Fine Dining: Solo

[edinatlanta]

Hey tg if you're like free sometime...like...if you want id totally you know... take you to one of the finer dining establishments and id even pay for you. I mean you know if you like aren't busy or nothin.

and if you were a chick too bad you aint/we got doubts

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

and if you were a chick too bad you aint/we got doubts

 

[alexg]

I'm slightly younger than you and was in basically the same situation in NYC for college this year. Generally waiters and waitresses assumed I was either in the city on business or some kind of food critic. You get over the awkwardness pretty quickly when you realize nobody cares about you being alone as long as you're paying. Oh, and don't expect to get carded.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Manton

At any Keller restaurant, all solo diners are automatically VIPed--extra courses, off-menu stuff, better wine, etc.--on the theory that they are really into food and so would appreciate special attention more than most.

First reaction to any self conscious maitre d' and general foh staff when seeing a lone diner is "o ****, who are they."

Guaranteed you will get phenomenal service and food. Don't sweat being alone. I've done it many times while traveling and have seen special attention paid to guests like you (especially given your age.)

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by indesertum

go with somebody else just so I could have somebody to talk to about the experience

O god, for me this is a big reason to not go with someone. Unless I really like someone or they're very knowledgeable, I prefer to not hear people's observations about food, which tends to happen in small dining situations. I like medium sized groups so that there's good, lively conversation, with food as the focus but as far as conversation goes, the backdrop. Tony Bourdain and food blogs have made me almost hypersensitive to the average person's thoughts on food.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by SField

First reaction to any self conscious maitre d' and general foh staff when seeing a lone diner is "o ****, who are they."

Guaranteed you will get phenomenal service and food. Don't sweat being alone. I've done it many times while traveling and have seen special attention paid to guests like you (especially given your age.)

Yep. This is it.

 

[mm84321]

Especially those who dine out and have nothing to say to one another but comment on how "good this is".

I got a reservation for Friday the 24th at 7pm. I think that will be a nice time to go; certainly the busiest, I assume.

 

[nmprisons]

Originally Posted by SField

First reaction to any self conscious maitre d' and general foh staff when seeing a lone diner is "o ****, who are they."

Guaranteed you will get phenomenal service and food. Don't sweat being alone. I've done it many times while traveling and have seen special attention paid to guests like you (especially given your age.)

This is correct. My girlfriend works in one of NYC's better kitchens (pastry cook) and frequently tells me about the FOH misidentifying someone random as someone based simply on their demeanor and the fact that they were eating at a table alone. While her chef VIPs folks dining alone, the savory side doesn't always, but solo diners generally get good treatment.

As an aside, since she works most nights, I dine solo throughout NYC and have found the service I get alone to be similar to what we get together when the restaurant knows she is in the industry. So, you should be in for a good time.

 

[indesertum]

^did not know.



where you eating m&m?

 

[mm84321]

Originally Posted by indesertum

where you eating m&m?

Daniel.

I am extremely excited.

 

[indesertum]

niiice.


hvae you seen the after hours series with daniel on hulu. i think its the same company that did three sheets. he seems like a great guy. one of the shows made me want to make a cassoulet

 

[mm84321]

I have. It's a great show. I don't think it's better or worse than Avec Eric; it's done in a different style, which is nice.

One of the reasons I want to eat there is because of the great respect I have for him. Not only as a chef, but as a person. He is an extremely motivated businessman, and has a very perfectionist quality about himself, and his craft, that I can relate to.

I asked the maÃ

tre d' to make a note next to my reservation that if he is around the night I'm there, I would love to be able to meet him. I'm keeping my fingers cross.

 

[indesertum]

that would be pretty cool. take pics if you do get to meet him

 

[mm84321]

Originally Posted by indesertum

that would be pretty cool. take pics if you do get to meet him
I certainly will try. I would have liked to be able to post pictures of the food to share with everyone here. I just think it's fairly cheesy taking out your camera and snapping photos of food at a place like that.

 

[Mandrake9072]

Out of curiosity, what kind of job do you have at the age of 20 that allows you to pay for $200 dinners? o-0