Dining Scenarios
Jul 6th, 2009 by Michael
My new job finds me trekking through Wisconsin quite often. As such, I have been visiting various dining establishments as I try not to visit the same place twice. And I love it; nothing pleases me more than going to new restaurants (well, save for going to new racetracks). It has even turned into a game – people at the plant love to hear the newest saga in “Michael’s Dining Adventures.” In fact, I think I will summarise everywhere I have eaten in an upcoming post.
Anyway, I have no qualms with eating by myself in a restaurant. I know some people cannot get past it, but it really does not bother me. But, it brings up a general question – namely, should a solo person be “required” to eat in the bar area?
Most soloists prefer that. I am not really one of them. I do not like to sit at the bar and eat, because I feel uncomfortable. I would prefer a nice spacious table to spread out at. I also do not like that most bars are smoky. Lastly, many bars just have the bartender wait on you, and I would prefer someone that is more doting. Nevertheless, I of late have begun to relent and eat at bar tables.
Tonight though, I was interested in a regular table. I skipped lunch, and wanted to just relax at a regular table rather than deal with the hustle and bustle of the bar. I told the hostess that I would be dining alone, and made eye contact with her and then the regular dining area. She countered with a “well how about a bar table; it is non-smoking in there.” Given my desire to avoid conflict I went with it. It didn’t really bother me all that much in the end, but I was somewhat irked that she just presumed that a soloist should be “required” to eat in there. Hmmph. I don’t know what to think.
(Not) hungrily yours,
-Michael
loud and clear…
What is it with the stigma of The Lone Diner?
While in New Orleans, I often went out and ate alone (there’s only so much fast-food a girl in a strange town can take) and the host would look at me as though I had two heads… or at least a flesh eating bacteria.
Often when I see diners eating alone, I want to invite them over to my table; if for nothing more than conversation.
(P.S. Your trash has been uninteresting this week…. FYI)
Haha – way to work in a previous blog entry!
Anyway, I had another rough solo diner experience this week. I went to Applebees, a frequent jaunt for me. I decided against bar seating, and got a nice corner table that allowed me to do my people watching in peace. However, it was disturbed by the following sentence: “Hi, my name is Nick, and I will be your waiter tonight.” How can there be 19 waitresses and I get the only dude? Also, I would like to understand how my ice tea cost $2.19, but a LI Tea cost $1.99. Does that mean I can upgrade, with the liquor on the side, for $0.20?
UGGGGHHHH you went to the Bane of All Chain Sit-Down Restaurants?!?!?
I think a little piece of me just died.
Are there no local places in WI?
What is it with fountain pricing? You know how dirt cheap that stuff is (in a per-glass-sense)?
Isn’t a LI IT a lot of liquor and a little coke?
Guess if you want a glass of liquor, if that’s what it takes to deal with the job….
Someone needs to explain to me why so many women despise Applebees. Most men enjoy it more than the others.
Anyway, yes, your description of the LI IT is correct. I have seen in my travels that more and more places are cutting the cost of food (the chain restaurants included), but keeping the cola prices the same (or even raising them). Everywhere seems to have a minimum of $1.79, with most being $1.99 or more.
As an aside, I stopped at the evil chain for lunch again today. It got busy right when I walked in, so the hostess was tied up. The manager, sensing a commotion, walked over and decided to seat me. He then said “how about a seat at the bar” and started walking into the bar area. I didn’t budge. “I really would prefer a regular table.” He paused, circled, and looked at the little chalkboard they use to tell the hostess which tables are taken. Despite plenty being open he grimaced and said, “how about a table in the bar area.” I said “or, a regular table would be fine too.” He retorted with “well why don’t you just tell me where you want to sit” as he directed me towards a table in the bar area. As I started to say “I don’t want a high top…” he sat me at one. I just gave in and sat and he then said, “see we have this nice high top.” I was steaming, especially when people near me started smoking. Then the waitress didn’t come over for almost 5 minutes. She had 30 seconds until I was about to leave. Then the manager opened the door and said goodbye to me as I left to which I replied with nothing but a scowl. I should have laid into him.
And that’s the ONLY bad experience you had there?
Reasons why I lament Applebee’s:
*poor table service
*food hardly ever comes out correct
*food hardly ever looks like it does in the menu (I mean, like, completely unrecognizable)
*watered down drinks
*”free refills” if/when you can find your waitress
*charging Blue and Canadian as “import”
*overcharging for fountain drinks ($3 for a soda? Heck, I can buy two two-liters for that)
*one or two bartenders for the entire place, who are most likely yukking it up with wait staff while you anxiously tap your empty glass on the table
*almost everything is fried (even the salads)
*burgers with tomatoes when you ask for “no tomatoes please”
*no fare that sets it apart from any other restaurant
*kitsch
*the overall look of annoyance from the hostess when you walk in the door.
Shall I go on?