I usually just listen during the podcast, but I do have a couple of experiences I'd like to share with Wini: 1. Once went to a restaurant on Ingersoll for a half hour lunch from a temp job in the area. Hostess took my name, then proceeded to seat couples and others who came in after I did. A man, I assumed was the manager, walked up to her and asked, "Why is that woman just standing there?" Flippant, she said, "Because she's by herself." He proceeded to drag a small round table up to the front, nearly under the coat hangers, then brought a chair and laid down a menu. I went ahead and ordered, then asked for a box to take it out, paid, and left. I ate in my car. I told all of my friends. None of us ever went there again. What is so abhorrent about dining alone?
2. Years ago, the Young Mom's at my church took the pastor's wife to lunch at a downtown restaurant. There were 15 of us. We asked for separate checks. Waiter took our order. While we ate, he ran back every time I started to say something, interrupted, and totally derailed what I was saying. But worst part was when he brought the checks. He'd added ALL of them together, then divided by 15 and gave each of us the 1/15th of the total bill. Does this make sense? Was it a trend at that time? We all had toddlers left with a couple teenage girls back at the church; so, didn't want to take time to ask for a manager. My family, friends, and I never went there again. Don't know about the rest.
Candy, that is infuriating about being seated at a subpar table because you were dining alone. Ridiculous! It's hard enough for a woman to dine solo without someone making you feel unwelcome.
The same thing happened to me once in Iowa City when I was in college. I sat at a two-top table (it was a seat-yourself spot), and I ordered from the server. Then, the owner came over to me and asked if I was dining alone. I said "yes," and he told me he wanted me to move to the bar (where the day-drinkers were), as he needed to save tables for the lunch rush. I got up and walked out. Never went back.
As for the over-attentive waiter: That can still be a problem these days, but fortunately, it's pretty easy to get separate checks that itemize what each diner had. Thankfully!
Restaurants who do this should realize that they're losing not only the woman they've snubbed as a customer, but all of her family and friends once she spreads the word. Wondering if men dining alone are also considered space, time, and resource wasting social misfits. Would like to hear what John Taffer would have to say.
I usually just listen during the podcast, but I do have a couple of experiences I'd like to share with Wini: 1. Once went to a restaurant on Ingersoll for a half hour lunch from a temp job in the area. Hostess took my name, then proceeded to seat couples and others who came in after I did. A man, I assumed was the manager, walked up to her and asked, "Why is that woman just standing there?" Flippant, she said, "Because she's by herself." He proceeded to drag a small round table up to the front, nearly under the coat hangers, then brought a chair and laid down a menu. I went ahead and ordered, then asked for a box to take it out, paid, and left. I ate in my car. I told all of my friends. None of us ever went there again. What is so abhorrent about dining alone?
2. Years ago, the Young Mom's at my church took the pastor's wife to lunch at a downtown restaurant. There were 15 of us. We asked for separate checks. Waiter took our order. While we ate, he ran back every time I started to say something, interrupted, and totally derailed what I was saying. But worst part was when he brought the checks. He'd added ALL of them together, then divided by 15 and gave each of us the 1/15th of the total bill. Does this make sense? Was it a trend at that time? We all had toddlers left with a couple teenage girls back at the church; so, didn't want to take time to ask for a manager. My family, friends, and I never went there again. Don't know about the rest.
Julie, I hope this isn't too long. Delete, if so.
Thanks for your comments, Candy - a great conversation starter.
Candy, that is infuriating about being seated at a subpar table because you were dining alone. Ridiculous! It's hard enough for a woman to dine solo without someone making you feel unwelcome.
The same thing happened to me once in Iowa City when I was in college. I sat at a two-top table (it was a seat-yourself spot), and I ordered from the server. Then, the owner came over to me and asked if I was dining alone. I said "yes," and he told me he wanted me to move to the bar (where the day-drinkers were), as he needed to save tables for the lunch rush. I got up and walked out. Never went back.
As for the over-attentive waiter: That can still be a problem these days, but fortunately, it's pretty easy to get separate checks that itemize what each diner had. Thankfully!
Then there is that famous question - "JUST ONE"? lol. Horrible!
Oh man! That's just so rude.
Dining alone is an interesting topic.
Restaurants who do this should realize that they're losing not only the woman they've snubbed as a customer, but all of her family and friends once she spreads the word. Wondering if men dining alone are also considered space, time, and resource wasting social misfits. Would like to hear what John Taffer would have to say.