Solo dining - any restaurant you would not go to?

[ClareH37]

Just curious, making my first ever solo trip ADRs next month, and would be interested to hear if there are any restaurants you would not go to as a solo diner?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Of the ones I haven't been to, none I wouldn't try. Of the ones I have been to (and in 10 solo trips, there've been lots of resturaunts), I wouldn't go back to anywhere with communal dining (where they sit you at tables with others). The one time I did that, I had a pretty bad time. I went to Teppenyaki and they sat me next to a teenaged girl (who was there with her family). The teenaged girl acted like getting seated next to me was her worst nightmare, and my attempts to ask her friendly questions about her trip were met with glares and monosyllabic grunts. Fortunately, I was a high school teacher, so I knew this was fairly typical and didn't take it personally. But the mealtime went by really slowly for me with no one to talk to (it was too loud to talk to anyone else at the table and I was on the end, so it was her or no one). I don't know which one of us was more relieved when the mealtime was over. But to my surprise, I've especially loved character meals. Great opportunity for people watching, and those people are so busy watching for the characters, you don't feel they're watching you.

 

[ClareH37]

Thanks, I must admit I'm not really into the communal dining thing, every time I've eaten at Tepan Edo (even with friends) we've had very 'non talkative' fellow diners

 

[Wild4Walt]

I agree, Teppan Edo would be one as well as Beirgarten in Germany.

 

[glenpreece]

I went to Artist Point once solo and will never return, I wanted a table by the windown and got seated in a high traffic area that leads to the back of the seating area so EVERYONE walked passed me and gave that "alone?" look. Plus my filet was burned and the server wasn't the greatest. I've never done a character meal b4 solo cause I wouldn't want to bug other ppl to take my pics. But maybe I will work up the corage to do one in Jan.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've never done a character meal b4 solo cause I wouldn't want to bug other ppl to take my pics. But maybe I will work up the corage to do one in Jan.

Here's what I do when I go to character meals solo, because I too am reluctant to interrupt people to take my picture. I just tell the character quietly, "Gee, I'd love to have a picture taken with you. Do you think anyone would take our picture?" The character always grabs my camera, then runs over to someone, either a CM or another diner, and motions for them to take my picture. If it's another family, they always get a kick out of it, no one dares refuse Goofy (or whoever), and we get a picture. It's fun that way!

 

[EpcotMan]

I would make them wherever I wanted. Then again I am not one that cares all that much about public opinion of what I do. Depends on how much it bothers you I suppose.

 

[Dolce27]

I used to say Ohana. I thought that it would be weird to show up somewhere solo that meant "family". But, I just booked that restaurant solo for my upcoming trip so I guess that I'm over that.. Although, someone is welcome to join me that night since I'll be seated at a table for two.

Doing the character meals solo can be tough if you want photos (which I usually do). Last December I was at LTT dinner and a CM (maybe a server? I'm not certain what he did in the restaurant. My guess was a server at a nearby station.) came over to my table and sat down across from me and chatted for a moment. I think, if I recall correctly, he took one of the photos when a character came by. Then later another character was by my table and the CM was near. I asked him to take the photo again when a woman at the next table jumped up and insisted she do it. She was the oddest person. She insisted on taking the rest of the photos when a character was by but didn't acknowledge me other than that. She'd just return to her table with her family and continue eating. Then when I ate at The Garden Grill, I couldn't get anyone to take photos for anything - not even the CM's.

 

[martinp13]

If you're not into "playing along", I'd avoid 50s Prime Time Cafe. I quite enjoyed my solo meal there, but I don't mind joining in on the shenanigans. Often the waitress will turn around from another table and ask you a question, as if you were an expert on which entree the father would enjoy or how mad Mom gets about elbows on the table. And it was nice to finally have someone acknowledge my "clean the plate" habit... the waitress snagged my completely clean pot roast dish and carried it around to the other tables, saying "Now THIS is what Mom likes to see!"

 

[Donald is #1]

Let's see, for me, the only place that I can think of off hand is V&A's. So that probably means that I will never eat there because when I travel with friends/family, they aren't interested in paying that much money for dinner.


I am doing my first solo character meal in December.

 

[ttester9612]

Clare...I've done 50's PT and Kona as a solo...loved them both. In a few a days I will be going to Boma and Kona solo. Boma I'm doing the breakfast and dinner. Will let you know how it works out.

 

[ClareH37]

Clare...I've done 50's PT and Kona as a solo...loved them both. In a few a days I will be going to Boma and Kona solo. Boma I'm doing the breakfast and dinner. Will let you know how it works out.

Have a great trip Teresa, and look forward to hearing all about it

 

[honeydiane1953]

the Rain Forest restaurant was very expensive, food awful and very noisey. i also would not choose Indian food because i am not a fan. the tanger something would not be my choice. hope this helps.

 

[ttester9612]

Have a great trip Teresa, and look forward to hearing all about it

Well Do..

 

[aggielawyer]

If you're not into "playing along", I'd avoid 50s Prime Time Cafe. I quite enjoyed my solo meal there, but I don't mind joining in on the shenanigans.

I didn't really get shenanigans when I ate there solo, but I did have one of the hosts plop down at the table and start talking to me for a couple of minutes. I'd heard other people say that they felt like they got special attention from servers when they went solo, and I didn't feel that was the case with me except for this one instance.

I ate at Biergarten as well, which I admit I was nervous about. But I ended up at a table with a family of DISers (and another family that didn't talk much) so we talked the whole time. It was actually a nice break from eating my meals in mostly silence--which is huge for me 'cause I'm a huge introvert.

 

[JanetRose]

I've eaten at Prime Time alone...at the bar.

 

[Judy in Texas]

I wouldn't go to Hoop-de-doo Review alone. The meal is served family style and it looked like they seated each group separately. Last time I went with a friend and I booked a prefered table. We were seated at a very small table for two way off to the side next to the kitchen. I would not have wanted to sit there by myself. Now, I did eat at Tutto Italia Ristorante in Epcot. It was wonderful.

 

[ttester9612]

Had breakfast at Boma as a solo this past week. It was great, they placed me by at a table by the window. But I don't like to have my back to folks so by back was to the window. The CM was very polite. I did bring a book to read. I would do Boma again as a solo with no problems.