Table for one

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% 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