NEW YORK –

In the 1984 romantic comedy The Lonely Guy, a crowded restaurant is silent as Steve Martin tells the host he wants a table for dinner alone. A spotlight shines on him as he awkwardly walks to his seat.

Too embarrassed to admit he’s eating out alone, Martin pretends to be a restaurant critic and pulls out a notebook when his order arrives.

But the stigma of eating alone has disappeared because more people now live alone than ever before. Today, more people reserve a table for one person.

On restaurant reservation platform OpenTable, online reservations for single groups at full-service restaurants rose 8 percent in the 12 months ended May 31, compared with the same period last year. An online survey of 2,000 consumers commissioned by OpenTable in June found that 60 percent of respondents had eaten alone in the past year, including 68 percent of respondents from Generation Z and Millennial generations.

Some people prefer to eat alone because it’s convenient, since they don’t have to cook or clean up at home. Others actively seek out solo meals to try new restaurants. Millennials and Generation Z are driving the rise of solo dining, according to surveys, restaurant owners and industry observers. Social media has made it easier for people to find restaurants that are good for a solo meal, and demographic trends have reinforced the trend.

The growth of fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, which offer weekday lunches for singles and convenient dinners, has also made it easier for some people to take the next step and sit down at a table or bar for lunch or dinner, experts say.

“Restaurant trends reflect larger fluctuations in what is happening around us,” says Stephen Zagor, a restaurant consultant who teaches at Columbia Business School.

“The food itself is a reflection of larger social behavior.”

A record 30 percent of Americans live alone, and people are marrying later and less frequently than ever before. Only 37 percent of Americans ages 25 to 49 are married with children, up from 67 percent in 1970.

Surveys show that consumer attitudes toward eating alone have also changed. In a 2022 survey of 1,200 consumers, market research firm Mintel found that 60 percent of respondents felt comfortable eating alone at a casual dining restaurant.

Some solo eaters see a meal alone as a way to unwind and indulge, says Robin Chiang, chief growth officer at OpenTable. OpenTable’s survey found that “me time” is the top reason people eat alone. “Much-needed alone time” was also the top reason people dined alone in 2023, when asked about it in a survey commissioned by restaurant reservation app Resy.

“I kind of like it better because you can experience it on your own and network,” says Leandra Moultrie, 34, a marketing professional and self-described foodie who often eats alone for brunch, lunch, dinner or chef’s tastings in Orlando, Florida.

The rise of food bloggers on Instagram has made it easier for her to discover interesting places to eat alone, Moultrie said. She has used her solo outings to try new cuisines and interact with bartenders, servers and other patrons. She usually finds a table, but in busy restaurants she also sits at the bar.

Moultrie admits that when she eats out alone, restaurant staff and other diners ask her questions, for example, as if she is waiting for a date.

Opportunity for restaurants

Restaurants are also noticing the trend toward solo dining and are adapting their strategies, for example by setting up more chef’s tables and seating at the counter.

“From a restaurant perspective, it’s an opportunity to fill seats. Restaurants sell seats, not tables,” Zagor said.

Yasmin Wages, co-owner of Thai and Vietnamese restaurant Malai Kitchen, which has four locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, told CNN that Malai Kitchen has seen an increase in individual reservations for lunch and late-afternoon meals.

“In the past, single guests preferred to sit at the bar,” she said. “But today they increasingly prefer a more private table or booth.”

Wages’ newest restaurant, which opened three years ago, features smaller seating areas for two, which prove ideal for solo travelers. Each dish on the menu is designed as an individually sized portion, which is also attractive to solo travelers.

“Solo eaters have a small storage area. They really like the intimacy and privacy,” Wages said.

In the past, people despised eating alone, she says. Now, “it looks peaceful to me. You can switch off from the world for 40 minutes and enjoy your food.”

Adam Burke, vice president of operations for Corner Table Restaurants, which owns The Smith and Parla in New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC, told CNN that the food itself is “something we like to focus on.”

Solo travelers are often more interested in asking questions and talking to staff than others, he said. Waiters and bartenders are trained to devote more time to solo travelers, explaining new menu items and making suggestions.

“There’s a certain level of intent” in people coming in for a one-on-one meal, Burke said. “You’re building a very engaged connection with that guest. It’s an opportunity to give them a special experience, and they’re probably curious about what we’re doing.”