The days of solo dining being viewed as unusual or lonesome are quickly becoming a thing of the past. When it comes to contemporary restaurant culture, more and more diners are taking themselves out to enjoy the privacy of a solo meal, devoting their full attention to flavor.

In the age of self-care, diners are increasingly viewing going out for a solo meal as an opportunity to relax, enjoy their own company, and focus on being present. As this demographic grows, restaurants have a golden opportunity to appeal to guests who are on their own with dishes that are perfect for one. Let’s dig into how you can become the hot spot for those looking to take themselves out on a date.

Pull Up a Chair

One thing that can be a major turn-off to a single guest is seating that creates too much empty space around them — while they might see the appeal in being alone, no one wants to look lonely.

Ample bar and counter seating is an effortless solve, or you can do as the Parisians do and provide guests with smaller tables with one or two chairs that feel comfortable to sit at alone — all the better if they’re placed in cozy corners that provide a nice view while also creating an intimate feel.

At Your Service

A successful solo meal means having a stellar experience from start to finish. To make sure single guests walk away feeling satisfied, train your staff to cater to their particular needs. You never know if someone is a solo-dining pro or if this is their first time — while it’s helpful for staff to be able to sense when a solo guest would prefer to have their space rather than make small talk, it’s critical that they don’t feel neglected.

Staff should be prepared to be warm and responsive to single guests who seem happy to have a little conversation and remain welcoming and available to both sociable and reserved diners.

Get Personal

Knowing that ordering multiple items will lead to a mountain of leftovers or a bill fit for two (or more) is a bummer. This is your chance to create a menu full of personal-sized items that will leave guests satisfied without overwhelming their plates.

For example, consider pinsa — a small, Roman-style flatbread that’s just like a pizza with an even lighter crust — made with Piancone® Frozen Pinsa Pizza Crust. With its unique blend of wheat and chickpea flour, as well as an aged sourdough starter, this dough creates a crust with a multifaceted flavor that’s crispy on the outside and chewy and tender on the inside. Making flavor-packed dishes that are just the right size is key to appealing to the appetites of single guests. Try unique toppings like this California Style Thai Chicken Pizza for a pinsa fusion option diners can’t resist.

Go Bite Sized

Set your business apart by creating a section of the menu that is friendly to single guests — even a custom tasting menu for one. Curated courses like an individual serving of bread with spreads and oils, a small charcuterie sampler, and multiple one- (or three-) bite appetizers and mains can make for a social media-worthy experience.

No meal is complete without dessert, which you can serve in single-sized portions. Sweet Encore® Individually Wrapped Brownie Slices, made in partnership with Hershey®, put an elegant spin on familiar favorites: Fudgy and rich, these brownie slices are baked with Hershey’s cocoa and adorned with classic Hershey’s or Reese’s® candies.

Piancone® Premium Authentic Italian Frozen Desserts & Pastries carry a delicious variety of single-serving desserts like a chocolate souffle, mini Black Forest cake, mini strawberry cream filled meringue, mini semifreddo nougat cake, and five different mousse flavors, all served in individual glass containers.

Ending things on a sweet note will keep solo diners coming back for more.