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I usually take a book or something so I don't notice that I'm the only person eating by myself.

I love eating alone. You can feel like your part of a big food-loving community without the hassle of making plans and awkward dinner conversation. Since I'm in college I started studying at restaurants. I took my statistics book to Olive Garden and felt totally fine. Had a glass of wine, balsamic glazed steak cutlets and Gorgonzola pasta and got some quiet study time in.
There is NO shame in eating alone.

I never mind eating alone in restaurants or in the break room at work. I always have a book on me, and quite frankly sometimes I have needed a break from co-workers, and bringing a book with me always helps deter unwanted chatter for a relaxing quiet meal. It's nice to just unplug.

Do it all the time. Actually prefer it to eating with chatty colleagues. When I travel will usually sit at the bar. Will take my laptop, book, newspaper, magazine, pda to kill idle time. Nothing to be ashamed of. Don't ever forget you are the customer who is paying the bill. I've never seen a sign that says "if your by yourself, we will not serve you!"

There are two separate things going on which could cause a fear of eating alone. One is rational and one is not.
One is self-consciousness. You may be afraid to go to a restaurant because you don't want to be seen eating alone -- you don't want other people in the restaurant to think less of you. This is silly. Why cares about them? The chances that someone you know will be there are slim, and even if they are, how big a deal do you really think it will be?
The other reason is that you may be just not like being by yourself for extended periods of time. This is perfectly fine. Maybe it's worth putting in the extra effort to find people to go out to restaurants with you in this case.

Having spent many military years on the road, I don't mind eating by myself. The operative factor is that I want supper.

Hello,
I travel a fair amount for work and so eat solo quite a bit. I also carry a book, but do not always read it. I find that going into smaller places and talking to the host and the wait staff is helpful. "What do you do well? What is your favorite thing to eat?" I have had many great meals of small plates.

Rather than sitting at the bar, if at all possible, I like to sit against a wall where I can see the whole restaurant and watch the theater of food and guests.

I try to tip really well, too.

My wife is going through her "you want meat and potatoes again for dinner? I think I'll just have a tiny salad and maybe put a half a can of peas in it with some chese sprinkles" phase.
Well screw that, as soon as she comes out with that crapola, I'm off to the local dinner, steakhouse or whatever fast as I can.

Never have never will have a problem of going to a eatery alone. I actually like it, people watching, meeting new people and chatting with them, met some very interesting people this way. When I was in school I used to study in restaurants.

In Europe the waiters were incredulous at me eating alone. "Where is your husband?" When they also found out I was travelling alone their faces were hilarious. But I always got the best seat in the house, awesome recommendations including things not on the menu and many times did not appear on the bill, and a piccolo or demi of whatever wine I fancied. Sometimes I got to read but more often than not was treated to gentle teasing and great stories.

Enjoy yourself!

I dine alone all the time! I love it! Sometimes, if there is a place that I would like to try, normally no on else is game enough to join me (such as the new Somallian/Ethiopian place near me or a new sushi place), so I just go on my own. Not having someone to join me will certainly not stop me from enjoying a meal. I tend to bring a newspaper/book/magazine, but usually end up just people watching, or chatting with the owners/waitstaff, depending on the location and how busy they are.
Travelling so much, too, in my life, I have learned that sometimes that is the only way that I will get something to eat! :) And it's a great way to just soak in the atmosphere of a time and place and people without being distracted (so to speak) by conversation with your companion, or anything like that.
Besides, it beats a bad date with a non-conversationalist anyday!

It's not for everybody, and if a person isn't comfortable eating alone, they shouldn't. No biggie.

I enjoy eating alone. I always bring a book, but almost never read it. I generally sit at a table, but if the place has a nice bar or counter I'll sit there. If I'm at table with book, I people-watch, if I'm at bar, there's always someone to talk with.

I used to treat myself to dinner every Sunday night at a Tex-mex place near my house. I always enjoyed myself.

I actually enjoy eating alone as I can concentrate on the taste. How many times have you eaten a meal with someone and get so distracted with conversation that you can't even recall what you've eaten?

I definitely have a fear of eating some place alone. I must either have a person or some source of socially-accepted entertainment like a laptop, book, etc. with me. If I don't, I take the food to go and eat at my desk or in my car. Sad, isn't it?!

Hillary
Chew on That

i love eating at restaurants alone! order whatever you want, take your time, talk to your server (i am a server so i know how little attention is paid to the staff usually), enjoy! i like to feel out the restaurant because dining out is an experience even if a casual mid-week dinner. plus, having the confidence to go out alone and enjoy it is very attractive and intriguing. i've met some of my best friends and boyfriend this way!

