Don't put me in a corner - solo dining

[WeAreTheHeroes]

Treating myself to breakfast in a brasserie chain restaurant. The member of staff who greeted me guided me to a table away from the main part of the restaurant, tucked away round a corner. He looked most put out when I said I'd rather sit where the other diners were. It's not as if they have tables for one and I was taking up more space.

I eat out a lot alone and nearly always end up with a really good table or one with the best view etc.

I would not like to be shoved in a corner. Mostly eat in cafes so perhaps not a problem there. But I tr to get one where I face the room (against a wall) because if you sit at the next table to a man, they tend to be space invaders and are practically sitting on your lap whilst you eat!!

Interesting. The vibe was very much "let's sit the person on her own away from everyone else" and that's fine if that's your preference, but I wasn't asked where I would like to sit so had to speak up when it wasn't what I wanted. There were tables for two and tables for four. For bigger parties they would have put tables together.

A few months ago I went to a restaurant near Euston Station where the server tried to seat me at a table for two facing a pillar instead of the room. That was weird. I just chose the other chair and moved the cutlery. But that wasn't the same thing as today as it wasn't tucked away.

I used to wander about in France on my own from time to time. In general I found that the waiters, when they learned I was alone, would ask if I wanted a quiet table or one from which I could watch the world. (I always chose the latter.) Very civilised.

I'm someone who has holidayed alone and the standard advice given to lone female diners used to be to take a book when you went to a restaurant. You could appear absorbed in that and not interact with anyone and deter anyone who might try to engage you in conversation. I never did that. Times have changed with smart phones I know. I've had some entertaining conversations with fellow diners which never would have happened had I been reading my book.

You're really overthinking this. He probably just thought that as you didn't have a companion to talk to, you would maybe prefer to be away from everyone else's noise and distractions while eating.

Big assumption on his part - he could have asked. And if you read my posts...