Table For One, Please?

@aliissinisalu

Last Friday after work I went to a local Italian pizzeria, devoured a Panzanella salad, ate half a Margherita pizza and sipped on a glass of wine. The bartender noted how much I loved my meal and said,

Well, since you liked it so much….and poured me another glass. Grazie!

After talking to people all day at work, all I wanted to do was eat and talk to absolutely nobody. Not even my handsome husband. Although had he promised to sit there in silence, I would have allowed his presence just for the view. I stuffed my face, got a little lost in my book, My Brilliant Friend, and people watched like a creep in the corner spot of the bar. It was absolutely perfect.

Several months back, I read an article in the New York Times about how eating alone is making waves in Europe and it’s the thing to do now. Well, spank me silly and call me Sally, had the Times called me, I could have shared with them how I’ve been taking myself on solo dates for ages.

Is eating alone suddenly a thing now?

Years ago I told a friend that I was off to see a movie by myself and she said, awwww that’s sad. Sad?! I couldn’t be more excited to sit in a dark theater alone with my own giant cup of cherry Coke, Twizzlers and some popcorn, hold the butter.

I get it. Doing these types of things can be intimidating. After chatting with some friends about this, I can understand the hesitation.

However, if you’ve ever thought about grabbing a bite to eat alone but worried the other patrons would think you’re a loser for dining alone, the follow up to that thought is: who gives a damn what other people think.

Have you ever sat next to a couple who didn’t mutter a single word to one another the entire meal?  You could cut the tension with the butter knife? Yeah, I’m thinking maybe one of them was wishing they were eating alone too. So who’s to judge? You do you.

Want to know the best way to eat alone, with a book. You’d be surprised how well delicious food and a good book go together. Get lost in someone else’s culinary creations and in another person’s thoughts. You literally need to do nothing but eat, read, sip, and pay.

And here’s a pro tip, eat at the bar. This way you have direct access to the bartender who has direct access to what you’re eating and drinking.

And sometimes when you eat alone, that said bartender refills your glass when no one’s looking.

Trust me, along with the occasional glass of wine on the house, there are so many perks to experiencing things in life by your lonesome.

It gives you time to decompress.

An opportunity to visit with yourself.

All my singles ladies and gents, want to go the old fashioned route to meet somebody, dine alone.

It’s empowering.

If you’re a parent, no kids are yelling for you. 

It can help get you out of your comfort zone.

You’re a cheap date. 

With our noses in our phones almost 24/7, eating solo can also open up space for natural conversation and real human interaction. Not this bullshit on social media, but real life, authentic conversing. Doesn’t that sound beautiful?

So much is happening around us. So much. Life moves so swiftly, that sometimes, time alone can help slow it all down. Whether it’s a walk outside, dinner for one, or a one-way ticket to a far off land to explore…do it. You won’t regret a freaking second of it. I promise.

Buon Appetite.

xo, Lauren