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

I SEE SINGLE PEOPLE!

Get over it! Nobody, and I do mean nobody, is looking or staring, or pointing fingers, or even whispering about the person eating alone!

Do you know why?! It's because they don't give a rat's ass! Go out, get over yourselves, have a good time! Holy S#!%!

The only person that would seem to care if you are alone..... is yourself!

I like going to a sushi bar alone, I usually bring a book.

Parties of one are the only people who can actually sit AT the sushi bar and watch the preparation :)

I love eating alone too.... I'm much more involved in the experience that way. In my head I refer to it as talking myself out to dinner. The odd time I enjoy bringing something to read, but half the time the goings on of the restaurant are entertaining enough.

It's definitely true that you get more recommendations from the waitstaff and reasonably attentive service, which is never a bad thing.

@ Pavlov - I hear ya - most people don't realize that no one, but no one really pays attention to their surroundings, never mind what some stranger is doing. All the fears are a projection of people's own insecurities and fears. But hey, to each their own.

During my first semester of college, I was enjoying (well, probably not enjoying, more like barely stomaching) a dinner in the dining hall by myself. I didn't know many people, so I was just enjoying a big plate of deep-fried mozzarella sticks and people watching to my heart's content. It was relaxing in a strange way. Anyway, this really sketchy guy sat down across from me and started talking to me and eating with me, even making a very lewd comment in the process. I hightailed it out of there, and as luck would have it, I ran into him one night a week later in a dark, deserted part of the campus. He tried to force me into giving him a hug, which I found quite creepy. All I could think was, of the 47,000 people who go to school here, I had to run into YOU??

Since that incident, I have avoided eating alone in public. I figure only weird things will result.

I love studying in restaurants and cafes (it doesn't count as work if you get cake and someone else cleans up after you!), and I don't really like other people ;-) , so dining alone is ideal for me.

I don't mind dining alone - when travelling for business I find it way preferable to room service. A book is always good company, and can be a conversation catalyst. Just ask my husband, who saw me reading a Stephen King book at a lunch counter in 1982 - and the rest is history. Talk about "Firestarter"...!

I was turned away from a restaurant in Dublin because I was alone. It made for a bit of a humbling experience when the whole point of going to Dublin alone was supposed to be empowering. However, in NYC, I sit at the bar and order food and don't mind it at all.

i don't mind neither, but the only thing that stops me from dining solo in the restaurant now is that I'm on a budget now, so I can't eat out so much. Otherwise, I used to go to this popular hummus restaurant and eat an entire bowl myself. :)

I've never gone out to eat by myself, I'm one of those weirdos who feels like everyone is staring at me even though they aren't. I realize it's all in my head, but it just makes me uncomfortable. I'd rather just get take out and chill at home. I'd love to not care, but I can't help that I do.

Actually, maybe I'll make this something to do before the year is out - eat at an actual restaurant by myself (not a cafe). Kinda gives me anxiety just thinking about it, but I do like to challenge my limits sometimes :)

Maybe it's my only child syndrome, but I have absolutely no problem eating alone - I just usually bring a book to supplement the lack of conversation. Besides, when I was a big business traveler, it was that or room service (which was usually more expensive than my per diem, and less tasty than local food. I mean, it's just not right to skip a Po Boy in New Orleans or BBQ in Nashville because of a phobia.

I do, however, usually sit at the bar. Sometimes for the conversation, and sometimes to eyeball the bartender when I get an unwelcome (i.e. "hitting on me") neighbor.

For the record, I'm cool with going to the movies solo too - it's not like you're talking to anyone during them!

I travel alot for my job and I eat alone alot. I don't mind as long as I can read (I always bring a book) and I go to whatever kind of restaurant I want to: casual, fancy, wherever there is good food and in Boston, there is plenty. What I DON'T do is go to a sports bar and sit at the bar. Bad image for a woman by herself. I also prefer not to eat at a bar as it is just not that comfortable. That said, if one of my favorite restaurants only has room at the bar, as long as there is light, I will eat there.

i love eating alone in restaurants. i'm in new york city and i love when the weather's wonderful and you can sit outside and people watch, or I'll bring a book, or just daydream and drink wine and linger and treat myself to a fantastic meal.

I haven't done much restaurant eating by myself, but I had a pretty good time when I did. I do however go to movies, plays, and operas by myself quite frequently. I really recommend attending live performances alone (or at least convincing your party to go the "every man for himself" route when it comes to ticket buying) - you're odds of getting a good seat are significantly better if you're solo. Not to mention your fellow performance attendees are often open to chatting with strangers.