I like to eat. Most of the time, I restrict myself to home cooking or take outs. Sure, I still dine out but other than lunch with colleagues on Fridays or with meeting with friends, I don’t eat out that often. Here is the reason: I feel most restaurants do not really welcome solo dinners. Now, before I continue, I know there is this question: Why dine alone? Well, sometimes, you just want to enjoy the food…
Now, I understand to a certain extent the cons of a single diner. After all that same table the solo dinner takes could be taken by a couple instead, which means double revenue. Also, depending on where the diner lives (vs the location of the restaurant), he/she might not order alcohol, which is one of the greater sources of profit in restaurants. So, in a way, it is not as profitable.
However, there are what I consider to be pros of solo diners: In my case, I do not demand a lot nor require much attention from the waiter/waitress so it is really easy for them to take care of me. Likewise, since I am only there for the food, turnaround is relatively faster than larger parties.
Having said that, here is a non-inclusive list of places I tend to go when I want to eat alone:
- White Spot/Moxie’s/Cactus Club or similar. Actually, White Spot more than the others; the problem with the rest is that they tend to over-emphasize the alcohol in the “bar” section.
- Japanese-type restaurants (does not matter if they are run by Japanese, Chinese or Korean). They tend to have a bar section and, again, no over-emphasis on alcohol.
- Noodle places (except those in Downtown). My favourite is Lao Shan Dong (Nelson at Kingsway, across Metrotown).
- Any buffet. Well, yes and no. They usually do not mind; however, I try not to go to buffets – in fact, have not been in one in a long time.
- Diners, my favourite being Slocan Restaurant (Hastings, between Nanaimo and
