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# Table for one
- URL: https://www.redeyebr.com/tabl/
- Published: 2026-07-22T03:19:44.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-22T03:19:44.000Z
- Author: JR Ball
- Tags: Food

Before *RedEye*, I worked in a cubicle-filled office where there was always another meeting, always a question in need of an answer, always a looming deadline. It was great. To quote Hyman Roth in *The Godfather Part II*, "This is the profession we have chosen." But, at times, it could be a bit much.

My reset was a solo lunch. Rocco's New Orleans Po-Boys and Cafe on Drusilla. Albasha on Bluebonnet—chicken shawarma salad, crispy, no olives. It was a great way to do a bit of mental defragging and catch up on some reading. The high-paid consultants call this "Think time."

Turns out I wasn't alone. Solo dining [reservations jumped 23%](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/17/solo-dining-reservations-jump-opentable?ref=redeyebr.com) over the past year—proof this is a growing trend, not a symptom of anything.

- Solo diners spend $94 on average—up 7% and well above the $60 average across all party sizes.
- Thursday solo bookings rose 25%.
- 3 p.m. reservations are trending, though 6 p.m. remains the busiest hour.

Eating alone takes some confidence. It also might be the best hour of your workday.

*—JR Ball*