When Dining Solo At Waffle House, Make Sure You Don't Break This Rule
Eating at Waffle House is an experience that everyone should have — and not just when there's the expectation that someone will fight with the Waffle House cooks. The Georgia-based restaurant has an atmosphere unlike any other popular chain, but that vibe can only be maintained if patrons use the proper etiquette to keep it running efficiently. One way to ensure you're not getting in the way of the restaurant's natural flow is by refraining from sitting at a booth if you're dining alone, as it can take seating away from parties of two or more.
This isn't just one of the many tips to keep in mind when dining at Waffle House; sitting at a booth by your lonesome is also against official Waffle House rules. While taking up a whole booth might not cause any problems during slow hours when the lobby is a ghost town, Waffle House employees might outright ask you to move if the restaurant is busy or expecting an influx of customers. In such cases, you will be asked to sit at the counter instead.
The beauty of sitting at the Waffle House counter
The recommendation to sit on one of the stools at Waffle House's front counter might be intimidating to shy customers but is actually a blessing in disguise if you can overcome the fear of potential social interactions. The reason for this is that you get to see the masters at work firsthand, as counter seating gives you a perfect view of Waffle House cooks making each and every meal they serve. This open kitchen layout is the most enticing aspect of visiting Waffle House for many diehard fans of the chain, with perhaps the most notable example being none other than James Beard Award-winning chef Sean Brock.
Because of Brock, Anthony Bourdain eventually gave his stamp of approval to the iconic breakfast chain. In a Season 6 episode of "Parts Unknown," Brock explained how pivotal his choice of seating at Waffle House was to his life and career. "When I was a kid, I was obsessed with this place because I wanted to be a chef, and this was the only place I'd ever been to where I could actually watch people cook. This was action to me," Brock told Bourdain (via YouTube). "It was one of the things that really helped me fall in love with cooking," he said of the humble, well-loved diner.