Am I the only sad twat who eats out alone?

[ReallyFuckingHopeThisWorksOut]

I've been doing it for years and I actually enjoy it. In fact I sometimes even choose to go alone rather than with someone because I just can't be bothered with company. Whilst in a relationship it's never bothered me, but at the minute I'm feeling a bit fragile because I'm single and very lonely in general... so I feel like everyone else looks at me and knows how I'm feeling!

I booked a table earlier and in fairness there was a language barrier so I had to tell him I wanted a table for just me, but he didn't seem to understand for ages! Most people don't bat an eyelid but very, very occasionally waiters have looked a bit "oh!" when I've walked in alone and asked for a menu "just for me".

I wouldn't dress up to the nines and go somewhere really fancy surrounded by couples or anything, it's usually standard pubs or cafes or somewhere I can sit in a corner after a long hike or shopping trip and just eat a hot meal and read a magazine or something in peace for half an hour.

I tell myself it's good that I'm independent and can do things without other people but I do sometimes think to myself, man just admit it... what a sad wanker I am.

So many people on here recommend it... in reality I don't know anyone else who does!

Everyone says they do it on here but tbh I don’t know anyone irl that eats out alone and I wouldn’t do it.

I do and I always love it, and think of it as a treat 😆!

Do it all the time on work trips. No one bats an eyelid.

WTF is sad about it? Sad to me is giving a shit about what others supposedly think to the extent that it stops you from enjoying a nice meal.

I don't really eat out but if wealthier and single I would in pubs and cafes definitely. I went to the cinema alone yesterday which I realise isn't as obvious but many people won't do that either.

Everyone says they do it on here but tbh I don’t know anyone irl that eats out alone and I wouldn’t do it.

Why the hell not?

I do. Work trips, holuday, when I just can't be arsed to cook...

I do it quite regularly, but I have been happily coupled-up for 30 years, so it's not associated with singledom for me. I love to eat out and like my own company.

I don't do it... but I'm a bit of a homebody and if I have even 5 minutes peace from DS and DH my absolute preference is to stay at home with a takeaway and glass of wine, rather than eat out.

If you enjoy it, sod what anyone else thinks.

I do it all the time.

If there was a language barrier is it possible he didn’t understand “just for me”?

I always say “table for one”, big smile to show I’m delighted by it and hold up one finger to accentuate the point 😂

I do it. Take a child to a club quite far from home and go for a meal by myself most weeks. I love it! Couldn’t give two hoots if the restaurant think I’m odd. They are always nice enough.

I love doing it, it is a treat just for me. I am meeting a friend in the evening tomorrow and I am wondering if I can fit in a sneaky meal before meeting her!

I do on work trips, or if out and about solo.

To the people saying they've never done this, what do you do when you're out by yourself for the day, do you not eat?

I also very much enjoy solo cinema trips. They're much more enjoyable than couple ones. Blissful solitude and no sharing of popcorn.

I don’t want to, would rather have a take away I would hate for people to think I’ve been stood up or something!

I eat out alone all the time.
Gosh, I even forgot into a pub alone and <gulp> consume alcohol 😯

Sorry OP, not you, just a response you got. I LOVE dining alone. Must confess, I do take a book/phone/tablet as company, but as a solo campervanner, I havecome to thoroughly enjoy my own company.

And no one pinches my chips or bottle of wine😁

I found it the hardest part of solo travelling. Quite often there was puzzlement, or the waiter would assume I was waiting for someone and not take my order, or I’d be seated at the worst table crammed in somewhere.

It’s definitely easier to stick to a certain type of restaurant, but then that annoys me too because I feel I should be able to eat anywhere I want when I’m paying.

I always think of the Odd Man Out episode of Frasier.

I do it occasionally, tends to be lunch more than dinner if I have a weekend day to treat myself to me time.

To be fair, I didn’t start doing it until I had to go away with work and realised eating a sandwich in a hotel room is a sad way of spending the evening and when DP went away with work he’d send me pictures of great meals and then be confused when I didn’t do the same 😂

Now I will happily take myself out for dinner if he’s away, but I’m selective about where I do it so it doesn’t attract attention from confused/wrongly sympathetic staff or pushy patrons.

I work in Bristol occasionally and I go to one particular family Italian restaurant who always makes a fuss of me on my own; asks if I want a newspaper, has a chat while taking my order or filling up my wine, gives me a window table so I can people watch for entertainment. I love them 😁

I don’t want to, would rather have a take away I would hate for people to think I’ve been stood up or something

Yes because that's the only possible reason a woman could be eating alone. What a depressing attitude.

It's never bothered me. I often go swimming and then for a coffee/snack on my own and just enjoy the peace.

I love it on work trips as I can people watch with a lovely meal and glass of wine, all on expenses!

Eating alike is the kind of thing I fantasise about. Forget sex, I just want a meal with no one talking to me or touching my food.

Even pre kids tho I'd eat alone, I love it

Really Biscoff?
See, I do dine alone and if I see other solo women, I never think they've been stood up.
I just think that they are like me, enjoying their own company, or away in business - again, me a few years ago.
Being a sad, neglected little wummin would never occur to me.

I would love to do it but I don't really get the chance because I'm a single mum and always have the kids with me.
I work in a pub though and it's not unusual for people to do it. Sometimes they have a laptop or sometimes they read a book and I'm always really envious of them!

You are not sad at all OP. I'm sorry you are feeling a bit fragile at the moment though

I will add: my mother thinks it’s super weird and wouldn’t do it at all. Or go to the cinema alone. She would get a takeaway and eat in the car/hotel rather than eat in.

That's the most tragic post on here.

I do this regularly. I’ve been on holiday alone. I go to the cinema alone. The world did not stop.