# When dining with one other person, where do you sit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080 "2015-06-21T15:58:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080/41 "2015-06-23T15:35:46Z")
I selected “Close enough to play footsie” but that assumes the person is someone you want to play footsie with. For friends and colleagues, across the table. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080/42 "2015-06-23T19:47:38Z")
I used to sit across from my husband at restaurants. Many, many moons ago, shortly after moving to Cambridge, MA, we went to a very popular Spanish restaurant (Dali) for the first time. The host, a portly, middle-aged man with a strong Spanish accent, seated us at a square table with four seats. I sat down across from my husband. The host said to me, “Do you know Marconi?” (You have to imagine the Spanish accent) A bit taken aback at the non sequitur, I said, “No…” He said, “Well, Marconi, he invented the radio. And you will need a radio to be able hear your man if you sit over there. So sit here,” and he motioned to the seat next to my husband. I moved, and since then I sit next to my husband.\* Because of Marconi! \*except for in a booth. It just feels weird to have us both sitting on one side of the booth. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080/43 "2015-06-23T20:27:51Z")
When it’s me and my gf, it’s usually side-by-side if we’re next to a wall. This way we can both see the room. If we’re more towards the center of a room, then it could be either way. But I’d say it’s side-by-side more than 50% of the time, so that was my answer. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080/44 "2015-06-23T21:05:56Z")
No option for On Top and Underneath? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080/45 "2015-06-24T19:36:38Z")
We sit at opposite ends of the dining hall table the same as we would if we had guests. The acoustics are quite adequate to hear each other’s conversation, and of course a footman is always available to refill our glasses. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080/46 "2015-06-24T20:37:09Z")
Depends. USUALLY we sit across from each other. But sometimes in a booth it’s closer. Also, in some crowded restaurants, the 90-degree approach is better for not getting bumped. It may also provide a better view. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-dining-with-one-other-person-where-do-you-sit/723080.md?page=2)