Best Solo Table Service?

[PeterPan09]

I'm sure this question has been asked and answered before, but my search resulted in 500 pages of threads so I thought I'd try cutting to the chase and asking the experts.

I live 6 miles from WDW but only go to table service places when I have family or friends visiting. What are the best places for a solo diner in the parks?

 

[aggielawyer]

Any place that you want to eat--the best part of being solo is not having to go where you don't want to.

Is there a particular reason you don't like to eat alone? Are you comfortable dining solo at non-Disney restaurants? If so, you should be fine anywhere on Disney property. If not, what makes you uncomfortable? That might give people a better idea of places to steer your toward.

 

[PeterPan09]

I guess I'm looking to avoid the "only one?" response when I check in and the kind of places that really cater to families with their seating or their serving style.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Over the years, I've eaten solo at many different resturants. I'm thinking you're looking for the ones where a solo diner, who's not too comfortable about eating solo yet (it comes with time for most people), is probably comfortable. The first ones I was OK about were Chefs de France at lunchtime (I could look out the window and people-watch); Coral Reef with the tank to look at; Sci Fi because everyone was just looking at the screen, so it was sort of like sitting at home alone watching TV; and Jiko at the bar, where you could watch the chefs. I've found that everyplace I've dined solo has been extremely accomodating if you say you're dining alone and would like to sit someplace where you could look at something nice, since you don't have a dining companion to talk with. I've gotten window seats or next to the tank at CR. If I think of any other tips, I'll post them.

 

[ChloroFiend]

I'm pretty self-conscious about dining alone, though I've had to do it many times while traveling for work. If at all possible, I try to sit at the bar....most times the bartender will make some conversation and have it be a bit more of a social experience. That'd make my vote anywhere with a bar. Cali Grill and Jiko come to mind.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just thought of someplace else, and no, I'm not being crazy here. Character meals are great for solos! I especially love Cape May, where, with the closeness of 2 convention-type places (Yacht Club and Boardwalk) you get other solos. But why a character meal? No one notices you, the "poor person all alone"(!) They're only interested in where the characters are now. And it's so much fun to sit there and watch the children interacting with the characters. Better than a window seat at any other resturant. Unless you bear a striking resemblance to a Disney character, the character meals are great for blending in and not being conspicous! And I've always gotten great service as a solo there. I think (at least at Cape May) the servers are so concerned about the solo not feeling left out, that they take extra care with you. Several times, I've ended up with two servers always checking up on me.

 

[PeterPan09]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to try that, I love Cape May breakfasts!

 

[FLDisneyFan]

If I'm eating alone, I like to take a book with me. Otherwise I find myself eating way too fast. I also remember eating at the Japanese steakhouse, and there was a CM off-duty seated with our party at the same grill. He seemed to have a good time and we included him in our conversation.

 

[DFD]

I'm sure this question has been asked and answered before, but my search resulted in 500 pages of threads so I thought I'd try cutting to the chase and asking the experts.

I live 6 miles from WDW but only go to table service places when I have family or friends visiting. What are the best places for a solo diner in the parks?

I guess I'm looking to avoid the "only one?" response when I check in and the kind of places that really cater to families with their seating or their serving style.

I agree with Aggie... almost everywhere is OK for Solo... now if you are asking my favorite restaurant.. then my answer would Boma for one is great solo or not... Primetime Cafe is fun if you dont mind being fuzz about by Thee Family I loved the Wave for breakfast and Kona(a new addition to the list) And so far I have not encountered a sense of discomfort.. But I also tell them "table for one" right away before they can ask!

BTW am so jealous about that 6 miles distance you have !!!

 

[Pygoplites]

I just returned from a week-long solo trip and only did table-service meals and had almost universally good experiences...several truly great meals (V&A, Flying Fish and bluezoo) and lots of good ones.

Contrary to many of the postings on this site, I think the food at WDW has gotten better. Maybe I was just lucky this time or just picked the right places. Or maybe it was because it wasn't a very busy week. In fact, the only places that were just so-so were San Angel Inn (one bad dish) and Kouzzina (unfriendly waiter and one over-salted dish). Not a bad track record for 18 or 19 meals.

