Half of people are dining alone in sit-down restaurants in Toronto

People in Toronto dine alone the most out of the entire country, according to data from a new survey.

It’s a fact that could be seen as depressing, but people actually have lots of good reasons for doing so. A recent survey conducted by Lightspeed reveals the top reasons for dining out alone are self care (31 per cent), wanting to try out new places (28 per cent) and work lunches (25 per cent).

It’s a widespread trend across the country, with 50 per cent of Torontonians dining alone in sit-down restaurants and 43 per cent of Canadians dining solo in restaurants overall.

People in Toronto are also changing how they dine alone. Typically solo diners often opt for a spot at the bar, but people in Toronto are increasingly choosing to dine at tables, with 38 per cent of people choosing tables and 20 per cent choosing the bar.

You also might think of dining alone as boring or awkward, but people dining solo are staying entertained in ways other than talking to another person, with 40 per cent of people catching up on texts or emails. 39 per cent are enjoying people watching, and an equal percentage of people are simply enjoying the peace and quiet of dining by themselves.

While dining out alone might seem like a splurge, the survey’s data reveals that diners are still keeping an eye on their wallets, especially as 69 per cent of people reported higher food prices and 42 per cent noticed smaller portions. 36 per cent of people in Toronto take home doggy bags, 34 per cent choose value meals, 26 per cent get deals during happy hour and a whopping 40 per cent opt to skip dessert.

“The rise in solo dining reflects a broader trend towards investing in personal well-being and the importance of having a bit of ‘me time,'” said Dax Dasilva, founder and CEO of Lightspeed. “At a time where restaurants are competing for hard-earned dollars, the solo diner is an untapped market with plenty of opportunity.”

Lightspeed has even collaborated with New York City restaurant Avant Garden to set up a table exclusively for one with a set menu for a limited time.

“I think we will see many more curated solo experiences like those we’re seeing in New York in major Canadian cities as well,” said Dasilva.