NYC foodie dining alone this weekend

[KitchenMaid]

I am coming this weekend to visit my husband who's in Chicago on business. I've been told that he will be so busy that I'll most probably be dining alone the entire weekend. Which is okay, since my husband is an extraordinarily picky eater. I've just noticed the thread about 2 NYC foodies also coming this weekend, and similarly, I'm pregnant too!

My question is: Can I dine solo at many of the places referenced in that thread? Are there places particularly suited to solo diners? I'll eat almost anything (I am pregnant so no sushi/raw fish), am staying downtown at the Peninsula, do not have a car, and do have an obsession with Rick Bayless so I would definitey like to try either Frontera Grill or Topolobampo (which is better?). Other than Rick Bayless, I'd like to eat at Giardano's, and perhaps Art Smith's Table 52.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!!

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Frontera Grill
445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

Table fifty-two Restaurant
52 West Elm Street, Chicago, IL 60610

Giardano's
2206 S Busse Rd, Mount Prospect, IL 60056

[nsxtasy]

I agree, you can eat solo at any nice restaurant. I tend to do it fairly often when I'm out of town, not so often at home here in Chicago. Some people prefer dining solo at the restaurant bar, while others (including me) prefer doing so at their own table. If you would prefer arriving alone but eating with others, a few restaurants (e.g. Avec, Publican) have large areas of communal seating, and a few others have a communal table in addition to their conventional seating; that's the only way I can think of that some restaurants are more suitable for solo diners. Otherwise, if you're at the bar or your own table, it's up to you whether to sit and watch the room, or bring a book; I sometimes bring a small MP3 player with audiobooks loaded on it. But it would be next to impossible to read or listen to anything at really noisy places (Avec, Publican, Frontera Grill). I've been impressed at the service when dining solo at the Lobby in the Peninsula, where the staff offered me a newspaper.

The big challenge with Frontera Grill and Topolobampo is getting a table, and this varies depending on the meal and day. Topolobampo, which occupies one room inside the common entrance with Frontera Grill, accepts reservations for the entire restaurant on Opentable.com so you can see on your browser whether there's availability. Generally they have been booking up several months in advance for dinner and for Friday lunch, but not for Tuesday-Thursday lunch. Frontera Grill only accepts a handful of reservations and keeps most of the room available for walk-in traffic, so getting a table is a crapshoot (waits are horrendous for weekend dinners, not bad for weekday dinners or Saturday brunch, I'm not sure about weekday brunch). Frontera Grill also has a bar, and if you eat at the bar, I believe you can order from either menu (Frontera or Topolobampo). Very often, at a restaurant that is booked with reservations, they will let you eat at the bar, and getting an open seat as a solo can be easier (less waiting time). Both are excellent; Topolobampo's dinner menu is more expensive than Frontera's, but the prices are similar at lunch. So that's the scoop on those two.

Table 52 is another restaurant that books up months in advance. You can check availability on Opentable, where they accept reservations. I haven't eaten there so I can't tell you whether they have a bar where you can eat as a solo walk-in.

Giordano's serves double-crust "stuffed" pizza and it's my favorite deep-dish in town (although I like most of the others too). There are several locations in the Loop and one in River North on Rush Street. Phone ahead with your pizza order to avoid waiting 30+ minutes while seated for your pizza to bake.

Feel free to ask more questions, and enjoy your visit!

[KitchenMaid]

Thank you for great suggestions. Unfortunately Topolobampo is all booked up the whole weekend, but I'm lucky in that both restaurants are right next door to each other. What I may do on Friday as I arrive in the afternoon is go and inquire at each restaurant how they may accomodate a solo diner. I wouldn't mind sitting at the bar at all!

I tend to avoid communal dining experiences (perhaps that's the NYer in me?), and wouldn't mind either table or bar seating. I like your idea of an MP3 player with audiobooks. I may have to bring along a couple of "This American Life" podcasts!

Ironically, even though I have my heart set on both Rick Bayless and Art Smith, I'm looking for truly regional cuisine. I can get most ethnicities in NY and in the outer boroughs of NY where I live. So far from other threads, I have pieced together a tentative schedule--besides Rick Bayless' place, breakfasts at either Bongo Room, Atwood Cafe and/or Fox & Obel, lunch at Giardano's, and dinners at Cafe des Architectes, Table 52, and/or South Water Kitchen. While both Charlie Trotter's and Alinea look amazing, I don't think either are really appropriate for this trip. Better for next time!

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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Charlie Trotter's
816 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

Bongo Room
1152 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

Cafe des Architectes
20 East Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Table fifty-two Restaurant
52 West Elm Street, Chicago, IL 60610

South Water Kitchen
225 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60601

Giardano's
2206 S Busse Rd, Mount Prospect, IL 60056

[nsxtasy]

I know you can sit at the bar at Frontera Grill and I know you can order off either menu, Frontera or Topolobampo; the only thing I'm not sure about is how long you might have to wait for a seat to do so. The bar is pretty big (30 seats). Note that they are open till 2:30 for lunch and start serving dinner at 5:00 on Fridays. And don't forget that Frontera also serves brunch on Saturdays.

Your plans sound great - enjoy!

[ruthkennison]

I was reading this thread with interest as I am coming to Chicago next week solo for five days. I am a solo diner who LOVES sitting at a bar and eating. Can you tell me, which of the above restaurants (besides Frontera Grill) has a bar I would be able to eat at? Thanks so much.

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Frontera Grill
445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

[nsxtasy]

>> which of the above restaurants

I'm not sure which ones you're referring to. Many restaurants - heck, maybe most of them - have bars where food can be ordered and served. What kinds of food/restaurants are you interested in, and in what area will you be staying and/or spending time?

[ruthkennison]

Sorry, I was reading KitchenMaid's list of places she was going. I'm coming solo to Chicago. Staying near Merchandise Mart but will travel around the city. I was looking for great Chicago meals like Frontera Grill, Cafe des Architectes, Table 52, and/or South Water Kitchen and was wondering if they have bars you can walk in and sit at and eat. I've eaten at Avec but didn't enjoy waiting 2 hours. Do you have any suggestions for open kitchen bars where you can sit and eat? Thanks.

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Avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph St Ste A, Chicago, IL 60661

Frontera Grill
445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Cafe des Architectes
20 East Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Table fifty-two Restaurant
52 West Elm Street, Chicago, IL 60610

South Water Kitchen
225 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60601

[nsxtasy]

I'm not always the best observer of bars in restaurants. However, I know you can eat at the bar at Frontera and I think you can do it at Cafe des Architectes, but they are not open kitchen bars. Open kitchen bars, where you face the kitchen and can watch the action there, are a smaller subset (and Avec isn't one of them either). I know there is a small bar facing the kitchen at Avenues where you can sit and eat and even chat with the chef, but the sight lines into the kitchen are not all that great. I'm trying to think of other such places where you have a really good view, but the two restaurants with an open kitchen that immediately come to mind - North Pond and one sixtyblue - both have bars elsewhere, in another room. Anyone else know of any?

[uhockey]

I'm a solo diner (largely because I travel alone.) I've eaten at Alinea alone and was entirely comfortable (Since you're from NYC I'll note I ate solo at Per Se for 5 hours, Daniel for 3.5, and Picholine, Le Bernardin, Jean Georges, Alto, Ko, Ssam, Convivio, Marea....you get the idea.) I don't think there is a place out there where you should feel uncomfortable as a solo.

Would DEFINITELY recommend Topolobampo over Frontera - just go at Lunch and get in Early.

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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

[KitchenMaid]

Thanks, I appreicate the advice. To be honest, I am actually looking forward to the solo experience!