The Art of Eating Out Alone

Last Saturday, on a sudden whim, I headed out to one of my dining-out haunts to eat a solitary lunch. I breezed through the door, sat down on a table for two and ordered food. While waiting for the sizzling sisig plate and chocolate pudding, I whipped out a Nicholas Sparks novel and began to read.
That was when I noticed some of the people glancing at me in what seemed to be curious looks.
Ahh, I got it right away. They were looking at me because I was there sitting there, so obviously ALONE.
But come on, it's no big deal really, the dining out alone experience. Still, so many people are mortified at the mere thought of doing it. My friend says he would never dine out alone because he feels like it makes him look pathetic. Others are afraid to give off the impression that they are "forever alone".
What the heck.

I like eating out with friends and family like the next average person but I have no problem eating alone as well. There is something charmingly meditative about it. When I eat alone, I find myself paying more attention to my food. When I'm eating with friends, I'm more intent on the conversation so I'm not really putting too much thought on what I'm chewing and drinking. Eating alone removes all those distractions and you get more thoughtfully aware of the food in front of you. Like last Saturday, for the first time I noticed certain things about the sizzling plate that I never thought of before: considering how often I've ordered the said dish before (but I was always with friends so I was distracted).
Now if you are still kinda nervous about dining out alone here are some useful things that might help you try the experience out:

• Do your best to look confident. Don't look like a martyr, clumping down to a solitary table and pathetically sighing all over the menu as the waiter hands it to you. Be good-natured about it.
• Stop looking around to check if people are watching you. Of course, they will still look at you. But hey, what's the big deal? Let them. Because sooner or later, when they notice that you don't look that "pathetic" as they initially thought you were (damn their narrow-minded souls), then they'll lay off and start minding their own businesses again.
• If you feel uncomfortable without anybody to converse to, bring a book or a magazine to read. If you're not the reader-type, well bring a netbook or laptop computer! After all, many establishments now boast of free wi-fi for the customers. Browse through the net and such. Have fun!

Dining out alone is not pathetic, well as long as the one doing so will not do anything to make him/her pathetic. So why don't you take that solitary meal in your favorite restaurant some time?