Exploring seating locations at the bar

Far be it from me to write about restaurants, taverns and bars in our tri-town area when we have a columnist specifically assigned for that purpose. However, under the covers of the excellent cuisine to which we have become accustomed lies a whole other phenomenon with which many deal each time we enter these establishments as patrons. There is usually a choice to be made between a table or a seat at the bar for the non-reservation-makers among us. For so many of the customers, a seat at the bar seems more favorable, for reasons which are both known and unknown. For those traveling alone, the opportunity to converse with a total stranger is ever-present at the bar. Even coupled guests often prefer to sit at the bar, especially if they entered the place merely for a libation, although steak, chicken and fries could become items on the bar tab. Lest I forget, even though a rarity, there are also groups of four or five seeking room at the inn’s bar, perhaps remnants of an adult soccer team, or that occasional ladies’ night out.

The decision to seat oneself at the bar is usually made well before entry, even though last-minute decisions are common too. The initial act on the part of the patron is a quick scan of the subjects already seated at the bar. I am hard-pressed to delineate the thoughts which permeate the mind as a choice is conceived, but I am certain that race, gender and anatomy come into play. Of course, availability of a stool (or two) is also part of the decision-making process. Once all the stars have been aligned, the person or people proceed to that part of the bar which won the toss-up. Now it really becomes even more interesting, especially if the number of available seats is less than the number in the party.

The person or persons are now in motion, making their way to the designated location at the bar. Once the destination has been reached, there is that awkward moment as the new customers integrate themselves with the existing folks. This process involves, among other things, who among the incoming guests shall be afforded an actual stool, and who shall remain standing. Such is a bundle of intricacies which are laughable and filled with cliches, including, “I was sitting all day.” Once the incoming folk have established their positions, it is time for the blending of the “I have been here” with the “We just got here.” All of this maneuvering goes very well since there is commonly a homogeneity of personnel.

Initially, seconds pass where just smiles are exchanged, and then there are the awkward excuses involving alteration of space and positioning in the particular piece of indoor real estate. Eventually, the dance becomes verbal, wherein the initial patrons make the newcomers feel comfortable, once they have ordered and received their beverages. A little liquid goes a long way. One encounter I personally recall was a group of five lovely ladies who had come out for a midweek psychological readjustment period. They were delightful, and we even exchanged pleasantries as I was leaving the bar having completed my dinner, thus allowing for greater square footage per person.

There is a certain magic at play when we make the move to seat ourselves at the bar instead of a table. The total process is absolutely delightful and so friendly. This columnist was a rare visitor to the bar as a single patron over the many years of my life, but I have discovered it as a safe and positive space to have or share food and drink alone and/or with others. Part of the experience is the selection of the position of oneself at the oak or mahogany counter on which enjoyment of the ingestion of culinary and other delights can occur. We probably do not always consciously realize the components which lead to our eventual seating (or standing) at the bar, and quite possibly they are fewer than I have advanced here. However, it is fun to examine so many of the things we take for granted and just perform naturally. We can all agree that selecting a seat at an eatery’s bar is not brain surgery or rocket science, but it is not merely taking a walk in the park, either.