Table for one?

I was walking along Bintang Walk yesterday when pangs of hunger struck. I walked into Pavilion in hopes of chancing upon an eatery which I would fancy. The first shop which crossed my mind was Sakae Sushi. I was having one of my Japanese cravings again. On my way to the outlet, I passed rows of restaurants jam packed with people all dining al fresco trying to see and be seen. Table after table were people with their friends, chatting, laughing and having a good time. That's when it hit me. I'm alone.

Although my feet eventually carried me to the shop front, I turned away and left. If they say two's company and three's a crowd, then what's one? I have, in many events dined alone. But somehow I've never really given thought on the perceptions other people may have towards me, a lone diner.

So I guess my question is, is it okay to eat alone?

Do you judge a person who eats all by himself/herself in a restaurant? I mean how often do you see a person walk into a restaurant and say "Table for one please." I'm pretty sure most people pass judgement on lone diners. Either they are weirdos or have some obnoxious personality or thinking that they are really bitter to be with. The negative perceptions always surface first.

Is it even okay to have a meal anywhere alone? Grab-and-go foods like hot dogs and pretzels are safe to be consumed alone. But what about places like hawker food areas and food courts and restaurants. Places where people actually sit and have their meals. Or even a coffee house. Do you know how many times i've seen someone in a Starbucks sipping on their frappucino all alone while clicking away on their laptop mouse.

It's like this idea that people generally have, linking 'being alone' to 'being miserable'. I for one find it perfectly okay to be alone. Spending time with yourself. Having no one else to please but yourself. But then again, I am still under the impression that dining in restaurants should be done in the company of friends or family. Hawker places, okay. Food courts, maybe.

Restaurants are great places to socialize. The meals would be the medium and the conversation is the action. But when alone, you've got no one to interact against. No one to say "This creme brulee is awesome!" to except maybe to the waiter. As I see it, the act of dining alone in restaurants is simplifying an action to its most basic form: A human-being consuming food as a life source.

poll by twiigs.com

PS: By the way, I ended up buying hawker food to-go and ate it at home. Alone.


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