Solo dining in NYC is hotter than ever — here’s how to own the town as a table for one
Jess Brohier is sitting alone at Brooklyn’s Chez Alex — and she couldn’t be happier.
While she does “dine with friends a lot,” the 35-year-old photographer says having a solitary meal in a nice restaurant is a “form of self-care” for her.
“There’s something really nice about being present and savoring food that you pay for as well as appreciating that you carved out time for yourself,” Brohier told The Post.
“Sometimes I just want to have a nice time with myself,” she explained.
And while she’s the only one at her table, she’s definitely not alone.
A new survey conducted by restaurant reservation app OpenTable found that more and more, people are proudly saying, “Table for one, please!”
Solo reservations increased 8% in the US this year and about 60% of those surveyed — 68% for Gen Z and Millennials — said they’d dined solo at a sit-down restaurant.
It’s part of a growing trend for “me time,” cited as the top reason diners eat by themselves, according to OpenTable.
Sasha Davydova, 30, was doing just that when she went to Quality Meats in Midtown alone.
“I remember being at that breaking point where I was just like, I just want a steak. I don’t care. I’m going to get dressed up and I’m going to go get my top steak. That’s going to be my treat to myself. And so I did,” the tattoo artist tells The Post.
“Solo dining really opens up the world to me — to know I don’t have to wait for anyone else to do things.”
While it’s a nationwide trend to fly solo while dining, it’s even more widespread in Gotham.
New Yorkers dine solo more than the average American, Lightspeed reported to The Post, with just about half (49%) admitting they’ve snagged a table for one.
Reasons range from self-care (31%) to the desire to try out new places (29%) and needing a fast work lunch (27%).
“There’s nothing more empowering than dining solo in New York,” Michael Stillman, CEO and founder of Quality Branded, which operates Quality Meats, tells The Post. “You can do exactly what you want and don’t have to negotiate your order with anyone else. You own every part of your experience.”
Myka Meier, founder of New York-based Beaumont Etiquette, advises no one should ever feel sheepish about going it alone.
“There’s no need to feel embarrassed — in fact, it shows confidence and independence,” she says. “You’ll find that many people admire those who can comfortably dine solo — it’s a true life skill.”
As for where to sit, Meier says to pipe up if your table feels isolated — you deserve the same prime seating afforded to couples and larger groups.
“Avoid a table or seat where you are facing a wall and don’t be afraid to ask for a different table if you are brought to one that is not comfortable to you,” she says.
Most importantly, put down the phone. Don’t have loud conversations ever, and while “it’s fine to check in here and there,” she says you should instead “be present and soak in the environment.”
OpenTable CEO Debby Soo agrees that dining solo isn’t for scrolling.
“If you are on your phone the whole time, you aren’t getting your money’s worth,” she tells The Post. “A nice sit-down meal where I can enjoy a special dish uninterrupted, there’s nothing like it.”
A table for one is also a good hack for scoring a spot at the notorious, hard-to-get-into eateries, she said.
For those who don’t want to be the only companionless diner, Ivan Ramen on the Lower East Side, Midtown East’s Press Club Grill, BG inside Bergdorf Goodman, the Palm West Side in the Theater District and NoMad’s Bazaar by José Andrés attract the most solo dining reservations on OpenTable.
Some options can make you feel like royalty, too. Keith McNally’s famed Balthazar in Soho offers all solo diners a free glass of champagne and vegan East Village hot spot Avant Garden just extended its popular “Table for One” experience, in which diners can drop $75 for the best table in the house — a large banquet in a cozy corner — and a four-course meal “due to overwhelming success.”
But, for those too nervous to go at it alone, a chair at the bar is frequently open no matter where you choose.
The top five NYC restaurants for a reservation for one, according to OpenTable
- Ivan Ramen on the Lower East Side
- The Press Club Grill in Midtown East
- BG – Bergdorf Goodman in Midtown East
- The Palm West Side in the Theater District
- The Bazaar by José Andrés in NoMad
“I’m a big fan of bar seating, it feels like you’re in the center of the action and you’re able to be social with the bartender or people around you, if that’s your vibe,” Soo said.
Aidan O’Neal, the chef/partner at hot spots Le Crocodile, Bar Blondeau and Chez Ma Tante, agrees that the bar is the best spot.
“Whether I’m dining alone, or with friends, the bar is the default setting,” he said. “Expedited access to the bartender and the bottles behind them can ease the initial anxieties.”
He’s also adamant that no one should stare at their phone, but “do bring a book or a newspaper” in case you feel the need to occupy yourself.
Another fan of the bar seat is George Tenedios, partner at Nizuc Restaurant, who says it’s the “ideal” way to “people-watch.”
The 7 commandments for dining alone
- Sit at the bar if you want small talk
- Try a tough reservation
- Don’t be on your phone
- Enjoy the atmosphere and people-watch
- Bring a book or newspaper
- Pick a table with a view, and never facing a wall
- Don’t talk on your phone
“Eating alone in public,” he said, “definitely has its perks regarding meeting new people and networking with the folks around you.”
Starting your night alone doesn’t mean ending it that way, in other words.
“There’s nothing more New York than striking up a conversation with neighbors at the bar,” Stillman pointed out.
And no matter what you do, said Carlos Quirarte, partner of Authentic Hospitality, don’t waste a second worrying what others might think.
“Treat yourself and get over it,” he said. “Your whole night can change in New York — you never know who you will meet or where you will end up because of it.”
“This is New York, so technically you’re never alone.”
