In some cities, if you see someone eating alone at a table or the bar, it might seem a bit sad. In New Orleans, things are a little different. Whether you’re a foodie in this gastronomy-driven city trying to soak in the experience with focus or sitting at the bar to be more social with strangers, the Crescent City is a cozy place to saddle up at a restaurant solo. Ian McNulty of NOLA.com says whether you’re dining alone at the bar or at a two-top table, local restaurants are building spaces with solo diners specifically in mind.
“New Orleans is a great hospitality town and a lot of our restaurants are built to bring a big party of people. However, we have a great compulsion throughout the year in this city for our restaurants and cuisine,” McNulty explains. “That means people often do go out in New Orleans by themselves to experience a restaurant on their own. Part of it is that we have a big tourism economy. Very often people are in town for conventions and want to break off from the group to have a meal by themselves. Increasingly you’re seeing restaurants that are designed to accommodate (eating alone). Dining at the bar is a big part of that, but even a two-top table with just one person soaking in the atmosphere of the restaurant is not uncommon at all in this town,” adds McNulty.
Some people prefer the peace of reading a book or simply soaking in the ambiance of the space they’re in rather than engaging with a group the entire time they’re in a restaurant. That’s much easier when dining alone. Others look at solo dining as an opportunity to chat with new people and that’s also part of the culture in New Orleans.
For McNulty, he says it’s almost instinctual to saddle up at the bar of a restaurant he’s reviewing because it allows for a unique experience. “I actually like dining at the bar almost as a default sometimes. It’s a little more social. New Orleans people are very outgoing and often very engaging. So, it’s very common to see people who just happen to be seated next to each other at the bar strike up a conversation,” he adds.
As a food writer, McNulty points out that eating alone can also allow him to focus all his attention on the experience of the restaurant itself. “It’s a different way to experience a restaurant for sure, but eating by yourself can actually be an exquisite experience here in New Orleans. There absolutely doesn’t have to be anything lonely or sad about it,” McNulty notes.
He also adds that within the past decade or so, more restaurants are making spaces for solo diners a priority when designing bars and seating areas. That means more opportunities to have a seat when you’re out and about, try some great food, and maybe strike up a conversation. Or finish that book … whatever you’re feeling.