### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/1 "2005-12-06T22:10:54Z")
Don’t laugh - all the cool kids do it once in a while. _\_
You are dining by yourself in something other than McBurgerJoint - a classy restaurant - metal flatware and real plates and everything! The host(ess) leads you to your table - naturally it has 2 or more chairs from which to choose (told ya it was classy!) Which one do you select?
[ol]
[li]Facing the door (_Never_ turn your back to the entry…)[/li][li]Facing the most people (Best floor show in town.)[/li][li]Facing the fewest people (ugh, they all have such abominal manners!)[/li][li]Facing the wall (I want to be alone, dammit!)[/li][li]Facing away from the kitchen (I do _not_ need to see what’s going in there.)[/li][li]Facing the window (Assuming the view is other than the parking lot)[/li][li]Closest to the bathroom (Don’t mock me - it’s a genetic issue!)[/li][li]Witty eighth option (And it durn well better be witty!)[/li][/ol]
If there isn’t a view worth enjoying, I generally like to face the most people. People watching can be entertaining. And most definitely facing away from the kitchen. Also seated away from the kitchen - they’re so noisy!
---
### Author:  [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/2 "2005-12-06T22:14:49Z")
Not too witty, I know but… I like to sit where I have the best light! I have to read while dining alone. 2nd criteria would be facing away from people, unless there’s a good looking guy to glance at. (I know I’m married, but nuthin’ wrong with looking at the scenery!)
---
### Author:  [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/3 "2005-12-06T22:22:05Z")
I would pick the seat with the best scenery. Mrs. Prefect, by dint of my being the consumate gentleman, always gets the best seat in the house and then regales me with comments about the beautiful women walking behind me 🙂
I would like to see what she is seeing for once.
---
### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/4 "2005-12-06T22:22:09Z")
Option 1. I’m a cowboy.
---
### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/5 "2005-12-06T22:47:08Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#):
>
> Facing the door (_Never_ turn your back to the entry…)
This is the only option. Don’t you watch gangster movies? They love hitting guys while they are eating dinner. If you aren’t a gangster than go with good lighting for reading and make sure there are no kids around.
---
### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/6 "2005-12-06T22:49:33Z")
You left out the most important option for me. The seat that doesn’t have a young child right behind it. I don’t need my seat being kicked the whole meal, or the risk of messy kid food all over my clothes. I like to watch out the window as people walk or drive by.
---
### Author:  [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/7 "2005-12-06T23:35:52Z")
#1, just like Gurney taught.
---
### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/8 "2005-12-06T23:53:15Z")
1. Facing the door. Always facing the door.
---
### Author:  [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/9 "2005-12-06T23:58:27Z")
Back to the wall. I find it very uncomfortable to be seated with my back to the door. If the table is in the middle of the room, then facing the entrance with the fewest people behind me. Maybe I was shot in the back in a past life or something.
---
### Author:  [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/10 "2005-12-07T00:05:21Z")
I’d say if I have the option, my back is to the wall. Other important factors might be presence of other people, width of the walkway, etc. I don’t want to get jostled or poked by any customers or waitstaff going by.
Can we have a booth???
---
### Author:  [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/11 "2005-12-07T00:05:47Z")
Huh. I go out to eat by myself often, and I never really think about it. Just kind of sit down wherever seems most convenient to myself. 😃
It’s the eatin’ part that counts, dontcha know.
---
### Author:  [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/12 "2005-12-07T00:07:05Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#):
>
> Don’t laugh - all the cool kids do it once in a while.
No way i’m going to laugh. I do it pretty often.
> [@](#):
>
> If there isn’t a view worth enjoying, I generally like to face the most people.
Same thing for me. Either the view or the people. Except of course if there’s a spcific spot I particularily enjoy (near the chimney in a restaurant I used to dine out in.
---
### Author:  [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/13 "2005-12-07T00:08:44Z")
FCM: If your’e single, face the crowd. If your’e bychance married and dining alone face away. If your’e in trouble with the mafia, face the door and know where all the exits are.
Enjoy. 😉
---
### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/14 "2005-12-07T00:15:53Z")
> [@scout1222](#):
>
> Can we have a booth???
There is no _we_ - you’re eating alone. Sheesh… 😛
---
### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/15 "2005-12-07T00:19:18Z")
**Jake** , I’m married but I’ll face the crowd, thanks. Heck, I look like someone’s grandmother. In fact, I look a lot like my grandmother did at my age, except she didn’t wear jeans. And neither she nor I had any mob issues, but it’s always good to know where the fire exits are, isn’t it? 😉
---
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/16 "2005-12-07T00:37:38Z")
Option #1. The wife knows this, and always lets me sit facing the door.
---
### Author:  [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/17 "2005-12-07T00:56:59Z")
Eat at the Bar. Seriously, you Americans do not know how good you have it. The bar is awesome, I wish we had that here :(.
---
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/18 "2005-12-07T01:03:29Z")
Another vote for wherever there’s light, so I can read.
---
### Author:  [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/19 "2005-12-07T01:05:12Z")
I always like to sit facing the door, no matter if I’m eating alone or with others. I don’t like sitting on booths because it always feels like the tables are too tall. I’m short and I don’t like the feeling that i need a booster seat.
StG
---
### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419/20 "2005-12-07T01:42:58Z")
> [@Dolores Reborn](#):
>
> Not too witty, I know but… I like to sit where I have the best light! I have to read while dining alone.
Me too. If the place isn’t full and the sun is still up I hold up my book and ask for a seat by the window.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-out-alone/334419.md?page=2)