Solo dining is the mirroring of bigger social behaviors: a record 30% of Americans live alone, and people are marrying later than ever before. Only 37% of Americans ages 25-49 were married with kids, down from 67% in 1970.

“In the 1984 rom-com “The Lonely Guy,” a crowded restaurant goes silent when Steve Martin tells the host he wants a table for dinner alone. A spotlight shines on him as he walks awkwardly to his seat.

Too embarrassed to acknowledge he’s having dinner out by himself, Martin pretends to be a restaurant critic and pulls out a notebook when his order arrives.

But the stigma of single dining has faded as more people live alone than ever before. Today, more people are making reservations for one.

Surveys show that consumers’ attitudes toward dining alone has also changed. In a 2022 survey of 1,200 consumers, market research firm Mintel found that 60% of respondents felt comfortable eating alone at a casual dining restaurant.

        Solo dining used to be looked down upon, she said. Now it “looks peaceful to me. You can disconnect from the world for 40 minutes 
        and enjoy your food.”

Yasmin Wages, the co-owner of Thai and Vietnamese ’ newest restaurant, which opened three years ago, was designed with smaller, two-person booths. They’re proving perfect for single diners. Each dish on the menu is designed as an individually sized portion.”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/31/business/solo-dining-restaurants-reservations/index.html