I feel like that just draws an unnecessary amount of attention to the fact that you're dining alone. Nothing wrong with dining alone, but I'd feel awkward if the staff were trying to "cover up" the fact that I'm alone.
There's one restaurant in my area that has some tables for one. I noticed that, for me, those do feel more complete when I'm dining alone. Instead of extra, conspicuously empty seats around the rest of the table, there's a table clearly designed for one diner to just enjoy a good meal.
And it's not enough to have tables with only one chair. If such a table is amidst larger-party tables, I think it still makes the other usual places at the table feel abnormally empty. What makes tables for one feel "right" has something to do with their placement in the restaurant (so as not to feel odd or exceptional), their orientation (so as not to face the diner towards someone else's gaze--unless mingling is the goal), and then the size and number of seats.
It's probably difficult for some restaurants to accommodate solo diners due to a need for density, but when a restaurant might have some space that would otherwise not be all that useful (like a little extra space between a planter divider and a walkway, where larger tables just wouldn't fit), it is an opportunity to attract solo diners who want to enjoy the solo experience of focusing on the meal and their own thoughts rather than bar seating. (And, on that topic, I think it's becoming more normal for people to not want alcohol displayed prominently in front of them when they're really just looking for a nice meal.)
They are not covering up, they are trying to make you comfortable. If you don't wanna, just ask.
I don't think the headline here is true, but even so they aren't "covering up" anything, they're giving you a plushie so you'd feel less alone, or more comfortable, eating alone at their restaurant. Surely you could decline, but why eat at a moomin restaurant if you're gonna decline the plushie?
Nothing wrong with dining alone, I think.
Yeah, smart phones fixed this. No one looks at anyone anymore anyway. I have zero hesitantions about dining alone. Fuck you I'm here to write a yelp entry on this place,.and also, yes, I don't have friends.
Less awkward?
In Japan
Japan has zero problem with solo eating. It's one of the biggest things Chris Broad wishes the rest of the world would adopt.
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Chris Broad wishes the rest of the world would adopt.
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Key word "tries" I would die of embarrassment if someone was like "I noticed you're lonely so have this huge ass flag to indicate to everyone that you're alone"
Japanese culture and all that.
I feel it would be more awkward but I'm not from Japan
Muumi
Now if I would start talking to stuff animal. Would it be considered weird or am I fine to hold a dialog with them?
Meh.
Now if they cloned Matt Berry and you could dine with him, that would get my attention.
Less awkward?
I'd love to have a giant moomin plushy
