How to eat at a restaurant alone
Eat at a restaurant alone by picking a place you are curious about, going at a quieter time, and asking for a seat at the bar or a table with a view. Bring a book or not; watching the room is enough. Order what you want, take your time, and tip as you normally would. Most people are thinking about their own table, not yours.
Why it matters: Taking yourself out is freedom, and it gets easier the first time.
Steps
- Choose a place you have wanted to try, with a counter or bar if that feels easier.
- Go at a quieter time for the first outing, such as an early dinner or a weekday lunch.
- Say: a table for one, please, or a seat at the bar.
- Bring a book or a notebook if you like, and keep your phone away for a while.
- Order what you really want, including dessert.
- Chat with the staff if you feel like it.
- Notice how it felt, and plan a second outing.
Common mistakes
- Rushing through the meal as if you are in the way.
- Hiding in your phone the whole time.
- Only going to places you would never choose otherwise.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to eat at a restaurant alone
What to say
Eat at a restaurant alone by picking a place you are curious about, going at a quieter time, and asking for a seat at the bar or a table with a view. Bring a book or not; watching the room is enough. Order what you want, take your time, and tip as you normally would. Most people are thinking about their own table, not yours.
What to show
- Choose a place you have wanted to try, with a counter or bar if that feels easier.
- Go at a quieter time for the first outing, such as an early dinner or a weekday lunch.
- Say: a table for one, please, or a seat at the bar.
- Bring a book or a notebook if you like, and keep your phone away for a while.
- Order what you really want, including dessert.
- Chat with the staff if you feel like it.
- Notice how it felt, and plan a second outing.
Check question
What makes a first solo meal easier?
Answer: A quieter time and a bar or counter seat. Fewer crowds and a counter seat feel relaxed.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
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Related skills
Sources
This skill is general practice and draws on no single published source.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .