In New York, the single diner doesn’t have to feel like Steve Martin in The Lonely Guy. Eating solo can be the perfect way to catch up on that that novel, do the crossword, or maybe just get some downtime after a l-o-n-g campaign. You don’t have to settle for greasy diner eats or indifferent service either. Many of N.Y.C.’s restaurants reserve inconspicuous single tables, while others serve up full dinner menus at the bar. A meal at the impeccable Gramercy Tavern becomes all the more personal when you order from the less-formal Tavern Room. People-watching may be the perfect solitary pursuit, and restaurants like the Time Warner Center’s Bouchon Bakery offer a perch from which to watch the New York world go by. The neighborhoody vibe at joints like Williamsburg’s Dressler and Greenwich Village’s Jane invites single diners to become regulars. And a trip back in time awaits at the original table for one, the lunch counter, where you might find elevated beach fare (Ed’s Lobster Bar), or a great bowl chowder in a space right out of Mad Men (Grand Central Oyster Bar). Free from distraction, content in your anonymity, sometimes there’s no better way to enjoy a meal than at a table for one.