Dinner Alone

Have you guys every gone out to eat by yourself to a sit down restaurant?

On Thursday night, I had planned on taking Ed's dad to a restaurant downtown (with Ed of course) for installing my thermostat. Well, Thursday afternoon Ed called and said he bought steaks and green beans, so he would just cook. I had my mind and my mouth set on going out to eat, so after his dad left, I told Ed that I would like to go to the restaurant on Friday. He asked who else was going, and I told him that I was going by myself if he didn't want to go. Well, no can do. He said he would go, and would probably pay too. Woohoo! I was all pumped up on Friday. I love going out to eat, but I haven't really gone out in a while, and this was something I was looking forward to.

So Friday afternoon rolls around, I installed the thermostat myself, and I was ready to chow down. Well, Ed called and said he was tired and cold. I said 'ok. talk to you later.' He asked if I wanted to go out Saturday afternoon or Saturday night. I told him that I probably would go out for one of those meals, but I'm still going out tonight. So, I watched Judge Judy, and headed out.

I found a parking spot right in front of the building and went into the restaurant. It is an Irish place called Slainte, and it was pretty good. They had two soccer games on, an Irish bartender, tons of people drinking Guinness and Harps, McCaffreys and just a great ambience. I had a couple beers and ordered steamed clams for an appetizer. I love mussels, but the non-seafood eating waitress didn't understand my question about their size, so I went with the clams. So good. For dinner, I had shepherd's pie. I make a really good shepherd's pie (it's my Irish ancestors), but I put wine in the meat and that gives it a great flavor. Their pie didn't have any wine in it, but it was still hearty and delicious. I also would have liked a few more vegetables, but I will still give it a 4/5. I was too stuffed to eat dessert, so I just sat there watching the soccer games and people watching.

I love going out alone because it officially gives you license to watch others. You don't have to pay attention to your dining partner because you don't have one. You can listen to others' conversations and not feel bad, and just watch. I love watching people. The bartender discussed how he met his fiancee with a couple that is getting married sometime soon. One group of guys were flat broke, and had to run to the ATM to get cash and cigarettes so they could enjoy their Friday night, one lady fell down the stairs (kind of near me), and everyone stopped talking and looked, but no one asked her if she was ok. I would have, but she got up and kept walking. It was an older lady, so I figured she would just be sore in the morning.

If you've never braved a restaurant on your own, do it. You don't look like a freak and the waiters/waitresses are usually nicer to you because they don't feel like they are intruding. :)