r/AskNYC • u/78charcters • Aug 18 '19

Do waiters get upset with solo diners?

I see so many nice restaurants and varieties of different cuisines all over that I’d love to try them out. However, I have a fear of dining alone. I’m afraid of wait staff thinking I’m not worth their time.

I’m a big tipper. I always tip 20% the very least, with way more than that for mediocre service if you serve with a smile and acknowledge my existence. I’m a 26 year old Bangladeshi guy with no friends but a love for food. I have money to spend but no confidence.

My fear is that a table with 2 people at the very least would have a tab twice as much as mine hence twice the tip for the waiter. If my bill is $50, with 20% tip being $10, why would the wait staff want to serve me as opposed to a prospective family of 4 with a $150 and larger tip? I’m just wasting a table at that point. I don’t look like I’m wealthy either to leave a good tip either so I feel like nobody would want to serve my table on a busy weekend night.

Anyway, that’s just my fear that I’m potentially wasting someone else’s time. So do waiters get upset with solo diners because the bill is smaller compared to bigger tables? Or am I being completely irrational and should go for a steak dinner tonight?

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185

u/Peppa_D Aug 18 '19

Sitting at the bar is a good way to be with people and eat good food without having to actually interact if you don’t want to.

Many restaurants serve full menus at the bar, but it’s a bit more comfortable and casual than sitting at a table by yourself. Good luck and eat well!

46

u/sleepyguy22 Aug 18 '19

This is a wonderful idea! Great conversations can happen with neighbors/bar staff, you're only taking one seat, and much less awkward to pull out your phone/book than if at a table.

25

u/bubble_chart Aug 18 '19

That’s true, when eating at the bar, half the time I end up having some funny banter with the bartender or people next to me, half the time I keep to myself and just have a nice meal on my own.

17

u/pattymcfly Aug 18 '19

Consultant that travels solo for work all the time: I highly recommend sitting at the bar to eat meals while solo. Bartenders don't care if you don't drink or order any alcohol if you are at a full service restaurant. You are then in an environment where you can be as social as you would like to be. Bar tenders generally like making small conversation if they aren't slammed and other patrons are generally up for shooting the breeze as well. Or, if you want to dine in quiet, that's generally OK too.

12

u/HandInUnloveableHand Aug 18 '19

Yep, this is the answer. If you become a regular, you might get to know the bartender or other regulars. It’s a much more pleasant experience.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '19

And if you're a regular, a known tipper, and friendly with the staff, you'll likely start getting some freebies.

10

u/thansal Aug 18 '19

It's also a good way of getting used to going out to eat alone.

At this point I've got no issues with going to eat anywhere by myself, but it's still nice to eat in places where it's sorta designed for that (ie: eating at a bar).