Looking for Singleton-friendly restaurants

[phoenikia]

Does anyone have any suggestions for upscale, Singleton-friendly establishments? Last time I dined at George, it seemed it had become a Smug-Married-friendly establishment, leading the Singletons to feel a little uncomfortable.

[xssnrg]

Sounds like you are wondering about same sex singletons - I've had lots of great meals out with mixed groups who are not in couples - Canoe, Herbs, N 44 & Globe.

For same sex groups - my friend and I had a great lunchtime out at George. Lots of fussy attention and the food was amazing. Ki was great for a group of women celebrating.

[idnas]

I've had dinners with one or more girlfriends all over the city, upscale and down, and I've never felt the anti-Singleton vibe you're talking about. Maybe I'm just oblivious. ;-)

Anyway, my friends and I have been comfortable dining at Canoe, Ki, Thuet, Jump, Trevor. I hope that helps.

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Trevor Kitchen
38 Wellington St E, Toronto, ON M5E1C7, CA

Thuet
609 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V1M5, CA

Jump
18 Wellington St. West, Toronto, ON M5L 1G4, CA

Canoe
54th Floor TD Bank Tower, 66 Wellington, Toronto, ON M5K 1H6, CA

Richtree Market Restaurant
181 Bay, Toronto, ON M5J2T3, CA

[millygirl]

I must admit this post stumped me. I've had many dinners out with girlfriends, my sister, business associates, etc. at both casual and upscale restaurants and have never once been made to feel uncomfortable or odd. I have to say, I would feel just as relaxed going to Scaramouche, Starfish or Mistura with a girlfriend, or my sister as I would with my husband. Who cares?

[phoenikia]

Single people care, or at least some of them do. Especially around Valentine's Day.

Thanks for the suggestions so far;)

I haven't felt the anti-Singleton thing very often, just on a few occasions when it feels like you're crashing a party. The worst is when the table next to you is on a blind date- you try not to eavesdrop, but it's pretty much impossible to block out the small talk chatter. This has happened to me at Kultura and Blowfish. The fact tables in TO are often placed too close to one another doesn't help. But maybe I'm the only one who's ended up in this situation.

The night I was at George, the food was amazing, but it seemed like a date place, and it felt like my friend and I had gone to the wrong restaurant. Maybe it's got a different vibe at lunch.

[merlot143]

By singleton, I take it you mean a convivial group place, sort of like pubs. Or Rodney's Oyster Bar. A chatty happy restaurant.
Unlike, say, Crush with its lovely hush, hush atmosphere.

[antirealist]

"...Crush with its lovely hush, hush atmosphere."

And large dining tables seating 4 or more?

I can't think of anywhere I've ever eaten where there wasn't at least one group of people dining out. The idea that people who are not romantically involved eating in a group might feel awkward is quite baffling to me. And "Smug-Marrieds"? This is just projection more than anything else, I think. Eating alone on the other hand, is another matter altogether.

[TorontoJo]

Do you mean dining solo? Or do you mean a two or more single folks dining together? :)

[phoenikia]

Hi TorontoJo,
I just mean 2 or more single folks dining out. I realize quite a few posts on dining solo exist on the board;) As well as suggestions for girls' nights outs, boys' nights outs, bachelorette parties, etc. But I can't remember a post about upscale places where single people might go, where they won't feel like they should be on a date or celebrating something special;)