There was an article in the Globe today about communal dining tables in restaurants. It's a cool idea, to have one big table where people on their own can sit and chat up the other solo diners. I was at Le Commensal today and it was sooooo strange... the place is huge, and other than my sister and I there were about 5 other people - all 30-40 year-old men eating alone. It was such a strange atmosphere - all quiet and awkward and lonely-seeming. Perhaps if there was some sort of encouragement for these loners (and I use that word in the kindest sense) to eat together, everyone could benefit...

Although, there are some problems with the idea: (1) if there are lots of empty tables, I think people would probably sit alone regardless; (2) in the restaurant mentioned in the article, the customers were seated by a host-person, and given the option of dining alone or at the communal table... if a place is seat-yourself, it might be difficult to get this sort of thing going... ; (3) strangers might get into arguments... if the communal table was anything like the TM forum, say, there would be big brawls all the time.

Worth a thought, though.