Table for, uh… 1 please 

Café Bellino Owner, Scott Fox, offers smart tips for the single diner 

Boca Raton, FL- You’re sitting at home waiting for the microwave to signal that your frozen dinner is done.  You’d have gone out for dinner to that restaurant you love, but the dreaded words, “table for 1”, rarely escape your mouth.  Let Café Bellino owner, Scott Fox, show you how to beat the single diner blues. 

  “A couple of weeks ago, I had this beautiful lady dining by herself in the restaurant.  She kept scribbling in a little book during dinner.  I couldn’t quite make out what it was she was doing until, after dinner she came up to me and thanked me for making her feel comfortable.  She handed me a drawing of a table top.  It was like a still-life painting,” says Fox of his favorite tip for single diners.  “Bring a pen and sketchpad.  Nearly every restaurant has some sort of unique visual.  This allows you to skip the book that keeps you from looking around and really absorbing the restaurant.” 

  Fox recounts another story when talking about his second tip, “I had an English teacher who told me that if I ever felt like I couldn’t pronounce a word to say it loud and with authority instead of sounding meek.  Same is true for single diners.  Get dressed up to go out.  Knock their socks off when you walk through the door.” 

   “Try to make a reservation.  This will keep you from getting stuck at the table by the kitchen and the host or hostess will be ready for you when you arrive.  If you build a rapport with a restaurant you can even request a table,” says Fox.  “Which leads me into my next tip which is to leave a business card with the check.  It will personalize you with the server and management and allow you to form a relationship with the restaurant.” 

  “Obviously, sitting at the bar is a great way to go.  Often, we’ll have people dining solo at the bar and they end up meeting a new friend by the time they leave.  It’s probably one of the best ways to dine solo.  Sometimes, though, I find that people just want to be left alone.  Maybe they had a hard day at work or issues at home and just want to get out and have a quiet dinner.  We teach our staff to ‘read’ diners, to see if they want to be engaged in conversation or not.  This is a great tip- don’t be afraid to tell your server or bartender that you are looking for a quiet dinner.  They’ll leave you alone.  It is, after all, in their best interest to give you exactly the experience you want.” 

  “The bottom line is that dining solo can be fun and doesn’t have to induce anxiety attacks.  With a couple tricks up your sleeve you’ll be ready for solo dining anywhere, anytime.” 

  Scott Fox is owner of Café Bellino in Boca Raton, Florida.  His restaurant is a favorite among single diners who enjoy value priced fresh baked breads, homemade pasta dishes, and Italian specialties.  Call 561-393-2844 or visit 182 S. Federal Hwy, Boca Raton to learn more.  You can also check Café Bellino’s website at www.cafebellino.com.