p.s. Budman! Did Mrs. Budman take that photo? Or did she deny knowing you?

Ekscrunchy-please, do read, the paper is the Washington Post, and the column is in the weekly Sunday newsmagazine, which appears on the weekend, where customers write in to complain about how a particular restaurant has handled a "problem" good or bad. So now that I have provided an answer to your very earnest question, let me ask this: have you NEVER been lied to by a waiter? In other words, you've never had a waiter tell you, "oh sure, we have your reservation," and come to find out, they didn't? Or, "we'll have your table in 10 minutes" and an hour later, no table? If you HAVEN'T ever had that problem, I'd be surprised-but maybe you've never had a waiter say anything but the truth to you, and if that is the case, then I'm so happy to hear that, but for the majority of restaurant diners, that just doesn't happen to be the reality of the situation. And to lie about when your table is ready os really the most minor of issues that waiters routinely lie about. Like I said, to say there is no tortellini in Bologna is utter BS-it's clear the restaurant didn't want to deal with the economic reality of the solo diner, as opposed to the more lucrative twosome.

Girlspy:

Thanks for the newspaper info..I will check it out.

You can speculate all you want but neither you, nor I, nor Monica, nor anyone else perhaps save the offending Bolognese waiter, will ever have the definitive answer as to whether or not the place in question had tortellini that night, and if they did, why they did not want to seat Monica.

To answer your question, I do get around a fair bit and yes, I have been made to wait for a table I've booked. Other than that I can't think of any instances of obvious outright lying by waiters but who knows...if I am not treated right, I don't go back! None of this has anything to do with the tortellini issue or the current exchange rate of the Indonesian rupiah.

But indeed it DOES have to do with Monica's situation: as I said above, waiters frequently make up excuses (or outright lies, whichever you prefer) to guests because to do so is simply easier than telling the truth-the truth being something which would not make the restaurant look so good, or some request that they simply do not or cannot accomodate, which would reflect badly on the individual waiter, or the restaurant itself, and particularly where it involves a solo diner, a solo diner being one that is in no way economically advantageous to the restaurant-so trying to get rid of the "problem" by stating that they are "out" of the signature dish of Bologna, and "out" of anything else the solo diner requests becomes perfectly justifiable.


And I do not casually suggest to write to Bologna's Tourism Autority-you'd be amazed what can happen when you complain to the authorities in Italy-the results you get-I'll not go into details, but I complained recently to the City of Florence Tourism Authority about a response I got from a hotel, an investigation was opened concerning the hotel's response to me, and after that, the City of Florence wanted to "gift" me something for my problem-which arrived in the mail about a month ago, and let me say this: it was no ordinary gift-and I'll leave it at that. I was amazed that an official with the Tourism Authority would go to such lengths to make amends, to say the least.

You don't happen to work in the travel industry, do you?

I never have an attitude or behavior problem. When I travel, and I have traveled quite a bit, I do keep an open mind. I love to meet people along the way. I try to speak the language of that country and I’m open to different types of foods.

Maybe I shouldn’t have titled the posting “solo diner turned away…” but “solo traveler not felt welcomed” at restaurants. I certainly didn’t feel welcome at these three places at an hour when these restaurants were either virtually empty or 100% empty. I don’t think it takes a psychic to tell me I didn’t feel welcome. The first restaurant offered me (for the next night) a tiny table in the hallway/entrance, not in the dining room. Would anyone want to sit at that table as people come and go? The second restaurant had available tables outside (except for 1). Didn’t feel welcome there either. The third place, after asking for two different dishes, didn’t make me feel welcome. By the third restaurant I was frustrated.

Okay, I’ve said enough. I’ll certainly make reservations in Paris and will have a fabulous time!

Monica

PS: Melissa - no pumpkin wine this time. Maybe next year!

L84SKY made some good points, one of which reminded me of my visit to Stockholm in January.

