Ottawa
Alone

PRACTICAL SAMPLE

Dining Alone: The Essential Skill

Eating alone in restaurants is part of traveling by yourself, and it is one of the things women in particular are often told to feel uncomfortable about. Eating alone is a normal human activity, and it is a chance to eat what you want, at the pace you want, without negotiating with anyone. At Zak’s Diner or Thali, a table for one is an ordinary sight.

Some restaurants and some styles of dining are easier to do alone than others. Eating at a bar or counter is easy; you can sit without awkwardness, and the bartender may chat if you are interested. Casual restaurants, cafes such as Little Victories, and quick-service places such as Shawarma Palace have counters and quick turnover, which makes them simple. Sit-down restaurants with table service are equally fine, though you may feel a flicker of awkwardness when the host asks how many and you say one.

A free excerpt from Ottawa Alone.