I didn't feel awkward about dining solo at any restaurant. I don't care for doing character meals by myself, so I avoided them this time. In the past, I've had characters make "boo-hoo" gestures about being seated alone, which I found rather rude.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I didn't feel awkward about dining solo at any restaurant. I don't care for doing character meals by myself, so I avoided them this time. In the past, I've had characters make "boo-hoo" gestures about being seated alone, which I found rather rude.

I forgot about this until you mentioned it. The only place this happened to me was at the Crystal Palace in MK. I remember Tigger did it, and at the time, I thought what if I'd been a recent widow, venturning to WDW solo for the first time. Tigger's actions would have about destroyed me. Not too sensitive, I thought. However, it's never happened to me at Cape May, even in 5 solo trips there. As I mentioned before, maybe the characters there are more used to seeing solo diners because of the conventioners.

 

[FLDisneyFan]

Or maybe word got to the Characters that "Boo Hooing" at solo diners isn't good protocol!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I agree that character meals are good to go solo. I've been and I've seen people doing it solo. I actually ran into someone twice during 2 of our character meals... she was at a 2-top table and so were we and those are usually by each other... we ended up taking pictures for her and striking up light conversation.

 

[disneyj914]

I'm thinking about doing a solo tripto get away from it all! I've been to the world many times with family and friends, and some of my favorite dining experiences have been at family-style restaurants like Whispering Canyon, Ohana, or Biergarten. Does anyone have experience eating at any of these restaurants as a solo?

 

[aggielawyer]

I ate at Biergarten on my last trip. I'll admit that I was nervous about this, since you are sitting with other people. You see, I have no problem eating by myself, but if I have to sit with someone I don't know I feel pressure to make conversation. I ended up sitting with a family that is on the DIS and had a great time. We talked all the way through the meal, and I even found them on here after I got home.

 

[MyMuse]

I've done Yak & Yeti, Rose & Crown solo & it went very well!

I would feel most uncomfortable at character meals solo, but I did CRT this past December and it turned out great! Thankfully, I had a great family next to me that took my pic.

This time around I have LeCellier and Biergarten solo. Happily, I am going to a DIS meet at Crystal Palace!!

I was thinking Biergarten would be the least awkward because you are dining with other people. I attended D23's Magic & Merriment, and my hardest time was at Diamond Horseshoe Saloon to find a place to sit, leave something there to keep my spot, then go back downstairs to get food and then back upstaris to eat. It tired me out!!

 

[jamstew]

I ate at Biergarten on my last trip. I'll admit that I was nervous about this, since you are sitting with other people. You see, I have no problem eating by myself, but if I have to sit with someone I don't know I feel pressure to make conversation.

I have the same problem, so Biergarten isn't someplace I'd be comfortable. I don't like German food, so it's no great loss. Other than that, I haven't been uncomfortable anywhere!

 

[MariDisney]

I ate at Biergarten on my last trip. I'll admit that I was nervous about this, since you are sitting with other people. You see, I have no problem eating by myself, but if I have to sit with someone I don't know I feel pressure to make conversation. I ended up sitting with a family that is on the DIS and had a great time. We talked all the way through the meal, and I even found them on here after I got home.

Waving wildly!!! We were that family. It was nice to have someone to chat with who wasn't IN my family, actually (get sick of them after so many meals together!). I would highly encourage the Biergarten. You can chat if you like, or just pay attention to the food and show if that is more your preference. I, personally, would not feel uncomfortable either way.

 

[aggielawyer]

Waving wildly!!!

Hi again!!

 

[Tinky-Belle]

I've eaten at most sit-down restaurants in Epcot, but I think I'd feel uncomfortable dining at a shared table, such as in Germany. And I don't like to sit at a bar either, for the same reason. I'd rather sit at a table by myself. Maybe a group of DISsers could get together and do a shared table?