They say you’re your own best company—especially when there’s good people watching to be had.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos chatted about dining alone on Thursday’s Live with Kelly and Mark, with the latter explaining that he “would have dinner by [him]self a lot” when he was traveling for work.
“It’s not that bad,” he insisted.
Ripa replied, “No, I agree. I feel like dining alone is essential.”
According to Consuelos, the “pro tip” is to “sit at the bar” if possible.
“If it’s a nice restaurant, they have a bar, you sit at the bar. You get served way faster, you’re not taking up a seat, and you can have a conversation with the bartenders,” he shared.
However, Ripa said she prefers to sit solo at a table “for a couple of reasons.”
“Number one, I like to observe what’s going on, and if you’re at the bar, everything’s happening behind you,” she elaborated. “So I like to watch people. I will lock in on conversations and in my mind, I know what’s happening there. I’m like, ‘Oh, end of the marriage…’”
While Ripa said that she “occasionally” sees people who “feel bad” for her as she dines alone and will “avert their eyes,” she admitted that she “kind of like[s] that, too.”
“I’m like, ‘Oh, they’re theorizing about why I’m dining alone!’” she continued. “And then I try to look sad. Like, I have a whole scenario.”
Consuelos chimed in, “You have a whole story going on in your head.”
Ripa added, “I have a story going on for me, and for everybody else. If you haven’t tried it, try dining alone. It’s great fun.”
Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays. Check out their website for your local listings.
