Dining Alone in Paris

I used to believe that one should not ever eat alone in a restaurant. However, I have loosened that stand in the last year or so. After making some solo trips to different cities, I had an urge to enjoy a good meal. And in some cases, there were some restaurants that were too tempting to pass over. So I had to overcome my inhibitions and attempt to go solo. But my solo meals were still in relatively small to mid scale restaurants, not something like in Paris. Which is why this Doug Saunders article about eating alone in Paris is more than welcome.

Saunders is probably one of the best writers at The Globe and Mail and his columns are full of witty insight into international political situations. In the last few months, he has also started writing articles for the travel section and his take on eating alone in Paris is interesting. He begins the article with a quote from the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard who was shocked to see people eating alone in New York. Baudrillard called it the "saddest sight in the world" to see people dining alone. And went on to add "Sadder than destitution, sadder than the beggar is the man who eats alone in public. Nothing more contradicts the laws of man or beast, for animals always do each other the honour of sharing or disputing each other's food. He who eats alone is dead."

Saunders raises a valid point regarding dining alone: "After all, the Michelin star-rating system was designed for individual male business travellers, who in the last century were the main occupants of restaurants, even the better ones. When Escoffier transformed cooking into a grand scientific journey, it was with lone passengers in mind.". However, Saunders observers that over the years the dining experience has been transformed into something away from the connection between a diner and his/her dish to a " busy ensemble piece".

Saunders lists a few options to enjoy a solo dining experience in Paris:

Chartier 7 rue du Faubourg, Monmartre; 33 (1) 47 70 86 29; www.restaurant-chartier.com. Communal seating and a devotion to simple, authentic French dining means even
solo diners can enjoy a classic Paris meal without classic Paris snobbery.

Mon Vieil Ami 69 rue Saint, Louis en l'Île; 33 (1) 40 46 01 35; www.mon-vieil-ami.com. Coming on your own may be the only way to get a table at this foodie haven – frequently listed on diners' top 10 lists because of its inventive take on Alsatian cuisine.

L'atelier Joël Robuchon
5 rue de Montalembert, Saint German des Près; 33 (1) 42 22 56 56; www.joel-robuchon.com. This may be the perfect place to eat alone: The food is Michelin-worthy; the plates are tapas-style, allowing for broad grazing; seating is around a bar instead of at tables. Just be sure to come early: There are only 36 spots.

La Coupole 102 boulevard du Montparnasse, 33 (1) 43 20 14 20; www.flobrasseries.com. Hemingway ate here. But what really moved Canadian writer Mavis Gallant was the sight of a woman revelling in an undisturbed meal by herself.