The Experiment: Drinking coffee alone is normal. Eating fast food alone is sad but accepted. Eating a 3-course meal at a high-end restaurant alone, without a phone to hide behind? That is social suicide.

The Rules: No Phone. No Book. Just me, the tablecloth, and the staring eyes of couples.

> THE ARRIVAL (7:00 PM)

Hostess: "Table for two?"

Me: "Just one."

She paused. That 0.5 second pause said everything. She led me to a small table near the kitchen. Usually, solo diners get hidden.

> THE VOID (7:15 PM)

CURRENT STATUS: HIGH ALERT
Hands: Fidgeting
Eye Contact: Avoiding everyone

I sat there. I stared at the candle. 1 minute passed. It felt like an hour. Usually, I would be scrolling Twitter.

(My hand twitched towards my pocket phantomly)

> THE OBSERVATION (7:30 PM)

Since I had no distraction, I started watching other people.

Table 4 (The Couple): They are on a date. Both are on their phones. They haven't spoken in 10 minutes. I am alone, but so are they.
Table 7 (Business): Loud laughing. Fake. One guy is checking his watch constantly.

I realized: Everyone is distracted. Nobody is looking at me. They are too busy curating their own image.

> THE FOOD (8:00 PM)

The steak arrived. Without a podcast playing in my ear, I actually... tasted it.

Eating mindfully is intense. The texture, the temperature. I ate slower. I enjoyed it more.

> THE BILL

TOTAL: $85.00
TIP: $20.00
COMPANY: $0.00

The waiter was extra nice to me. I think he thought I got stood up.

> CONCLUSION

The fear of eating alone is the "Spotlight Effect." We think everyone is watching. They aren't.

Once you conquer the first 10 minutes of awkwardness, it becomes a power move. You are comfortable enough in your own existence to just be.

But the lack of phone was the hardest part. My brain doesn't know how to idle.