Dine alone and love it

I do. In fact I was pretty surprised to learn that many people are uncomfortable when dining alone in public. I can't imagine why. I enjoy unaccompanied ingestion for lots of reasons.

For one, you don't have to worry about talking with your mouth full because you're not going to be talking – unless you're Nancy (more on that further down). For another, you never get trapped in that four-way stop of restaurant gastronomy – the "After you, Alphonse" competitive deferment argument about who gets the last fried shrimp.

Here's another bonus: I never forget my hat when I leave. Why? Because I always put it right across from me on the table where otherwise a companion's plate would be taking up space.

I asked KPLU's Weekend Edition Saturday and Grooveyard host Kevin Kniestedt if he felt conspicuous when dining alone in public. He claimed not to but added that  he preferred to sit at the bar, "because it's okay to be alone at the bar but not at a table."

Women seem to be more self-conscious than men about solo dining but not my Food for Thought pard Nancy Leson. Hear why in this week's episode. 

If so, why? If not, which are your favorite eateries in which to do it?

"Oh the pleasure of eating my dinner alone."

– Charles Lamb