Any ideas on best table service restaurants for solos?
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May 2008 CSR 
Best dining for solos
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Thu, 05/07/2009 - 21:47
Best dining for solos
Thu, 05/07/2009 - 22:23
If you ask me, and I believe you did, 
the best dining experience in my humble opinion is at the "Flying Fish" rest. at the Boardwalk. Ask to be seated at the bar situated on the left side as you walk in. This is an eating type bar and as you sit there you are facing the open type kitchen and could even start a conversation with the Chefs working there. You are that close to them. Just don't expect them to stop working to talk.Also the people seated next to you are just as liable to strike up a conversation if you show an inclination to do so. Also you stand a very good chance of getting a seat there without reservations because they can fill in odd seats with solo diners. I loved it there.
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Thu, 05/07/2009 - 23:45
Vettelover wrote:
If you ask me, and I believe you did,
That's great advice. Do you have a dish you recommend?
Fri, 05/08/2009 - 00:10
cdub wrote:
Vettelover wrote:If you ask me, and I believe you did,That's great advice. Do you have a dish you recommend?
I really enjoyed the Oak grilled Maine Diver Scallops and they come well recomended as well as the Char Crusted New York Strip Steak, both are grilled as you sit there and watch. Also while on the subject of grilling, pay attention to the amount of wood they go through. It was truly fascinating.
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Fri, 05/08/2009 - 04:37
Vettelover wrote:
Also while on the subject of grilling, pay attention to the amount of wood they go through. It was truly fascinating.
I've always thought that about 'Ohana. Where do they bring that stuff in from?
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2005 Port Orleans Riverside
2006 Animal Kingdom Lodge
2007 Wilderness Lodge
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Fri, 05/08/2009 - 14:38
We chatted about this a while back, and I remember one of the topics was going to the "family style" meals where you're seated at a table with a bunch of other parties (teppan edo, biergarten, etc.). That could be fun, if you like chatting and if you're seated next to an interesting party.
Another good part of biergarten is that there's a show to watch, which is always fun.
I think Sanaa might be good for solos, because you can request a window table and watch the animals!
Fri, 05/08/2009 - 17:42
Boma is a great solo restaurant, because you get the advantages of a buffet for solos, but with much better food than you typically get on a buffet.
Sun, 05/31/2009 - 15:18
I'd like to concur that buffets are great when you're by yourself. I really enjoy sitting at the small tables at Liberty Tree Tavern and looking out the window and watching the MK go by. Sadly this is highly dependent on where you get seated so I usually recommend an ADR at open.
Mon, 03/15/2010 - 03:02
I still haven't gotten over the eating solo thing yet. I usually end up eating counter service. I need to be more adventurous. You guys are making me hungry. 
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Mon, 03/15/2010 - 05:28
chriskre wrote:
I still haven't gotten over the eating solo thing yet. I usually end up eating counter service. I need to be more adventurous. You guys are making me hungry.
Chriskre -- I know you've seen SoloFriendly posting around here (http://www.solofriendly.com). She's got some great ideas and reviews for dining solo in Disney parks. Counter service is great, but there's also a few great "open kitchens" where you can sit at the counter and chat with the chefs while dining. Pretty cool!
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 00:02
admin wrote:
chriskre wrote:I still haven't gotten over the eating solo thing yet. I usually end up eating counter service. I need to be more adventurous. You guys are making me hungry.Chriskre -- I know you've seen SoloFriendly posting around here (http://www.solofriendly.com). She's got some great ideas and reviews for dining solo in Disney parks. Counter service is great, but there's also a few great "open kitchens" where you can sit at the counter and chat with the chefs while dining. Pretty cool!
Thanks, I'll check it out.
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Wed, 03/17/2010 - 16:55
chriskre - Oh, please don't shortchange yourself by just eating counter service all the time! There are so many wonderful table service restaurants on Disney property to enjoy, and the food there, while more expensive, is also way better than the counter service food. If you're feeling social, try one with dining at a bar or counter, but I often eat at a table for one and am perfectly content. The servers at WDW, in my experience, are very courteous and friendly to solo diners. I recommend restaurants with a view to keep yourself occupied while you wait for your food.
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SoloFriendly.com
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 01:07
SoloFriendly wrote:
chriskre - Oh, please don't shortchange yourself by just eating counter service all the time! There are so many wonderful table service restaurants on Disney property to enjoy, and the food there, while more expensive, is also way better than the counter service food. If you're feeling social, try one with dining at a bar or counter, but I often eat at a table for one and am perfectly content. The servers at WDW, in my experience, are very courteous and friendly to solo diners. I recommend restaurants with a view to keep yourself occupied while you wait for your food.
As sad as it is at my age I'm still not that comfortable eating solo in restaurants. I've done it but I end up eating in front of the TV in the sports bar type places or reading a magazine. I guess the more I do it the better I'll get at it but I've got a way to go on this one. I'm trying to work my way up to solo travelling. Figured that going solo to the world may be my only option in the future since I've exhausted all friends and family.
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Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:18
chriskre wrote:
SoloFriendly wrote:chriskre - Oh, please don't shortchange yourself by just eating counter service all the time! There are so many wonderful table service restaurants on Disney property to enjoy, and the food there, while more expensive, is also way better than the counter service food. If you're feeling social, try one with dining at a bar or counter, but I often eat at a table for one and am perfectly content. The servers at WDW, in my experience, are very courteous and friendly to solo diners. I recommend restaurants with a view to keep yourself occupied while you wait for your food.
As sad as it is at my age I'm still not that comfortable eating solo in restaurants. I've done it but I end up eating in front of the TV in the sports bar type places or reading a magazine. I guess the more I do it the better I'll get at it but I've got a way to go on this one. I'm trying to work my way up to solo travelling. Figured that going solo to the world may be my only option in the future since I've exhausted all friends and family.
