What restaurants do you "dine with strangers"?

[MinnieMommy07]

I am really looking forward to some TS meals in WDW but I don't want to book something and find out we'll be sitting at a table with a bunch of people we don't know.

Which restaurants do they do this at? Can it be requested that the table is for our party only?

 

[DisGirl819]

Biergarten is the only one I can think of...but I haven't eaten at all the restaurants so maybe some other people can chime in

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Teppan Edo and Biergarten

 

[clanmcculloch]

You will not be given a table to yourselves unless the restaurant is heavily underbooked. Restaurants can not afford to leave seats empty just because somebody doesn't want to share a table in a restaurant where that's part of the ambiance. Then again, if your party is the same size as the table then you won't have to share because there won't be empty seats once you're seated. I think the tables hold either 8 or 10 people (I've read different things but haven't been to any of the restaruants where this is an issue so I have no first hand knowledge).

The only restaurants I can think of are Biergarten and Teppan Edo.

 

[vicki_c]

At Sci-Fi, they will put extra people in your car if there is an open seat in the back.

 

[Jestocost]

Via Napoli in Epcot has a large, central table where you could be seated with others. They have many other tables for individual parties, however, so I assume that you never would be forced to sit at the big table as long as you were willing to wait for a separate table.

 

[PatsMom]

Biergarten tables seat 8 - I was just there last week. Teppan Edo seats either 8 or 10 - I can't remember for sure. Its been a while since the last time I ate there. Sometimes we chat with the other people, sometimes not. Depends on whether they act like they want to be left alone after we introduce ourselves.

As a party of two at Sci Fi we did have another couple in the back seat of our car. But it is really like being at separate tables in that situation.

 

[goofyintoronto]

You will not be given a table to yourselves unless the restaurant is heavily underbooked. Restaurants can not afford to leave seats empty just because somebody doesn't want to share a table in a restaurant where that's part of the ambiance. Then again, if your party is the same size as the table then you won't have to share because there won't be empty seats once you're seated. I think the tables hold either 8 or 10 people (I've read different things but haven't been to any of the restaruants where this is an issue so I have no first hand knowledge).

The only restaurants I can think of are Biergarten and Teppan Edo.

I agree with clanmcculloch 100%. You will not be given your own table unless you actually do have a family of 8 going. There's no way they'll let you guys sit alone at Teppan Edo. (table of 8 i believe). Thats money lost. But at Teppan Edo you dont have to pay attention to your table mates much because your busy watching the chef. Biergarten is the only place i can think of where it can be awkward. And again, i doubt they'd let you dine alone. Sorry. As for SciFi....as the op said, if you do share a car you wont notice them much cause its separate tables. One behind, one in front.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I am really looking forward to some TS meals in WDW but I don't want to book something and find out we'll be sitting at a table with a bunch of people we don't know.

1) Location with "common" seating
. . . Teppand Edo
. . . Biergarten
. . . Sc-Fi (cars)
2) One should try common seating.
. . . it is a lot of fun meeting others
. . . very seldom does one have a bad experience

 

[maxiesmom]

Be prepared too that some restaurants have such tight seating that you may as well be seated together at the same table. Le Ceiller comes to mind. The Kona Cafe too.

 

[bluejasmine]

I never understood the big deal about dining at a table with others..Its just like going to a Japanesse Steak House..

I know Via Napoli we were seated at a big family style table with others.. Biergarten and Teppan Edo.. All three times we enjoyed everyone company!

 

[DisneySarah80]

Though I've never gone to the one in DW, I've been to many Japanese Steakhouse, and never once have we felt the need to talk to the people sitting at our table. With the cooks station being so large, you are pretty far away from other parties. As far as the German restaurant, I've never been there, so I can't comment.

 

[Figment2]

have to share a story for those people who don't like strangers at their table - I went on a solo trip and ate at Teppanado. Another solo was seated next to me. Turned out he was a Divemaster at Living Seas and we had a fascinating conversation. It will be memory I will keep forever.

Love Biergarten and I think of the 15+ trips there, we only had once where people didn't want to interact. So we left them to their own and talked to the other couple at our table.

 

[fla4fun]

I am really looking forward to some TS meals in WDW but I don't want to book something and find out we'll be sitting at a table with a bunch of people we don't know.

Which restaurants do they do this at? Can it be requested that the table is for our party only?

Everyone has given you the answer, but I wanted to show some support for your preference. I go solo to WDW most of the time, and I enjoy the peace and serenity of a solo trip. I do not want to be placed in a situation where I feel forced to interact with others, if I don't feel like it. That's the one thing that's held me back from taking a solo Disney cruise - I would be seated with the same "other people" for the entire cruise, unless I choose to miss out on some interesting dining experiences. Not everyone is a social butterfly all the time, and that's perfectly OK. I do think that they should mention the communal seating when making ADR's though, so people aren't surprised.

I actually walked out of the old Jolly Holidays dinner show many years ago when I found out there was communal seating and food served family style. I didn't get a refund on the ticket, because I had used it to enter the dining room. It was worth losing the money to go upstairs to the Concourse Steakhouse and have a table to myself.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'd never go solo to Biergarten. There you stand a much greater chance of getting the Charles Manson look (the party being seated with you has the same expressions on their faces they might get if they were being seated next to Charles Manson) or they get upset if you order beer (for some reason that appears to happen relatively often at Biergarten despite its name). I can take this if I'm with others but not if I'm by myself.

Teppan Edo I wouldn't hesitate as the atmosphere is different. It's not a buffet so you don't have to get up and move around. The chef show keeps the guests occupied. And nobody seems to mind if you order some sake.

Sci Fi, I don't have any problem "hitchhiking" in another party's car. It's much more like having a separate table.

At none of these restaurants can your party request a table to yourselves. If they have people to fill the tables, they will fill the tables.

 

[MinnieMommy07]

Thank you so much for all of these responses! I can always count on the DIS to get answers. As a PP said it really would be nice to have a head's up for things like this because it's not really that we're not social per say- it'd just be surprising to be part of another family's party for a meal when least expected. Teppan Edo- definately expect it- it's a given. A buffet- yeah you get the food on your own with strangers but you sit down to intimate family conversation. A whole meal with Charles Manson? "Hey how's it goin'? You gonna eat that?" No thanks...

 

[bluejasmine]

Lol