Dining Alone

"hardi" har har...figure that out and I will give you.....a surprise!!!

Dunzo!!! We should all like party at my house. It's got a pool and hot tub!

Dunzo!!! We should all like party at my house. It's got a pool and hot tub!

May we bring books?

May we bring books?

Only if you promise not to be pathetic or paranoid!!! I can't believe this....I am normally down there from Dec. 29 - Jan 6. I will MISS y'all!!!!

WELL...I like to think I'm deep!!!!

"Big Chill"...William Hurt says to Jeff Goldblum "you're so deep" not as a compliment.

I think we all need to go dine alone together!! What do you say??

:rofl:

May we bring books?

I ain't bringing no book. I wanna TALK!

BTW I'm so excited - Snoop is on Leno in a few minutes!!!!!!!!

I ain't bringing no book. I wanna TALK!

BTW I'm so excited - Snoop is on Leno in a few minutes!!!!!!!!

Ok, I have so many questions for you BR. Do you live in Chisholm (LL)? Question two tomorrow. But, we'll see BR the same place, the same time. Thanks for joining us on 20 Questions!!!

I ain't bringing no book. I wanna TALK!

BTW I'm so excited - Snoop is on Leno in a few minutes!!!!!!!!

Oprah is on Dave too!!

Oprah is on Dave too!!

Snoop hasn't shown up yet. Must be all coked out in the back room.

Snoop hasn't shown up yet. Must be all coked out in the back room.

Oprah and Dave are making up!!! The feud is OVER!!!!

Ok, I have so many questions for you BR. Do you live in Chisholm (LL)? Question two tomorrow. But, we'll see BR the same place, the same time. Thanks for joining us on 20 Questions!!!

Chisholm- an area of Montgomery near the fair grounds. Just another way of saying "Cue the circus music."

But some of these so-called "rules" are actually ones meant to keep singles from eating alone, particularly women (who not too long ago were never supposed to be unaccompained in public spaces like bars or restaurants.)

There is certainly truth to this.

I dine alone all the time. What bothers me is the wait staff's attitude towards me, a single woman. I noticed this in some restaurants in Walton County. Though I am polite, I am still given sub-standard treatment: ignored, no bread, no drink refill, check comes before dessert offer, check slapped on table with no smile, no eye contact.

It is assumed that I will leave little or no tip since it is believed that women do not know how to tip, so any effort on my behalf is futile.Also, I imagine the sight of a single woman dining alone looks pathetic and may hurt their business, so I am seated in a dark corner.

Ha, now I bring post-it notes with me, and whenever I get bad service, I leave a note explaining why I left a minimal tip, if any at all. Otherwise, I leave generous tips for great service. When I return, they DO remember how well I treated them and they treat me right.

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I love dining at both the upstairs and downstairs bars at Bud And Alleys. I like to sit there and write in my journal over bottomless glasses of tea and those sweet potato fries.

I also appreciate sushi bars who put up a sign, ?No cell phones, please.?

This is a great thread revival- thanks Tupelo! And !

I just re-read the whole thread- it appears that Rapunzel found us here! For better or worse- you are stuck with us now!

I remember this heated discussion - should one read while dining out alone? Has anyone had any good dining alone experiences since last year?

Oh, my gosh. This was my first post. It's been revived, and now I realize I know most of these people that replied.

It's funny that the old wait staff stereotype never entered my mind. I waited tables in college, and I know that the 'women don't tip' thing is out there, but I've always been able to get decent service when I'm alone in big cities. Who knows if it is the cause, or if the wait person is just irritated that they have a table with just one person and therefore a smaller check/tip. I do know that I have eaten many meals alone in SoWal since I posted this last year, and I have had almost universally bad service on those occasions.

I have some tips for dining alone in SoWal.... First, call ahead and make sure the restaurant isn't too busy. When they are slow, they seem to not mind a solo customer as much. Second, if you are going to sit at the bar regardless of what the book says about looking pathetic it is best to have a book or people frequently assume you're looking to pick up. Finally, try Basmati's or Amore...both restaurants are very solo dining friendly.

:clap_1:

rapunzey's first thread and Brutalizing BR!!! Those were the days!!! I also love how Mermy zinged me and then say...just kidding!

:clap_1:

rapunzey's first thread and Brutalizing BR!!! Those were the days!!! I also love how Mermy zinged me and then say...just kidding!

I love going back and reading old threads. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of that tonight.

Oh, my gosh. This was my first post. It's been revived, and now I realize I know most of these people that replied.

It's funny that the old wait staff stereotype never entered my mind. I waited tables in college, and I know that the 'women don't tip' thing is out there, but I've always been able to get decent service when I'm alone in big cities. Who knows if it is the cause, or if the wait person is just irritated that they have a table with just one person and therefore a smaller check/tip. I do know that I have eaten many meals alone in SoWal since I posted this last year, and I have had almost universally bad service on those occasions.

