the peace and quiet to enjoy all 3 makes me want to.....GO OUT TO DINNER BY MYSELF TONIGHT! A restaurant would be the only place the stars and moons would align for this kind of bliss to happen for me. Certainly not at home!

Just the thought of sitting by myself in a restaurant with good food, a nice glass of wine, something interesting to read, and the peace and quiet to enjoy all 3 makes me want to.....GO OUT TO DINNER BY MYSELF TONIGHT! A restaurant would be the only place the stars and moons would align for this kind of bliss to happen for me. Certainly not at home!

Be sure to take your book.

You guys are so BRUTAL. But I love you. And I'd rather talk than read. I do enough reading for my job just to keep current in computer science that reading anything while dining is the last thing I'd want to do.

Just this week I've read enough to teach myself XML, SMIL, SVG, MathML, XHTML, WAP, and WML.

BTW SJ I'm not a sorority girl - I was a GDI (God Dam_ed Independent) at Tulane.

Taking the big risk of disrupting a pretty strong thread drift...

Don't forget Shades at the Loop for bar dining, or the sushi bar at Old Florida Fish house.

TreeFrog, everyone goes on tangents in this place! Don't worry about it!

TreeFrog, everyone goes on tangents in this place! Don't worry about it!

TANGENTS ARE OUR LIFEBLOOD!

TANGENTS ARE OUR LIFEBLOOD!

We can start a new business-- TANGENTS R'US!

We can start a new business-- TANGENTS R'US!

Now that's an idea!

Poor rapunzel...she just asked a simple question!!! rapunzel, welcome and eat out and eat well!!!

I love going out somewhere and reading a good book alone. I prefer reading at the beach or the porch or the couch, but sometimes it's good to get out and read at a restaurant. In fact, I should do that more often when in SoWal. I had a nice lunch at Shades by the Loop all by myself at one of the high tables by the window and loved it. I stayed over an hour (there were no people waiting for my seat). I rarely go to a restaurant alone (coffee shops definitely) and if I do I'm very happy being by myself. And I always bring something to read when I'm dining alone. I get to look up now and then and people-watch, then get back to the book. I wouldn't be as comfortable sitting at the bar talking or reading because if I go myself I want to be in a comfortable corner.

Rapunzel, I'm sorry you are uncomfortable dining alone and hope that improves. I don't mind it a bit and I always have a book or newspaper. Very relaxing. Paula expressed my feelings exactly! I'm certainly not anti-social, but would not feel right talking to the (probably) busy bartender just to appear social. And yep I am a former sorority girl too. Why should you conform to a "things not to do" list of all things? Just my opinion.

I agree with the book readers. I find it very relaxing to be dining out alone with a glass of wine and a book. Plus it sure beats sitting in your hotel room when traveling alone on business.