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Solo Eating in Park Slope — Brooklynian

Solo Eating in Park Slope

smitty
smitty
edited November -1 in Park Slope
Where do you guys go to eat alone in Park Slope?

Comments

  • raw
    raw
    Good question.

    On 7th Avenue, between Flatbush Avenue and 9th Street, I've ate Thai alone at Mango and sushi at Hanabi.

    If you don't mind eating at bar counters, Nana and Bogota Bistro -- both on 5th Avenue, somewhere between Union Street and Flatbush Avenue -- have decent bars to eat at. So does Burrito Bar & Kitchen on Flatbush Avenue at Prospect Place.

    Does a snack at Tea Longue on Union Street between 6th and 7th Avenues count?

    I can eat alone at most places during off hours as long as I have a window seat to people watch and a newspaper to either read or pretend to read. I write "off hours" because I feel insecure if a place is jam-packed with every other table but mine packed with people who can see me hogging one table all by lonely self and wonder if I have any friends.
    8)
  • lucky
    lucky
    If you like to eat at the bar, try Blue Ribbon or Cafe Steinhof. The bartenders will keep you company at either place
  • steve
    steve
    12th St bar is a decent place to have a bite on your own. Uncle Moe's too. I think if I eat on my own I usually do the takeout thing though. I wish i would cook more often.
  • 8thandprez
    8thandprez
    I've done Bonnie's, Olive Vine, and Press 195.
  • newcolonist
    newcolonist
    Ditto on Press and 12th St.

    I have yet to have the famous Bonnie's burger, but I can easily imagine that would be a good solo dining spot.
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    If you're willing to cross to the PH side of Flatbush, the lunch counter at carneviento (El Gran Castillo de Jagua) can't be beat.
  • escap
    escap
    Doesn't anyone else find eating out alone to be depressing? I always feel bad for people I see eating alone, and simultaneously am sometimes irritated, b/c people who are alone and sitting next to you invariably eavesdrop. When I eat alone it's usually home delivery. :wink:
  • majo635
    majo635
    Nope. I think "good for them". Why hide away alone at home if you feel like eating out? I think it shows confidence rather than paints them as a loser.
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    Flexichick wrote: Nope. I think "good for them". Why hide away alone at home if you feel like eating out? I think it shows confidence rather than paints them as a loser.
    I agree. I feel more sorry for people who stay home when they want to go out.
  • oneasternparkway
    oneasternparkway
    I always used to feel sorry for people eating alone, but once I started travelling solo for work, I tended to enjoy sitting down with a book/paper and having a decent meal and a few beers.

    I still get depressed if I see potential widows/widowers or people my mom's age eating alone, but I know I shouldn't.
  • erikka
    erikka
    escap wrote: Doesn't anyone else find eating out alone to be depressing? I always feel bad for people I see eating alone, and simultaneously am sometimes irritated, b/c people who are alone and sitting next to you invariably eavesdrop. When I eat alone it's usually home delivery. :wink:
    No...but now I feel fantastic for knowing that people are pitying me for having a nice, quiet meal alone.

    I enjoy it. The only time I don't like to eat alone is at really fancy restaurants, and that's only because they're usually too dimly lit to read. If there's a bar I'll sit there mostly because I don't want to take a table if they're busy and need it for larger parties. But you gotta eat--I'm not gonna run home every time I need to do it and can't find someone to join me. As for eavesdropping--when are people NOT eavesdropping? I admit I do it on the train and if the conversation is juicy, I'll do it at a restaurant as well.

    I remember having brunch alone a couple years back (just me and the Times) and the couple at the table next to me was fighting/breaking up. The only thing I could think was, "Glad I'm not them." They ruined my Sunday crossword puzzle, those jerks.