After examining the menu on the restaurant window of a major lux hotel near the train station I got excited about coming back for lunch -- herring was listed. It was still mid morning so I went walking about. I came back at about 1 PM and was shown a table. After taking off my gloves, coat, and scarf and sitting down the waitress said that there was no more herring. Boy, was I unhappy. Nothing else interested me so I put my gear on and walked out.

Lesson: get to lunch early.

My justice came that evening. I took the Silja Symphony ferry to Helsinki. The buffet on board featured herrings, chilled salmon, and a hundred other delicacies. What a stuffing! For two hours I ate and drank for €35. What a deal!

Bon voyage in Paris, Monica. I guess you already know what you want because you are going to make reservations. I never do. Walking around and looking at menus and ambience is the way I find a place to eat in Paris, and everywhere else I go in Europe. The chase is half of the the fun for me. Having been to Paris many times I have some favorites but I am always exploring because old favorites do sometimes change.

Monica,

Check the message I posted on your web site.

Jan

hopscotch, the buffet sounded fabulous! I was in Helsinki for a day (Baltic cruise) and just loved the city. Also had the chance to visit Stockholm on the same cruise.

I won't have all evenings preset/planned. I'll book some restaurants and will leave a few nights open to try. If I see one during the day I can pop in and make reservations for that evening or another evening. I'm also planning to enjoy a few big lunches and light dinners - maybe picnic foods. I'll keep myself flexible as much as possible.

Thanks Jan, I'll contact you.

Monica

I was in Paris last month and had no problems dining alone. In fact, the only time I was turned away was when I had a companion, on a Friday night around 8 or 9 pm, without a reservation; actually, we could have had a table at the packed place, if we were willing to wait. Since we didn't want to wait, we walked 2 or 3 blocks and found an even more interesting place. Probably worth noting to respond to the original post of this thread, I returned solo to the place that turned us away, it may have been Brasserie Balzar, the next day and had no problem getting a solo table for lunch. Last month, I was also in Barcelona, dined alone, and was never turned away. Enjoy your travels!!

Opus81a, what was the "interesting place" that you dined in? I'm collecting restaurants for my trip.

Thanks!

Monica

Sheesh, some of these comments...Monica you are indeed an excellent sport! Ira's comment about that garbage bag you apparently like to carry around Venice did make me laugh, though.

I was turned away once as a solo diner in France, outside of Paris. I'm a bit on the glamorous side, so I guess they just assumed I was a prostitute. At least that's what I think now that I've read this thread.

I'll be in Paris in the spring and am looking forward to hearing about your dining experiences. Have a wonderful time! Given your great attitude, I'm certain that you will.

ira and Leely, checkout today's NY Times Style section featuring photos of the latest Chanel bag that does look like a trash bag. Maybe I'll put the CC logo on one of my T.B
and see if it looks like the $1000 deal.

Wait! Here they are:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/fa...amp;ei=5087%0A

Okay folks, I thought you were talking about my red purse. Now you're making ME laugh! Sheesh is right! It's not a garbage bag but my groceries! LOL!!!!! The red purse is a CitySafe purse, which several people on fodors purchased. There was a purse thread somewhere.

Monica

PS: cigalechanta, I guess I was in style with my grocery bag! Didn't pay a dime for it either!

Monica

PPS: What does one do with their grocery shopping bag? Do I need to go out and buy a leather purse to conceal my goodies?

Monica

Monica and cigale,
I feel there is a joke here somewhere, something about making silk purses out of sows' ears/Hefty bags, etc., but I can't figure it out.

Monica, re: your grocery bag. It is of course extremely gauche to carry one's groceries.

Leely, I have to carry my groceries from store to hotel room! I'll be sure to find a mesh bag or shop only at night.

Actually, I usually put my things down for a photo op. Missed it that time.

Monica

Monica,
I didn't even notice the name of the restaurant. I was so relieved to find a place within walking distance. My companion that evening is currently in Japan and I can't correspond with him because he hasn't figured out the Japanese keyboard or isn't hitting a conversion button. Everything comes back gibberish. He returns in a week or so; in the meantime, I will try to retrace our steps and hopefully between the two of us we can direct you.
Opus81a