Dining Solo - Best Restaurants?

[heaven2dc]

I may be going solo next month and wondered which restaurants would be the best choice eating alone?

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've gone solo lots of times, so that means lots of solo dining. I think that Sci-Fi is good-it's sort of like eating in front of the TV at home, watching a movie. I loved Chefs de France, where I've always gotten a window table and can watch the goings on outside. Coral Reef was good, too, where I watched the fish the whole time. Surprisingly, character meals are a pretty good choice if you like to watch kids interacting with the characters (I do). It really makes the time go by fast and you don't even think about the fact that you're dining solo. And I've found a neat trick for getting your picture taken with a character. Just whisper to the character when they give you a hug, "I really wish someone could take our picture together." I've always had the character grab my camera off the table and hand it to someone nearby, motioning to take our picture. No one dares say "No" to a character's request! There are two kinds of resturaunts I avoid when solo-communal dining ones (Teppenyaki or whatever it's now called, and Biergarten) and very dim resturaunts (like Marakesh). I had a really bad experience once at Teppenyaki-I got seated next to a teenager who acted like sitting next to me was her worst nightmare (It probably was). If I tried to talk to her, her responses were brief and curt. And since I like to read or write in my journal, very dim resturaunts are out.

 

[Edith]

I had an excellent service at Crystal Palace... It was my birthday and the waiter took a lot of pictures for me. The service was good at Chefs de France, but the manager was a little bit upset to see that I was taking so much time and he was talking against me in French... ignoring that my first language is... french!

 

[heaven2dc]

Great ideas, Edith! I wondered how I would get a picture with a character dining alone and your tip about whispering your wish would work perfect. I loved the Crystal Palace back in 1997 and the characters and hoped to return by myself. Do I need reservations before I go?

 

[jennib5426]

I saw a couple order food from the bar at Prime Time Cafe when I was there solo in September. Never knew you could do that, I like sitting at a bar and ordering food when solo.
I had a great waitress at Primetime when I was solo in September, had lots of fun.

I alway do Chef's de France and Kona solo, those are my favorites.

 

[gismo1554]

Prime Time cafe you can order any of the apertisers at the bar I believe. Not sure about main meals but we've ordered baskets of fries and onion rings there loads of times.

Going solo next September and having the same debate. Still not sure whether to go for the dining plan or just stick with non-dining

 

[Jason71]

Prime Time cafe you can order any of the apertisers at the bar I believe. Not sure about main meals but we've ordered baskets of fries and onion rings there loads of times.

Full menu is available at the bar at Prime Time.

 

[gismo1554]

Full menu is available at the bar at Prime Time.

Fantastic! I dont like the resturant but the food is brilliant so going to have to try it!

 

[suzimar57]

i've eaten solo at the afternoon tea (grand floridian), sci-fi, liberty tree tavern (lunch), brown derby and concourse steakhouse - didn't feel uncomfortable at any of them

 

[deltachi8]

I like San Angel Inn in Epcot - request a table by the river - it's a nice view

I agree that 50's Prime Time at the bar would work out well.

If you want to be social and meet new people, head to Biergarten (sp) in Epcot a you are seated at long tables with other parties - i did this least year and was seated with (among others) a couple that was from Germany - made for a nice lunch.

 

[heaven2dc]

San Angel Inn sounds perfect for my Epcot dining dilemma - would it be a good idea to eat dinner and stay at the table to view Illuminations?

Thanks, btw, everyone for your input. I went on a Western Caribbean cruise once by myself and had great dining companions - I just got a little lonely by the middle of the week but otherwise everyone was friendly and helpful when they knew I was alone.

 

[gismo1554]

i've eaten solo at the afternoon tea (grand floridian), sci-fi, liberty tree tavern (lunch), brown derby and concourse steakhouse - didn't feel uncomfortable at any of them

Forgot about afternoon tea. I ate there solo once that was great. Really relaxing!

 

[Straughn]

I have had two good solo dining experiences at Artist Point. Both times, my server has stood and chatted with me for several minutes on and off through out the evening. I have dined in many of the Signature restaurants solo and have always been treated very well by the staff. Once in the Flying Fish, I was seated at a table next to another solo lady diner. We ended up chatting and arranged to meet for dinner the next evening. I made a new friend and it was fun to have company.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I am trying the Kona Cafe solo in December....

 

[Cristy]

I enjoy going to the Kona Cafe (always meet friendly people there) and the Concourse Steakhouse. I also had a wonderful time at Boma at AK. My waiter pulled out the chair across from me and everytime he was in the area he casually sat down and started talking. That was fun.

 

[debbiepump]

I was looking at the restaurants section of this board and came across a post about the 'favorite snacks' everyone had. Geez, didn't realize how much I've missed by doing the nicer meals!!! Think it'd be fun to 'graze through the world' instead of the restaurants. Just some 'food for thought' about solo, best restaurants...

 

[gismo1554]

San Angel Inn sounds perfect for my Epcot dining dilemma - would it be a good idea to eat dinner and stay at the table to view Illuminations?

Thanks, btw, everyone for your input. I went on a Western Caribbean cruise once by myself and had great dining companions - I just got a little lonely by the middle of the week but otherwise everyone was friendly and helpful when they knew I was alone.

Sorry just noticed this post, San Angel Inn has inside tables along the ride thats in there (its a river ride) so you can't see the fireworks from there. If you want somewhere to eat then see the fireworks, the Rose and Crown in the UK pavillion has some outside tables. You can ask for one but it is never guarenteed and it is first come first served. There are/were 3 tables on the water front that sat 2 people all the others were larger. They however have a viewing area reserved for anyone dining within the resturant while the fireworks go off so you can see them from outside. Or the other option is to go to dinner early and then take a seat in the UK pavillion beer garden where you have a decent view of the fireworks and a seat. Grab a drink before you sit down and savour it as there's no beer service in the beer garden but there is a cart just up by the entrance that serves bottles of coke products, beer and cider.