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!

@allfurcoatnoknickers
Do you have a car? You could book a enclosed field (there should be 1 or 2 in your area) , get a picnic, take a blanket and let your dogs run around for a bit and share a picnic with them that way?

My dog also hates other dogs so i only take him in dog friendly places on weekdays as its likely there isnt going to be as many woofies in there as weekends.

@Dogappreciationsociety I'm overseas, so I don't think this would work, sadly. We are going away next week to somewhere with a huge dog-friendly beach though, so I'm looking forward to some very early morning coffee-and-a-pastry walks with them.

To the people who won't eat out alone:

what do ypu do when at work for 8 hours in the winter and you want a hot meal or soup. I know some work places allow people to heat up food, but it is nicer to eat a carvery lunch in a cafe, take a break from work rather than heat up something in a small canteen.

I feel conscious of eating alone at night time. If I am away with work I eat in the hotel restaurant at 6 or 7pm. As I am staying in the hotel and could be on a course/work I have to eat. It doesn't look aa brave as going to a restaurant at 8pm alone and ordering 3 courses.

Eating lunch alone is understandable as you could be at work or away for a day. Eating scone/cake, coffee out alone is fine and something I do all the time

I am currently not only the only person at my table, but the only person in the restaurant (in Belgium.) The only issue I've had here is some places already booked up.

I do! I regularly have to drop one of my kids in a nearby city and have time to kill. I often go for nice food and just sit on my phone and read.

Dh goes to the pub alone on occasion and I don’t think it’s any different.

I made a similar comment on another thread a few weeks ago, that men go to pubs on their own all the time.

And got loads of replies saying “yeah, but those guys are sad alcoholics”

I'd go to cafes, subway, mcd's etc, and eat on my own but I wouldn't go to a restaurant for dinner. I'd go there and ask for takeaway though.

I love it. Currently sat in an Istanbul roof top restaurant enjoying a glass of wine after dinner. Bliss.

I do it all the time. My family are quite fussy eaters and I like the opportunity to try new things plus I enjoy it. DD is 18 and she does it fairly often when none of her friends are around in college and she wants to go into town for lunch - I think good for her! I would have been too self-conscious at her age!

I have also found noone ever notices that I'm alone. I went into a restaurant in Central London on a Saturday night once and was sat at a table right in the middle and it was very busy around me with groups of young people. Noone even glanced in my direction so I never felt odd or sad!

I like eating out - I like eating out with company and on my own. I wouldn't be limited to getting takeaway because I'm on my own. At home I do all the cooking. It's a pleasure to have someone else cook and have it served to me. I'm not self conscious eating out alone and don't give a monkey's what anyone else thinks.