Dining as a solo traveller can be daunting. But it doesn’t need to be – you can probably treat yourself better than anyone else. “Oh, I hadn’t quite finished,” I apologise as the waiter tries to dart my plate away.
He gives me a knowing look. I’m a woman eating alone on a Saturday evening. He does the restaurant maths: hardly a valued customer.
Actually, he’s wrong. I’m here for an hour before I dash to the theatre. But I was going to bring friends next week.
In my role as restaurant detective, I often sound out places in advance. Despite solo dining gaining in popularity, many restaurants still view us as less profitable. While breakfast and lunch seem more acceptable, dining alone in the evening can feel awkward, especially in more intimate settings.
I’ve encountered many of the tactics used to put off solo diners. The receptionist who “forgets” to seat you. The restaurant offering a tasting menu only for two (subtext: a lone customer takes up the same space as two and must make up the shortfall).
And I’ll never forget the Oxford restaurant with a “Couples only” sign..