Yet, you keep having tag-a-longs on your trips!
Also, I don't think it's a cop-out to bring a book or a magazine to read while you're dining. Maybe at the most hoity-toity restaurants, but not at most places. That's probably the best time to catch up on reading!
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May 2008 CSR
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 22:25
chriskre wrote:
As sad as it is at my age I'm still not that comfortable eating solo in restaurants. I've done it but I end up eating in front of the TV in the sports bar type places or reading a magazine. I guess the more I do it the better I'll get at it but I've got a way to go on this one. I'm trying to work my way up to solo travelling. Figured that going solo to the world may be my only option in the future since I've exhausted all friends and family.
I find the trick is just to have something to either read or play with. No one else is really paying attention to you, so it helps to not pay attention to them. It only seems like anyone else cares that you're there alone. Besides, you can't let all your friends being Disney-ed out keep you from going!
Fri, 03/19/2010 - 02:12
As sad as it is at my age I'm still not that comfortable eating solo in restaurants. I've done it but I end up eating in front of the TV in the sports bar type places or reading a magazine. I guess the more I do it the better I'll get at it but I've got a way to go on this one. I'm trying to work my way up to solo travelling. Figured that going solo to the world may be my only option in the future since I've exhausted all friends and family.
Yet, you keep having tag-a-longs on your trips!
Also, I don't think it's a cop-out to bring a book or a magazine to read while you're dining. Maybe at the most hoity-toity restaurants, but not at most places. That's probably the best time to catch up on reading!
I know, it's sad but true. I still haven't done the solo trip yet. I keep hoping the tag alongs will eventually become converts especially if they get to stay onsite but so far I've only converted 2 people to Disney fans. Luckily it happens to be the two people joining me this weekend.
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Fri, 03/19/2010 - 14:21
Chriskre's rubbing it in that she gets to go to WDW this weekend! Lucky!!!
What are your plans? Which parks will you hit?
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2010 Beach Club Resort
2005 Port Orleans Riverside
2006 Animal Kingdom Lodge
2007 Wilderness Lodge
2008 Animal Kingdom Lodge
2009 CBR/Polynesian
Sat, 03/20/2010 - 01:46
Hi,
I agree that buffets are great for a solo diner, although in 2003 I dined alone (at the bar) at California Grill; and when I scarfed up the three-pound porterhouse at Shula's in the Dolphin, I had a table all to myself. About the only place at which I would not dine alone is Victoria and Albert's. But there are only about a dozen table-service restaurants at which I've never eaten.
Jim
Sat, 03/20/2010 - 04:07
SpaceAce wrote:
Chriskre's rubbing it in that she gets to go to WDW this weekend! Lucky!!!What are your plans? Which parks will you hit?
Sorry guys. I know it's not nice to brag.
Actually I am here for a conference in Tampa all day Saturday, I'm commuting the 1-1/2 hours as I hate staying in Tampa. I'm hoping we hit Animal Kingdom on Sunday or Monday. We have dinner ressies for Jiko for Sunday and Cape May for Monday. Other than that it's a pretty agenda-less trip.
I want to hit the Louis Tiffany museum which I just found out about in Winter Park. We'll see. I don't like to plan too much as things don't always go as planned when travelling with my friends and then I get disappointed because they don't share my enthusiasm for the same things.
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Sat, 03/20/2010 - 04:09
LeCellierBuff1963 wrote:
Hi,I agree that buffets are great for a solo diner, although in 2003 I dined alone (at the bar) at California Grill; and when I scarfed up the three-pound porterhouse at Shula's in the Dolphin, I had a table all to myself. About the only place at which I would not dine alone is Victoria and Albert's. But there are only about a dozen table-service restaurants at which I've never eaten.
Jim
Wow Jim. 3 pounds of beef? I don't think I could stomach that much meat all at once. How on earth can you do that? You should be on that Anythony Bordaine show or the other guy who eats at all the gigantic hamburger places on the Travel channel. I forget his name.
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Sat, 03/20/2010 - 11:05
^^^ His name is Adam Richman and the show is Man vs. Food. Why thay guy does not weigh 600 pounds is beyond me. Boy can he pack it away!
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Sat, 03/20/2010 - 12:36
Vettelover wrote:
^^^ His name is Adam Richman and the show is Man vs. Food. Why thay guy does not weigh 600 pounds is beyond me. Boy can he pack it away!
We LOVE watching him!!
And, chriskre, thanks for the mention of the Louis Tiffany museum -- sounds interesting!
Also, Jiko = yum.
Sat, 03/20/2010 - 16:44
Vettelover wrote:
^^^ His name is Adam Richman and the show is Man vs. Food. Why thay guy does not weigh 600 pounds is beyond me. Boy can he pack it away!
I think he must eat nothing when he's not filming.
Sun, 03/21/2010 - 20:27
Hello!
@chriskre: I did it because I wanted to see if I could do it. It required a light breakfast early in the morning and nothing else all day. That evening (December 4, 2005) I ate the lobster bisque, the steak, and two bites of the twice-baked potato before washing it all down with a bottle of Darjeeling tea.
@everyone else: I love Man vs. Food! But you're right; he just may make like Pizza the Hut (from the movie Spaceballs) and eat himself to death.
Jim
Mon, 03/22/2010 - 06:06
LeCellierBuff1963 wrote:
@everyone else: I love Man vs. Food! But you're right; he just may make like Pizza the Hut (from the movie Spaceballs) and eat himself to death.
Jim
GrossGrossGross!! Pizza the Hut is one of the most disgusting characters in movie history 