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The following text appears on page 14 in the "Solo Diner Savvy in General" section of 150-Plus
Tips on How to Attract & Keep
Solo Diners.
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Seat solos away from heavy traffic patterns.
Seat solos at one or two tables near a front window. Let strollers — potential solo diners — see that they,
too, will be welcomed.
Banquette seating allows solos to feel a part of a restaurant scene.
During busy times, let solos know, before they are seated, that they may be asked to share a table.
"I too feel right at home on a solo basis, and yes, if it does get busy, you will probably get to know
your neighbors, maybe even taste something else." chowhound.com contributor
When times get busy, ask a seated solo if he/she is willing to share the table.
» Consider establishing a house policy for solo diners.
Require your staff to ask solo walk-ins or those calling for reservations this question: "Would you welcome
being seated with another solo diner?"
Note: This question accomplishes several objectives. It conveys the message that your restaurant understands
that people like options. Sometimes they prefer to dine alone, while other times they welcome opportunities to
blend into a restaurant with a companion.
Consider seating solos cheek-by-jowl at banquette seating and let "nature" take its course.
"And it turned out I had a delightful dining 'companion.' An elderly gentleman was seated next to me shortly
after I arrived, and we ended up having a wonderful conversation for the entire meal, and by the end we were swapping
cheeses like old friends." chowhound.com contributor
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The following text appears on page 38 of 150-Plus Tips on How to Attract & Keep Solo Diners.
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COUNTER/BAR LOGISTICS
Does your restaurant currently feature an open kitchen or is one scheduled? If not, consider adding a counter/food
bar where customers can dine while watching the cooking action.
". . . led me to a bar area facing the kitchen, where I proceeded to have the meal and the night of my
life. It wasn't just the food (I don't remember what I had, just that it was all new, and incredibly delicious
to a palate that up to that point was tuned to a typical girl's college diet of carrot sticks and bad Chinese takeout!).
It was the experience of watching the sous chefs slice vegetables with such precision, hearing them call out cryptic
things like 'firing one filet' . . .
Every so often the chef nearest me would pass me up a spoon with something on it to try (once a croquette of something
that was really salty, but I was too shy to say anything critical), or the waiter would stop to chat." chowhound.com
contributor
When designing a new restaurant or remodeling an established one, consider the entertainment value of an undulating
bar or food counter. Diners seated at uneven or serpentine bars are easily able to see other diners seated
along its length. Guests seated along a straight-line bar find such viewing difficult.
The bar . . . was relocated during the recent remodel and is much improved for it. Before, it was tucked away
in the back and seated only six. It felt like a hideaway for married men having affairs. Now it's up front and
forms a nice L shape - second only to the U-shape for socializing with complete strangers - and seats a tight dozen
or more." yelp.com contributor
Important: Comfortable dining at a bar or counter requires more bar top space than a typical bar provides. Bar
stool height is also an important consideration when guest comfort is concerned.
» Add comfort to dining at a bar or counter by providing seating with
back support and a foot rest. (Adding a hook for a purse or bag will win appreciative fans!)
"I love eating at the bar at XXX. The step for your feet makes it as comfortable as a table." chowhound.com
contributor
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The following text appears on page 41 in the "Solo Diner Savvy in General" section of 150-Plus
Tips on How to Attract & Keep
Solo Diners.
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Q & A: SAMPLE MEDIA QUESTIONS
ABOUT SOLO DINING
AND RESPONSES TO CONSIDER
Q: Why does your restaurant cater to solo diners?
A: We believe we actually cater to "all" of our guests by offering
solo dining options and amenities. Sooner or later everyone faces the challenge of dining out alone. Irma Bombeck,
the late humor columnist, devoted an entire column to her gripes about being left to dine alone when her husband
was out of town.
We want customers to remember that whether they are solo or accompanied, they are always welcome to join us for
a meal.
Q: Your restaurant is known for rolling out the welcome mat for solo diners.
How did that reputation develop?
A: We take pride in being known as a restaurant that takes the bite out of
solo dining. We're glad it shows! People are discovering that we cater to solo diners in many ways. One of the
amenities we offer is facilitating shared-table seating between two strangers. Solos welcome this option, especially
when they appear at our door wishing they had company.
Besides adding conversation to a meal, sharing a table with another person offers a way for a solo to blend into
a restaurant filled with couples and groups. This option is a god-send for people concerned about what other diners
think about their solo state.
Q: What do people want from a restaurant when they dine out alone?
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