(Mandatory) Sharing a table is standard practice aboard Amtrak dining cars. I liked how the attendent selected the seat for you and even asked all to introduce themselves. I've found that in some NYC restaurants too, you ARE going to be sharing a table if you a party of 1 or 2.

For other than special occasions it's no big deal. I enjoy meeting & talking with people. If I'm at a place where you get your own food and find a table, I usually have no reservations about asking "May I join you?" and am seldom denied. Knowing some are not as extroverted as me, I think having an employee "matching" people up makes it easier for all.

It really is mostly a US phenomena that people are so closely guarded about "their" space.

If I am alone, sure why not.

If I am with my family, or even with just my husband, no thank you. If I knew I would have to share, I'd rather stay home and cook. Our time together is limited and therefore highly valued.

jlm_mi, budman was referring to breakfast and lunch on a cruise, where there is no assigned seating.

Most of the time, we enjoy being seated with other people--and, if they aren't our cup of tea, oh, well, it's only one meal.

That's part of the fun of dining at Mrs Wilkes in Savannah. I love chatting with others so would be happy to share.

I definitely would. My DH, who is quite shy (opposites attract!), always teases me that I have this obsession about starting a conversation with everyone I meet - at the grocery store, restaurants, tourist attractions, etc. I just really enjoy meeting new people - you can always learn something new or get a new perspective. And since it's just the two of us, we get plenty of alone time so sharing a meal with others wouldn't be a big deal. The more the merrier! Good question, Starrsville!

I would do it at breakfast or lunch, but not at dinner. It could be very interesting - has anyone been to the Carnegie Deli? You never know who you'll meet!

I would most often say yes. Once in awhile, especially for breakfast, I would probably say no.

Our one cruise experience together (late 50's and age may make a difference, I don't know):

My SO is extremely gregarious. We did NOT have any assigned seating EVER on the cruise. It was Princess any time dining.

We ended up finding some friends from his GM days and we sat with larger groups in different dining rooms until we found a great waiter from Romania and then came to her section at all different times.

The cruise experience may be quite different now, if you want it to be different. This goes for breakfast and lunches as well. You could sit alone, you could sit with group arranged, you could sit with whoever came alone etc. We did all three.

And there IS a downside to just joining a table. I liked it and would often say yes myself, but I did get tired of hearing the same introductory stories from my partner AND hearing the same introductory replies and generic job descripting etc. It wasn't a forum for any intimate or personal family conversation and that was missed. Once we got to know some of the groups the conversation improved, but we didn't even talk to each other in our group with the context that we would have without the others. And sometimes that's a shame.

When alone, I have often said yes and enjoyed meeting people. And with family we always are combined with another group at the Japanese steakhouse format and love that as well.

You're right - I was tired and misread Budman's post. Makes much more sense now that I'm awake! Sorry Budman. :)

You know, I have to add, I'm been seated with another single or duo at Chicago restaurants, and sometimes it is just great and pleasant. But at other times I have felt totally NOT relaxed, which is something you don't want to feel when dining.

There are cold, and frankly rude, food shovers out there you know.

Just like everything in life, if you don't dare, you don't win.

I would share with Budman, but not Starrsville as he would be shoveling down foie gras ;-) We did a lot of that in Switzerland, as many restaurants are set up that way. We've shared many, many times at Bed and Breakfasts. People usually expect and look forward to that, and we've discovered a lot of good travel tips from those people.

Depends on the situation.

Assuming I was with someone, it wasn't a special occasion and the other people looked OK yes.

But I have turned the option down when traveling alone and the potential sharer was a single man I didn;t especially like the looks of.

I think people who had bad experiences sharing cruise tables will never share a table again :))

It depends who I am with, do I want it to be romantic or want to talk to people in my party only, if this is my family or I travel alone, what language do they speak... or even how much makeup I have on :)

There is no straight answer "yes" or "no", only "it depends".

Oh, another situation: travelling alone sitting with some love birds, who can't care less if you even exist. NO, THANKS. ;)

After reading through these, and you've all brought up great points, I think I'd definitely want to know ahead of time that I'd have to sit with someone else, so I could make an informed decision. I'd hate to wait for seating only to find that our private dinner was going to be shared with a party of 10.:-D

After thinking a bit more on this, the only way I wouldn't share a table is with someone who is smoking. You never know who you'll meet or what you can learn. We've cruised a dozen times and have kept in touch with a lot of our tablemates. So what if someone isn't friendly or talkative or a little too much of both. I think there are some really closed minded people out there...gee..

Sometimes, it's called discriminating. But call it what you want, as a single female traveling, I have found it to be necessary.

I’d say possibly. Yes, if I am traveling in a known tourist location and would run into other tourists or friendly locals. I’d say probably not to sharing a table with fellow locals in my home town which is not known as a tourist locale. Except if I inadvertently run into Kal and then definitely NO. ;)

What an interesting thread. My first response was NOPE..but then I realized that some of the little restaurants my husband and I go to in NYC have tables right next to each other. You kinda are dining at the same table! I'm sure many people know what I'm talking about. But to really answer your question, I would say "no thanks" to sharing a table in order to be served faster.

Why NOT in your own community, even if it isn't "touristy"?

Surely (I mean Suzie) you don't know everyone in your town?

A local coffeehouse has some great entertainment daily, and it's a given that you'll be sharing tables. No big deal. ( http://moonandrivercafe.com ) You never know who you're going to meet, and it's only a meal or a coffee, not a lifetime that's being shared.

Who was it who stated something about there being to strangers, just friends we haven't met yet?