WIBU to eat in a restaurant alone?

[MissClarke86]

Not so much an AIBU but more of a would I feel awkward?

I've never eaten out alone but am having serious cravings for an Italian meal!

Do other people do it?

I think I'd do just that Maisie. I like people watching!

Do it and then come back and tell us what you had. :)

Or if you've got a smartphone, you could have Mumsnet as your dining companions!

I had a lovely pasta dish in Carluccio's last week (solo!) - it had some kind of fried spinach balls with it.

Omg - that pasta dish with the spinach balls is the best.

I do it lots when travelling with work. And sometimes when I have a rare day off with out DH or DC in tow.

It's lovely.

I take my Kindle and ask for a window seat and watch the world the world go by.

No compromising on restaurant choice, wine choice, dessert choice or anything else.

I do it all the time, everywhere from Pret to high end restaurants at home and abroad and always have. Why would anyone not? I can't really understand.

Agree both reading a book and people watching are pleasant accompaniments.

Eating out alone is lovely and relaxing. Take a book or newspaper, or just people watch and enjoy the food. No need to feel anxious, nobody is worried about what you're doing, they're also too busy enjoying their food.

Nobody will be bothered or think you're weird. Like another poster said, done it when away with work & met some great people who've asked me to join them. I've also said no, to the ones who look like wrong uns'. Your life, your choices. Go for it & enjoy

Definitely go! Ask the waitress to pop you in a corner and just chill on your own - it's lovely

I did it loads when I travelled for work and it was great. Time for your own thoughts. I'd have been taken aback if someone had asked to join me.

The only time I've had room service was with colleagues around when I couldn't face spending another evening with them as well as all day.

I'm planning on doing this for the first time on Sunday as my mum has offered to take my kids sat-sun so thought I'd treat myself to retail therapy and a nice lunch!
I'm a bit nervous though!

Very normal in France in good restaurants to see table laid for one. Just enjoy x

Absolutely fine and even enjoyable .
Take what makes you feel comfortable like a book etc .
When I do it I people watch too 😄🍷

Take a good book. It's bloody blissful :)

I love to go out by myself - no need to compromise and work out what other people want.

I'm going on a 10 day holiday by myself soon and I can't wait!

I have also found other lone diners in these situations and asked to join them

no, that's AWFUL! People eating alone are either alone through choice or because they're on business and have spent a whole day in training or presentations. They want some down time with a book or magazine, not some random weirdo asking to join them. And the majority of people are too polite to say "No, sod off an d leave me alone".

I love it :)

When I first started to go out I'd try and pick places that had a bar you could eat at, so I wasn't sat opposite an empty seat, but nowadays I don't even care!

I go away with work for a night every couple of months. I have a lovely meal by myself followed by cinema by myself then a night in a hotel. Bliss.

Another one to say don't worry about props. When I first started to eat out alone for work I'd always bury myself in a book/emails and the fact that I was away from home seemed to help.

These days I don't bother to clutter up the table and will happily go and eat alone with just my thoughts in my home town too. Look around you, half of the couples will be jealous

Wow, so agree with you, Luna - having to chat to random strangers would ruin my outing!

No, I do it all the time. I work ridiculous split shifts regularly and often eat out alone.

I do it at least 2 or 3 times a week.

OP Carluccio's is lovely... Make sure you sit so you have a good vie of the deli part too and you can people watch to your heart's content... And a book is always a good back up too

I do this frequently as I used to be away with work, and now DH is often away with work so I sometimes do it locally.

Bring a book or an ipad. Enjoy a nice glass of wine and a nice meal that you don't have to cook or wash up.

Before I had children I never thought about eating out alone but now I do and I love it - honestly nobody bats an eyelid, my husband works away a lot and eats out by himself all the time.