Single Diners - Your Thoughts - Page 10

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@patbz wrote:
Once when my son was a toddler, DH and I took to a nice steak house at 4pm and in a completely empty restaurant they tried to seat us way back by the bathrooms. When we insisted on being moved (they did) we tried to order a filet and they said they were out!!lWe walked out never to return.

This is exactly the type of thing I mean, @patbz. For no good reason except what they imagine might happen, maybe. Result? Lost customers spreading bad reviews. It’s just dumb IMO.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

kdgn · ‎03-09-2010

What's amusing to me is that the folks at a table for two or four could very well end up stiffing the waitstaff by not leaving a tip or a poor tip. A single diner, on the other hand, may go above the usual 20% just because they are alone.

VaBelle35 · ‎03-10-2010

I have traveled a lot for work and I have eaten out alone locally many times, all meals, all ends of the spectrum of dining. And while I can't remember if I was every told I had to sit at the bar/counter, most times they ask me what my preference is for a table, a booth, etc.

As the OP stated, sometimes I'm treated like royalty and there are some hosts/hostesses/wait staff/bar tenders who work very well with solo diners. But there have been a few times when they are so uncomfortable with solo diners and they make me feel uncomfortable.

My worst experience was at a Bed & Breakfast in Williamsburg. I was given the worst room in the place, the worst table for breakfast and asked to get up when I was done eating (but still drinking my tea) because others needed the table. My issue was that there were a lot of people who were waiting for a table to eat and many people were done eating and drinking sitting at cleared tables, talking or reading the paper and I was the only one who was asked to move.

I believe my Trip Advisor review is still there.

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QVC Shopper - 1993

# IAMTEAMWEN

NicksmomESQ · ‎08-19-2014

Single people have a right to dine out too.They deserve the same respect & accommodation given to a couple or group!!

I would complain to management.This is similar to being a couple dining in a restaurant where you get lousy service because the attention is being given to a large party nereby.This has happened to DH & I several times.We always complain to management.We’ve walked out if we haven’t been served yet.If we’re in the middle of eating the tip definitely reflects the poor service!

No one should be penalized for dining alone or in a small group !!

VaBelle35 · ‎03-10-2010

You all just reminded me of the other horror of that B&B. At breakfast, the owner comes around with a camera and insists on taking pictures of everyone. Doesn't even ask, just greets you and when you look up he takes the photo. They use it to make a little brochure for you as a remembrance of your trip when you check out.

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QVC Shopper - 1993

# IAMTEAMWEN

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@kdgn wrote:
What's amusing to me is that the folks at a table for two or four could very well end up stiffing the waitstaff by not leaving a tip or a poor tip. A single diner, on the other hand, may go above the usual 20% just because they are alone.

Pre-cisely.

It’s always been “common server wisdom” that women tip less than men, and a single diner even less. The fact that it isn’t true doesn’t stop it from being perpetuated.

I don’t tip above 20% just because I’m alone, but I do tip above 20% when my server has made my meal a great deal more enjoyable than it would have been with another server; when I feel valued I tip well - and not just in restaurants.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

Daysdee · ‎03-09-2010

My DH and I would dine out frequently. Many times I would go in ahead while he parked the car. The hostess would always assume it was "party of one" and would be ready to seat me. Also the "we reserve the right to deny service, etc." I don't think holds true now. People are inclined to sue over any little thing so I don't think restaurants can deny service.

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@VaBelle35 wrote:
I have traveled a lot for work and I have eaten out alone locally many times, all meals, all ends of the spectrum of dining. And while I can't remember if I was every told I had to sit at the bar/counter, most times they ask me what my preference is for a table, a booth, etc.

As the OP stated, sometimes I'm treated like royalty and there are some hosts/hostesses/wait staff/bar tenders who work very well with solo diners. But there have been a few times when they are so uncomfortable with solo diners and they make me feel uncomfortable.

My worst experience was at a Bed & Breakfast in Williamsburg. I was given the worst room in the place, the worst table for breakfast and asked to get up when I was done eating (but still drinking my tea) because others needed the table. My issue was that there were a lot of people who were waiting for a table to eat and many people were done eating and drinking sitting at cleared tables, talking or reading the paper and I was the only one who was asked to move.

I believe my Trip Advisor review is still there.

@VaBelle35, I went for afternoon tea to a small place where the proprietess did all the cooking, baking and serving. She had me sit at the end of a long table. Then proceeded to bring the tea courses out v-e-r-y s-l-o-o-o-w-l-y such that by the time I was only starting my dessert, the people who had come to occupy the table en masse as a group had arrived and everyone hung over me like vultures trying to stinkeye me into leaving - including the owner whose fault it was that I didn’t have enough time to eat. Sheesh.

Trip Advisor. I was a long-time member and wrote many reviews. Then Expedia bought them and I started seeing more pushes to give positive reviews. I posted a 1-star review and used a word in it that they didn’t want me to use (not a 4-letter word) and asked me to re-do the review - but their software didn’t allow for editing OR saving, so the only way to “fix” the review was to type it over verbatim with the removal of one word. It was a LONG review.

With that and their increasing emphasis on reviewing everything everywhere, even your local Taco Bell, and positively at that, I just said the heck with it and deleted my account. I post reviews on Yelp and Google and FB.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

@Moonchilde wrote:
@AuntG wrote:
@Moonchilde sure is opposed to sitting at a bar to eat. I often see single diners being served at the bar and they seem very comfortable.

Your point? If you would be comfortable (the only valid criteria?) then every other person should be comfortable too?

People, your “reaching” is starting to blink neon.
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Well I don't think I'd come to these boards and discuss my seating preferences because it is totally inconsequential. My point was that other people seem quite happy being served at the bar.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

@suzyQ3 wrote:
@AuntG wrote:
@Moonchilde sure is opposed to sitting at a bar to eat. I often see single diners being served at the bar and they seem very comfortable.
@AuntG, I think that @Moonchilde is allowed to have her own preferences, don't you?

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If you read her heading, she asked for our thoughts and I made an observation.