    Actual question: Do you usually tip more when dining alone? I sometimes add a buck or two because I'm occupying a table meant for two people that could have drawn a larger bill.
  • quijibo
    quijibo
    12th street bar and grill + johnny mack's

    they both have food, alcohol, television, eye-candy.
    what more could you ask for?
  • escap
    escap
    erikka wrote: [quote=escap]Doesn't anyone else find eating out alone to be depressing? I always feel bad for people I see eating alone, and simultaneously am sometimes irritated, b/c people who are alone and sitting next to you invariably eavesdrop. When I eat alone it's usually home delivery. :wink:
    No...but now I feel fantastic for knowing that people are pitying me for having a nice, quiet meal alone.

    Haha. Well, to each his/her own, I guess. I certainly think it's normal to go out to a cafe and read the paper, and I suppose I should save my pity for others. I've only gone out to a real, sit down dinner by myself once in my life, and that was during a business trip (which I've also only done once). It was in fact a fancy restaurant and I felt very self conscious. Perhaps I don't have the self-confidence, or maybe it's just not my thing. Anyway, I don't begrudge someone else doing it if that's what they want.
  • kid_baco
    kid_baco
    Why would anyone feel sorry for someone eating alone?
    That doesn't make sense to me.
    It's as if saying "I feel sorry for someone who isn't dependent upon others to enjoy life", is it not? The very notion boggles my mind, really.

    Needless to say, I enjoy eating alone on occasion. Typically I try to keep it somewhere around the $10 range when going solo, not that I'm not worth more, but lets face it, I'm no longer trying to impress myself with expensive meals, that honeymoon ended long ago. And in the end, no matter what, I'm still getting myself into bed, I guess I'm just easy like that.

    Still, joking aside, there are some good places one can have a nice meal for that price. Park Slope Ale House, Miracle Grill, Perch (which I hated at first, but finally tried again and rather enjoyed), any of the burrito places, Lobo, the list goes on and on.

    So feel free to take yourself out, eavesdrop on others, feel proud you're not taking part in such boring conversations (which is often the case) and enjoy a night on the town with the one you care most about... yourself.

    And a good book never hurts.
  • rose
    rose
    I go out to lunch by myself pretty often. I work at home and it's good to get out of the house once in a while. There must be lots of people in my situation because half the people I see eating lunch around me are alone. I don't think there's any shame in it. :)
  • escap
    escap
    Uh, I think people are getting a bit too uppity about this issue. :roll: Just relax, nobody was attacking you. Of course I'll grab a sandwich and eat lunch by myself all the time, as does nearly everyone, and like I said reading the news at a cafe is about as odd as brushing your teeth. I personally don't at all enjoy going out to a restaurant for dinner--but by all means, please go, I'm not stopping you. Sheesh, you'd think I insulted your mother or something!
  • escap
    escap
    I will add one other thing--as someone above alluded to, it definitely depends on the restaurant. If I were at a diner, a cafe, or some other casual place that allowed me space to read the paper, or perhaps a laptop, or to watch the Mets game on TV or something like that (even people watching while sitting in a park is fun), then I could definitely get into that. The thing about the traditional sit-down places is that you can't really do anything else while eating, so I frankly find it boring. Now, I guess if you are someone who really likes to be alone with your thoughts then you might enjoy some solitary fine dining. But for me I'd rather share a nice meal with someone else--if I'm just on my own then I'm from that wired, ADHD generation that either scarfs the food down and moves on or likes to watch TV/read the internet while I'm eating. Sorry if I insulted anyone, this is just my personal taste.
  • rose
    rose
    Okay, I kind of agree with you in that I would not go out to a nice, expensive restaurant by myself for dinner. Not that there's anything wrong with doing that, but I would feel a little awkward about it and also I like to have a few drinks with a nice dinner, and if I'm going to drink alone I'd rather do that at home. :roll:
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    OnEasternParkway wrote: .

    I still get depressed if I see potential widows/widowers or people my mom's age eating alone, but I know I shouldn't.
    i'm with you on this one. although it's better than sitting at home. but still...
  • deedee
    deedee
    Eating alone can be fun. I particularly like to eat the bar at Stone Park Cafe. Great service, good food and fab cocktails.
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