isdn00789 Posted October 19, 2010 Posted October 19, 2010 Today, as part of a conference being hosted by my workplace, a group of us went to an activity followed by lunch. My post is about the lunch portion: I found the waitress to be very cute, and she was definitely around my age (21). Unfortunately the situation was not even close to ideal for trying to "pick her up" (or whatever you choose to call it) today at lunch. Not to mention I have a hard time talking to anyone new when it comes to personal matters (guys and girls...). If I could get the courage to tell my friends I'd like to go eat there and talk to this girl, it would probably make things easier, but that will be very difficult for me to do (even though it shouldn't be). I could, however, start going to that restaurant for lunch/dinner more frequently. But I have a question: Would it be completely weird for me to go eat at a sit down restaurant by myself? I don't want to make a fool of myself. If the answer to my question above is that eating alone wouldn't be a strange thing to do, then I might like some suggestions of reasonable ways to talk to this girl while she is working. If anyone has ever been a waiter/waitress before, what kind of things would be annoying vs. acceptable? Basically, how can I interrupt her as little as possible while still making myself memorable.
USMCHokie Posted October 19, 2010 Posted October 19, 2010 Would it be completely weird for me to go eat at a sit down restaurant by myself? No, not at all. I have done it plenty of times before when I ate out more often.
EasyHeart Posted October 19, 2010 Posted October 19, 2010 I got used to it when I used to travel a lot on business. I was alone in a strange city and eating alone was better than not eating. (A lot of hotel restaurants are kind of funny, because the whole dining room is full of people eating alone!) Given you age, though, it might come across as kind of odd. And you don't want to become a 'regular'; many waiters/waitresses don't want to date regular customers (and some won't ever date customers).
Knittress Posted October 19, 2010 Posted October 19, 2010 I'm gonna vote 'a little weird' but you'd also garner cool-points for not caring. Hovering around a diner in order to oggle a waitress you're too scared to talk to? ... eh... that's a bit less cool. And it could get mildly creepy if you take it too far.
tami-chan Posted October 19, 2010 Posted October 19, 2010 For me, it would FEEL weird. I have never eaten in a restaurant alone. But is it weird? NO, it IS a restaurant, that's what it's there for-for hungry people.
KraftDinner Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 No, it's not weird to eat alone in restaurants. But falling for a waitress... not a good idea, usually. Do you know how often they get hit on? Like several times a day. My boyfriend manages a bar with a large staff of waitresses, and they laugh about the customers who ask them out and hit on them and stuff. And I've never heard of one of them actually dating a customer. They date the bartenders all the time though... if you really want to date a waitress, maybe you could become a bartender.
carhill Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 For me it's only weird after a woman throws a drink in my face. Otherwise, SOP; I've been eating alone for decades. As far as flirting with waitstaff, sure. I also flirt with FA's, gate agents, hotel clerks, housekeeping staff, you name it. It's called being friendly. If they reciprocate, I give them my travel card. Some interesting friendships have started that way OP, the key is to not focus in on this one person. Show up alone; be friendly. Whatever happens, happens. Do you know how many suits my dad had in his closet before the knockout at the men's clothing store would go out with him? Too many He just kept buying suits until my mom went out with him. Glad he had enough left over to buy me a tricycle. True story.
Penny91 Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 Leave her a $5 - $10 tip and she will remember you.
Author isdn00789 Posted October 20, 2010 Author Posted October 20, 2010 I was alone in a strange city and eating alone was better than not eating. (A lot of hotel restaurants are kind of funny, because the whole dining room is full of people eating alone!) This particular restaurant is actually attached to a hotel, so I guess it is extra normal there lol. =) That said, I guess that alone makes it a little weird to eat there since I'm not staying at the hotel, but it is actually separate from the hotel, and the food is good. Hovering around a diner in order to oggle a waitress you're too scared to talk to? ... eh... that's a bit less cool. And it could get mildly creepy if you take it too far. Trust me, I won't be hovering around. Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not going to start eating there every day or anything. Hopefully it would turn out that she'd be my waitress again the next time I went. At any rate something will either happen, or it won't. I wouldn't be going just to watch her. But falling for a waitress... not a good idea, usually. Do you know how often they get hit on? Like several times a day. My boyfriend manages a bar with a large staff of waitresses, and they laugh about the customers who ask them out and hit on them and stuff. And I've never heard of one of them actually dating a customer. They date the bartenders all the time though... if you really want to date a waitress, maybe you could become a bartender. I haven't exactly fallen for a waitress... I just think she's cute and would like to talk to her. I realize she probably gets hit on all the time, and that she may very well have a boyfriend or at least be dating someone, but if I don't try there is 0 chance anything will happen. Of course, I have to admit that this is a bit discouraging. How big is your tip? AND Leave her a $5 - $10 tip and she will remember you. I make a good salary, and I have a lot saved, so my tip could be large (easily $5 - $10) if I wanted it to be. I'm sure that would probably make me memorable, but is that really a good way to go? If it gives me a chance to know her, great, but I'd hate for her to be attracted to my money instead of me. And of course, thanks to everyone who replied. I appreciate everyones input. =)
FructoseGrande Posted October 20, 2010 Posted October 20, 2010 my tip could be large Be sure to wear baggy pants.
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