Human company is overrated. Or rather, sometimes there’s nothing more decadent, more relaxing, more grown-up-feeling, more purely lovely than getting a little dressed up and taking yourself out to a delicious meal at a nice restaurant, completely and utterly solo — no drawn-out negotiations over destination or wine choice to how much to tip, no need to make conversation or give someone else a bite of your damn food. And in the East Bay, there’s perhaps no better place to do it than A16’s beautiful marble bar: The service is attentive but never judgmental (no concerned “Just one?” questions here, thank you very much); the people-watching is excellent; and, perhaps most crucially, solo diners can generally slip in reservation-free and sit at the bar, even on otherwise busy nights. You may even wind up in conversation with a fellow diner — only if you’re looking for company, that is.
.Best Place to Eat Alone
A16 Rockridge