Does It Bother You To Eat Alone In A Restaurant?

[SlowwHand]

I was asked earlier tonight if I wanted to go get something to eat.
No, thank you. I'm not hungry.
The person went desperate. Hates to eat alone.
I've heard this from others in the past.
Why? Either I haven't asked, or they couldn't explain.

[onodera]

You mean when you're the only patron in the whole place? Somewhat, but not enough to not eat.

[Aeson]

Never bothered me to eat alone. Preferable to most company in fact. (Family and some close friends the exceptions.) I can then eat exactly what I want exactly as fast as I want and go on about my business. No troublesome small-talk.

[SlowwHand]

You mean when you're the only patron in the whole place? Somewhat, but not enough to not eat.

Alone at your table.

[C0ckney]

when i used to travel for work i'd go to eat alone in restaurants. sometimes i'd strike up a conversation with someone and sometimes i'd keep myself to myself; eating alone never bothered me, though.

[Proteus_MST]

Never bothered me.
I also never shied away from going alone to clubs or cinemas, if friends weren´t interested in the movie or had no time.

But I know a few people who think different about it

[rah]

The guy I used to always eat lunch with at work got laid off so I've been eating by myself. While I prefer having company, no big deal.

[Lorizael]

I get the anxiety about it, but I still do it from time to time. When I do it, I imagine other people are thinking something along the lines of: why is he here? when will he be done at that table? is he a retarded asocial nerd with no friends?

[Lorizael]

The guy I used to always eat lunch with at work got laid off so I've been eating by myself. While I prefer having company, no big deal.

Aren't you the guy who hires and fires people?

[rah]

He was in a different department. We do have over 50K employees.

[NICE MOBIUS]

Nope. When you're on your own, you can get into all sorts of adventures!

[Jon Miller]

In France it isn't so great, they expect you to still just sit there for an hour after the meal?

In the US it is fine...

JM

[Main_Brain]

Well i estimate 35-40% of the time at the Restaurant/diner/whatever are spent waiting, which gets quite boring when you are at your own.
Otoh i guess Generation Smartphone is never alone :foreveralove:

[OneFootInTheGrave]

If I am alone = takeaway.

Sitting and eating is more enjoyable with company.

[onodera]

Alone at your table.

No, if I'm on a business trip, I am likely to eat alone. If I am eating lunch at work the only time I eat alone is when I had to miss my regular time, so it's likely I am in a hurry anyway.