“I like eating alone. I want to start a chain of restaurants for other people who are like me, called ANDYMATS – The Restaurant for the Lonely Person. You get your food and then you take your tray into a booth and watch television.” Andy Warhol, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A To B And Back Again)
Two Danish design companies have joined forces to bring the idea of dining alone into delicious fruition. Thankfully expanding beyond the concept of Warhol’s simplistic TV meal, they offer fine dining fare minus the ‘loner’ label.
The Amsterdam pop-up restaurant, whose name translates to “Single”, or “one meal”, offers 10 tables catering to one person. Far from feeling like the singleton Bridget Jones, Eenmaal aims to make their guests feel they’re having a treat. They’re invited to savour delicacies from the carefully selected menu, unencumbered by chatter or technology.
![eenmaal-4[6]](http://www.mindfood.com/wp-content/uploads/eenmaal-46.jpg)
Owner Marina van Goor said, “Solitary dining can be an inspiring experience in our hyper connected world just because you can disconnect for a while.”
The minimal design of the space provides a calm space that isn’t distracting, as diners are invited to put away their mobiles and read a book or magazine.
Local restaurant owners would be wise to take note if we consider that single occupancy in Australian households has been steadily increasing for the last few decades.
So would you dine solo, or is it still too much of a taboo?
