Fine Dining: Solo

I suppose this is a slightly odd situation. There are a few restaurants that I have on a list to try this summer, and most of them are rather swanky establishments: Daniel is number one on the list. However, my friends don't all share a mutual passion or appreciation for fine cuisine, and either can't afford, or don't feel like shelling out over $200 for a single meal, as they don't see its worth. So, given that I am currently single, and nothing is looking particularly fruitful in that department at the moment, I've decided to just go at it solo. It may not be such a bad thing, as whenever I go out to eat with my friends we always get carded if we try to order alcohol, but the times I've gone out and eaten on my own, I'm always served without any questions asked; I'd really like having the wine pairing with my meal. My question and concern is this: The times I have gone out to eat on my own, it has almost always been at a sushi bar or a more casual and laid back setting. Is it going to be awkward sitting down in a restaurant, such as Daniel, by myself? At least at a sushi bar, I could talk with the sushi chefs and the fellow patrons sitting next to me. I'm just a bit concerned about what it's going to look and feel like for me to just be sitting there at a table by myself. Should I bring a pen and pad to make it look as if I'm a food journalist or reviewer? A deck of cards? Does anyone here dine out solo regularly that can shed some light on this for me? Thanks.

I'm not too concerned about what others will think. I'm just trying to visualize what it's going to be like sitting alone. I guess I may be over thinking it. Well, then I would have to pay for her meal, and if I were willing to do that in the first place, I might as well just take one of my silly, uncultured friends.

Typically, which is the best night of the week to make a reservation?

I'd very much enjoy that. However, I do not know of any SF'ers in the NYC area, nor of any SF'ers that would wish to willingly sit down and subject themselves to my company for two and a half hours.

I don't know anyone who posts in SW&D, though. I'm 20. That's really good to know, as Per Se is on my short list of places to try.

My sister lives in Florence, and my parents, like my friends, do not see the value of spending that much money on dining. They enjoy good food, but they are sort of old fashioned Italians, and aren't really into the whole haute cuisine thing. I go out with my mom to eat on occasion (we went to Le Bernardin for my birthday), and would love to go with her to Daniel, for instance, but her palate is just not very eclectic, or varied, and she would probably not eat half the stuff on a tasting menu there anyway. I think going by myself may have certain advantages.