Waiting thirty minutes for a table at a restaurant is the worst.
Your stomach is grumbling as you watch the time go by in slow motion. Finally, the server approaches – just to offer a seat at the bar. You’re desperate to sit down, but you don’t want to talk to that odd stranger next to you.
Sometimes it’s fun to make a new friend at the bar, but other times you might just want to enjoy your meal in peace. When you take a seat, it can be scary because you never know who is going to be next to you. While you, the introvert, are eager to order and get out, most of the people at the bar are probably not on the same page – there’s always going to be at least one person who is desperate to talk to anyone.
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Which is why it’s best to walk up to the bar looking straight ahead and sit as close as you can to the end of the counter. Once you sit down, only look at your server or whoever you are sitting with because that lonely stranger on your left is just waiting for someone to look at them. If it’s been a while and they start to find a new person to talk to, that means you're into clear.
No matter how hard you try to stay focused on your private conversation, sometimes it just doesn’t work. There are going to be people who listen in on your conversation to wait and see when they can jump in to add commentary: , these people are what we call eavesdroppers.
It’s okay because these things happen, and sometimes you just have to be a little mean to find your way out of the conversation. When someone does get a chance to butt in, you have to be as short as possible. That should give them some type of message that you don’t feel like talking. Sometimes it’s tough to be an introvert, because you don’t want to come off as rude, but it doesn’t matter since you’re most likely not going to see that stranger again.
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In my experience, people tend to jump in when you talk about a certain school or city. Which is why I tend to not make any conversation that relates to geography until the eavesdropper moves on. Until then, talk about your friends and family. This could also be a good time to use the bathroom. These tips may seem a bit harsh, but nobody wants to get caught in an endless conversation with an unusual stranger.
Everyone should be able to experience the enjoyment of sitting at the bar. There are times where you could end up sitting next to someone fun, and that can make for an exciting night out. The bar can also offer quick service and a great view for watching sports with your friends.
If you take the right measures and scan your surroundings, sitting at the bar can be a great time, even for introverts.
