Restaurant horrifies diners with bizarre approach to single people eating alone
Solo dining is really no big deal, with three-quarters of UK consumers planning to eat out alone this year, according to Open Table.
But now, a restaurant in Spain has sparked debate after a video went viral showcasing its unique (and somewhat offensive) approach to providing solo diners with company.
The clip, which has now racked up 5.2 million views, depicts a waiter placing a giant stuffed teddy bear in the seat opposite the solo diner who’s filming.
While some users online found the gesture to be sweet, most netizens were horrified, exclaiming that they’d be mortified if they went out for a solo meal and this happened to them.
One user wrote on X, ‘I’d feel even more alone, but thanks, lol,’ while another noted, ‘I know it’s meant to be cute, but you’re just inferring that sitting alone is abnormal and you should always have company. It probably just makes the person feel awkward and embarrassed.’
Another equally baffled user wrote: ‘Imagine you’re just trying to eat in peace and suddenly you’re in Build-a-Bear speed dating.’
The café, based in Barcelona, potentially took inspiration from a scene in HBO Max’s ‘And Just Like That…’ where Carrie Bradshaw has to endure this exact nightmare. Naturally, Carrie was as horrified as we were by the stuffed suggestion.
People who choose to solo dine do not need to be pitied. Previously writing for Metro, Daniel Reast shared how dining alone has allowed him to enjoy the freedom of his own tastes, ‘sampling the best (or worst) a menu has on offer.’
As Reast sees it, being able to go out for a meal on your own is one of the most empowering aspects of adulthood. There’s no need to wait around for friends or a partner to take the initiative. Plus, there’s no one there to judge your choices.
He’s also found he’s more likely to have friendly chats with strangers when dining solo.
‘In one restaurant, I was sat next to a young couple who were dining alongside their sleeping newborn baby. A spilled glass of red wine opened the floor to a warm conversation between us,’ he said.
‘By the end of the meal, I’d learned it was their first time eating out as parents, and our small talk and jokes brightened my day – and hopefully theirs too.
On another occasion, a waiter told me he was quitting after his shift – I was quietly honoured, though admittedly surprised, to think he felt comfortable telling me, a solo diner, his intentions.’
The best affordable restaurants to solo dine
Wagamamas
Bancone
Franco Manca
Bao
Padella
Pho cafe
Burger and Beyond
On TikTok, there are thousands of videos, from vlogs to reviews, documenting the solo dining experience.
The consensus seems to be that eating alone is an enjoyable and often preferable way in which to try new restaurants or simply relish in a casual night at an old favourite. Just because you’re riding solo doesn’t mean you’re lonely. If anything, it just means you don’t have to share your starter with anyone.
So, while some patrons might take kindly to a cuddly friend sat opposite them while they scoff down a dough ball or two, it’s clear that most of the internet is firmly in the camp of anti-teddy bears.
How to build confidence to eat out alone
Nadia O’Boye, business and life success coach, recommends starting with a simple question.
‘First of all, ask yourself – what is the fear?,’ Nadia told Metro. ‘Why are you actually scared of doing things alone? Identify these fears so you can start to address them.
‘Society tells you that maybe it is weird to eat alone, but aside from that, is there any legitimate fear? Once you have all those fears out there, start to go through them and look for evidence as to why these are untrue or not realistic.’
Other helpful tips include:
– Take a prop, such as a book, to help you feel at ease
– Treat yourself to the nicest wine and meal you can afford to make it feel like a proper solo date.
– Don’t accept the worst seat in the house.
– Own it. That means faking it to you make it.
from Metro https://ift.tt/jJzTbB4
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