Hey,
Let me share a little secret with you. (Well, I suppose it won’t be so secret after this)...
Please take this seriously. This is not a joke.
There is one real advantage to dining alone, especially on the road:
1. Take a small, professional looking, black notebook with you. The sort of thing that is leather with gold embossing.
2. When you come to the front desk, make sure that you are professionally dressed and that the waitstaff sees you reach into your lapel pocket or purse and pull out the note pad and a fine pen.
3. When you are being seated: no matter where they take you, ask the waiter/ess “Is this the best seat available?”
4. When you are seated, hesitate to sit down. Make it obvious that you are scanning the table & immediate environs.
5. As you sit down, they will want to rush you into making a drink order. Hesitate again. Open your little black notebook and make a ‘note’. Close it and than ask what he/she recommends “that the typical customer would be able to afford.”
6. BEFORE the entree come, ask where the restroom is…with your notepad obviously visible & in hand. Even if you don’t have to, use the restroom and take your time.
7. Continue to make ‘notes’ throughout your dining experience. Act as if you are being discreet.
It is very entertaining to see what ASSUMPTIONS can do for the service an attention you will be given.