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!

Well the op thinks it’s makes someone a sad twat 🤷‍♀️I think loner or stood up is probably better than that!

You know lots of people eat in places that don't have waiters right? And lots of bar staff in pubs etc wouldn't really notice who was sat with who?

And it isn't you not wanting to eat alone that's tragic. Your life, eat with whom ever you want. It's the fact that you lack so little imagination that seeing someone alone would immediately make you think they'd be stood up or were a loner with no friends. And that you'd allow other peoples perceived judgement to control you into not being seen to be on your own.

Confident and self assured is even better.

The op is using delf depreciating humour to address an issue of her loneliness vs her general happiness to be alone

I regularly eat out alone when I travel. It's actually nice to not have to make small talk (or work talk) at the end of the day, and not to eat in my hotel room. I relax, enjoy looking around and being a little nosy, and generally just winding down. I often then go for a walk before going back to my hotel room.

I have done it many a time either on work trips or sometimes just to escape for a bit with the dog slice of cake and a coffee! DH and 2 small children I fins it blissful!
I don't see it as a single thing I actually quite enjoy the peace and quiet 😂

I'm a waitress in quite a fancy (and busy!) restaurant and we get lone diners (male and female) all the time. I had 4 this lunch time in fact. None of my team bat an eye, you get the same service as everyone else. It's not sad or unusual at all.

I do! Always feel awkward doing it though! lol

God that really is tragic and depressing.

Why on earth do (some) women play right into all that utter claptrap??

Of course I go out to eat on my own. Nothing odd about it.

I don’t need a man to validate my existence, I’m capable of doing interesting and enjoyable things all by myself, I don’t need a gentleman escort, and it wouldn’t even occur to me to worry that people might think I’ve been stood up! Nor is it a problem if people want to assume that I’m a loner. What a bizarre thought, and so depressing. No wonder so many women are apparently so desperate for a man, any man, if they really do look at things this way.

I eat out abroad as I usually go by myself and I've got to eat🤷‍♀️
Not so much here, at home, because I socialise with friends.
If I eat out by myself it would be mid week day time when I'm not working and no friends are available.
I've only had issues abroad once and that was on the same holiday. One couple wanted me to join them and their kids because they didn't want me to be alone so I joined them one evening and two women about my age at the time insisted that I went out ( they were in the room next to me) Again I gave in but they were like tbe Fat Slags from Viz, complaint ing to the waiters about " foreign muck" , if the waiter didn't understand they just spoke louder, that kind of thing. Embarrassing and cringe. I'm better off by myself!!

And @BiscoffSundae know no one who does it or doing it is such a none event that they don't report it to you? I wouldn't specify tell my best friend I was eating alone unless I wanted to brag to her about it (we both have toddlers).

I'm off to a concert for four nights alone. Gasp what will everyone THINK of me?????

All the time. On work, or just because I want to. I don't think I've ever had a waiter make a comment, or ignore me, etc - it's a perfectly normal thing to do, I've done it for years. Has breakfast out this morning in fact, and the woman at the next table was alone too (if you don't count her dog!)

I do things alone all the time, including going out to eat. I doubt people care, but if they do it's their issue. It says more about them.

I must confess it is one of my favourite thing to do. I do bring my kindle but to be honest I mainly just people watch. I do normally book and actually request a good table. One thing I noticed it people seem to think you are deaf if you are on your own with a book/kindle. I have overhear business deals/political scandals long before they hit the media/and some other shocking conversations.

Admittedy I am also one of those people who will go to cinema, concerts, weekends away, Holidays on my own. Sometimes friends cannot make it and I am not going to miss out on things rather than going solo.

I only know two people that eat out alone regularly. One was my ex, he has three kids and used to have a gf, and he loved eating out alone as he needed to get away from them sometimes. 😂 he does a lot alone, including going to concerts and the movies. My other friend will eat breakfast alone, but feels awkward eating dinner alone.

I've gone out to eat once by myself and I felt like everyone was feeling sorry for me. Even when I get to a restaurant before a friend and sit at a table I notice people looking at me. So now I don't do it anymore. I prob wouldn't mind doing lunch alone but I can't imagine doing dinner alone. Plus i look around at all the couples and it makes me feel lonelier. Plus I do most things alone, so when I go out to eat, travel, to concerts I want to share it with someone.

I do regularly for breakfast / brunch on the weekends (I live a 5 minute walk from multiple chain restaurants) and I do sometimes in the evening when I travel for work, although I also often have a sandwich in my room if I’ve had a big lunch.

I used to take a book, these days I take an iPad in a case that lets me prop it up and I read while I eat.

I would enjoy it especially with a book, I rarely get the opportunity though... not sad at all.

I do it all the time and I love it. There are a few local favoured bars and cafes where I go. I do choose places where it's fairly standard to eat alone however, ie there's always a few others doing the same. I'll probably go for lunch on my own tomorrow.

If you can't or won't do things on your own, cinema/eating/concerts etc, then you leave yourself open to rubbish friendships and relationships because you can't function without others so will settle for any old crap. It's only when you can function alone that you choose friends and partners who are good for you.

I never have and I think I would be uncomfortable doing so. However I acknowledge this is a stupid thing to feel and I admire those who do it!

We have a number of customers who come in to eat alone, not unusual at all. Some like to read a paper or book, or catch up on their phones/tablets. Others just like to watch the other diners and activity in our restaurant. Some even sit and scroll through MN!
OP enjoy it, it's a lovely thing to enjoy good food in nice surroundings and not have to do the washing up.

I eat out alone every single day, I absolutely loathe cooking and never, ever cook a meal at home.

Just do it. Honestly it'll improve your life if you're happy to do stuff alone. What about coffee and cake in a coffee shop? Bfast in a cafe? Something less formal than dinner for 1 at the Ritz

I don't think you're sad, OP. You sound great!

I do it all the time. I don't consider myself a sad twat thanks