'It was the most awkward hour': Guy eats at Benihana alone to test limits of social discomfort

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Jan 6, 2024 8:00 AM EST

Dining alone can be one of life's greatest pleasures… if you're brave enough. Not to brag, but I'm really good at going to restaurants alone. I've done quite a bit of solo traveling, so I've had to get used to it. Some of my fondest memories in life are (oops here's another brag) eating at restaurants alone in Italy. It feels so romantic, and you really get to appreciate and taste the food. And more than once, a server took pity on me (not that I needed it) and gave me an extra glass of wine for free. It was really a Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love moment.

But some restaurants are easier to go to alone than others. There's a sliding scale starting at fast food, working its way up to nice sit-down restaurants, fine dining tasting menu places might be the top… if it wasn't for Benihana. It might the peak of solo dining, especially according to a recent Twitter thread from a brave soul.