I have some tips for dining alone in SoWal.... First, call ahead and make sure the restaurant isn't too busy. When they are slow, they seem to not mind a solo customer as much. Second, if you are going to sit at the bar regardless of what the book says about looking pathetic it is best to have a book or people frequently assume you're looking to pick up. Finally, try Basmati's or Amore...both restaurants are very solo dining friendly.

In SoWal, I don't think it matters if you are dining alone, or with six friends. Great service is hard to come by unless you are dining at the right places, and I am not giving out any of my favorite restaurants for service.

This is a great thread revival- thanks Tupelo! And !

Hey there, Jdarg and everyone! Thanks for the welcome!

There is certainly truth to this.

I dine alone all the time. What bothers me is the wait staff's attitude towards me, a single woman. I noticed this in some restaurants in Walton County. Though I am polite, I am still given sub-standard treatment: ignored, no bread, no drink refill, check comes before dessert offer, check slapped on table with no smile, no eye contact.

It is assumed that I will leave little or no tip since it is believed that women do not know how to tip, so any effort on my behalf is futile.Also, I imagine the sight of a single woman dining alone looks pathetic and may hurt their business, so I am seated in a dark corner.

Ha, now I bring post-it notes with me, and whenever I get bad service, I leave a note explaining why I left a minimal tip, if any at all. Otherwise, I leave generous tips for great service. When I return, they DO remember how well I treated them and they treat me right.

--------------------------------------

I love dining at both the upstairs and downstairs bars at Bud And Alleys. I like to sit there and write in my journal over bottomless glasses of tea and those sweet potato fries.

I also appreciate sushi bars who put up a sign, ?No cell phones, please.?

One thing to do (and that I will do because of your post which is a bit scary in terms of service) is to let the wait staff know when I sit down that I'm treating myself to a special meal and that I'm looking forward to my stay at the restaurant because I heard their service can be very good. Then, if they accommodate me, I'd leave a good tip. One of the nice things about going to the same places repeatedly is that you can develop a good relationship with people and they learn how you want to be treated. If they don't learn after a few visits, then it's probably not a place you want to go to. Of course, with staff turnover it can be harder to get that routine, especially if you (like me) only get to SoWal every few months.

There is certainly truth to this.

I dine alone all the time. What bothers me is the wait staff's attitude towards me, a single woman. I noticed this in some restaurants in Walton County. Though I am polite, I am still given sub-standard treatment: ignored, no bread, no drink refill, check comes before dessert offer, check slapped on table with no smile, no eye contact.

It is assumed that I will leave little or no tip since it is believed that women do not know how to tip, so any effort on my behalf is futile.Also, I imagine the sight of a single woman dining alone looks pathetic and may hurt their business, so I am seated in a dark corner.

Ha, now I bring post-it notes with me, and whenever I get bad service, I leave a note explaining why I left a minimal tip, if any at all. Otherwise, I leave generous tips for great service. When I return, they DO remember how well I treated them and they treat me right.

--------------------------------------

I love dining at both the upstairs and downstairs bars at Bud And Alleys. I like to sit there and write in my journal over bottomless glasses of tea and those sweet potato fries.

I also appreciate sushi bars who put up a sign, ?No cell phones, please.?

Next time you go out to dinner sit at the bar..............it's much more fun if your single! ;-)

So I'm thinking of going out to eat as a singleton again soon...does anyone have any thoughts on Onano, Gravel Road, and Rendevous? General observations and ratings on single-friendliness would be most welcome!

So I'm thinking of going out to eat as a singleton again soon...does anyone have any thoughts on Onano, Gravel Road, and Rendevous? General observations and ratings on single-friendliness would be most welcome!

Go to Onano, and Penny will make you feel comfortable and welcome. Ask about the baby, and you're golden! The food is good, and the atmosphere is even better.

TANGENTS ARE OUR LIFEBLOOD!

some things NEVER change.....

Rapunzel,

Definitely try Borago. You'll get good service there, very friendly, attractive and the food is top notch also. Always someone ready for good conversation.

you had an inside track...didn't you girl!

Yeah, Miss Kitty, over the deep end is more like it! (I'm just teasing you, sweetie.)

"hardi" har har...figure that out and I will give you.....a surprise!!!

you ladies are still in a love/hate relationship...... :clap_1:

Oh, my gosh. This was my first post. It's been revived, and now I realize I know most of these people that replied.

quote] when you posted this, you stated that you were only dining alone for a few months...and now look at you, a permnant resident :clap_1: But you have adorable Skunky from time-to-time, plus a ton of new SoWal friends!

I love going back and reading old threads. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of that tonight.

does this mean you are pathetically alone tonight?

I remember once seeing a family of three eating at a sandwich shop and all three members were reading their own book!! Crazy.

That being said, when I eat alone, I have no problem bringing something to read. It just depends on the time and place.

If you have not tried Vintij in Mirimar Beach, you should. It is in the strip center with McCallisters and Alltel. Before I went in, I thought this can't be that good being in the strip center. But what a pleasant surprise. Outstanding apps, great entrees, and the wines are top notch.

And I ate at the bar, by myself.