To eat alone in a high end restaurant in London on Saturday night?

[mayfairtroubles]

Just that really. Friend cancelled because of a family emergency, was really looking forward to it after separating from ex DH in November. It's a high end restaurant in London Mayfair, feel a bit silly all dressed up sitting alone on a Saturday night. Don't mind eating lunch alone, but don't know about eating alone in a busy restaurant on a Saturday night it's next week btw

@Leflic - Lone diners don't want to be patronised by random strangers!

Totally! If someone came over and asked me to join their table I'd think they were bonkers.

If you would enjoy it do it. No one will blink.

I probably wouldn’t only because I’d enjoy it more with someone else and I want maximum value for my £. Not so much what others think just the spending part.

But if this doesn’t apply, go for it.

I'm going on holiday on my own (uk break) soon and entirely intend to have many restaurant meals cosied up in a little corner with my kindle. I'm rather looking forward to it!

Also I've been a waitress in a former life, we don't care. It's SO common. People travelling for business etc. Be brave! You'll hardly be noticed.

I wouldn’t feel particularly self conscious doing this (who cares?) but might find it a bit boring, especially as the evening was planned as a social occasion. Do it if you think you’d enjoy it though, obvs!

I couldn't be bothered.

I eat out alone when away on business but also just because I like to. I’m happily divorced, I like to eat out. I do have family, friends and a boyfriend- I still enjoy eating on my own sometimes.

I’d be horrified if someone asked me join their table. Id politely decline but would consider it the height of rudeness for you to interrupt my lovely solitude with your patronising “kindness”.

Go for it, fuck everyone else's opinions.

Enjoy your meal.

Go for it. Nothing wrong with eating alone.

I tend to sit near a window so there is more to watch than just the people in the restaurant.

You can play 'people watching' and make up elaborate stories about your fellow diners, obviously keep this in your head.

And of course we now need a live thread of the menu, waiters, fellow diners et etc.

Well, I'm not OP but I found myself in a similar position last night. Had a table booked at one of my favourite (and pretty fancy)London restaurants. Friend cried off sick a few days ago and couldn't find a replacement. In the end I went alone, wore something lovely, ate three courses, drank two glasses of prosecco, had a fabulous time and walked home in a slightly tipsy fog. Marvellous!

I love dining alone, and am surprised any fellow diners would think I was uncomfortable doing so, particularly to the degree that other people might ask me to join them. Wtf is that all about?! I couldn't think of anything worse than some random asking me to join their table for dinner. To me, that's uncomfortable!

I’ll go with you. We can just Bitch and moan about mumsnet!!

I think people are being unfair to leflic - I've eaten alone dozens of times especially on business abroad, and occasionally I'd have accepted an invitation to join someone. I could always have said no .....

I wouldn’t do it where I live but in London you can be anonymous.

You can play 'people watching' and make up elaborate stories about your fellow diners, obviously keep this in your head.

I think this wins the prize for most utterly redundant second half of a sentence, ever, in the history of humankind "Hello, I've just been sitting here alone watching you, would you like to hear the story I've made up about you?"

@sashh didn't mean that in a snarky way - it really has cheered me right up.

Nope I wouldnt, but then I would resent paying high end prices

@crosstalk, sure you could refuse, but by the sound of @Leflic’s attitude, you would then spend the rest of what was supposed to be a pleasurable solo meal catching glimpses of her and her companions shaking their heads in pity at your pariah status over their risotto.

There’s always solo diners in London restaurants.

Many years ago I went to the cinema on my own for the first time. I enjoyed it so much that I have done several cinema, theatre, dining and hotel trips by myself since, even though I’m married.

I like my own company and people watching!

I'll come with you! 🙋

Do it. If the waiter thinks you've been stood up you may get crab cakes on the house

When I was younger and came to London on my own several times I would always eat alone. No one ever bothered me, the restaurants never seemed to mind, I could read or people watch to my heart's content. It was lovely.

Did you go OP? Let us know

And @leflic hope you got the message to stop patronise people who are just fine without your pity.

I would invite another friend to join me instead

@Leflic is getting a bit of a hard time. I keep seeing Facebook videos of people offering kindness to strangers, and all the replies are "Aww, how kind". Only on MN is it a cardinal sin to make eye contact or speak to someone you don't know

Showing kindness to strangers is fine if they’re visibly upset, a vulnerable person etc. A person eating alone and enjoying a meal in a restaurant doesn’t need rescued ffs.

There are many fab restaurants in London with counter seats, I'd check if the restaurant had one of those and if it didn't book a table at Bocca di Lupo