Beware the Lone Diner with Space Issues!

Wonderful day yesterday--the weather, the company. Took my son to see that Star Wars exhibition at the Museum of Science with a friend and her nephew (go quickly if you haven't--it closes April 30). Afterwards, The Boy and I met up with my husband at Hahvahd Square for burgers at Mr. Bartley's. As usual, I got the "Skip Gates"--teriyaki burger with a pineapple slice, so juicy the bun gets soaked and you have to use a knife and fork.

One thing that's nice about Bartley's is that if you're alone or not terribly hung up on your personal space, the long center table is open to anyone who wants to sit there, no waiting. (Kind of like counter seating at a diner.) Most people eating alone are steered to the long table, especially during busy hours. The three of us didn't want to wait and apparently aren't hung up on our personal space, so we sat at the end and ordered.

A young woman--let's call her "Lone Diner"--came in after us and sat down a few seats from my son, leaving a couple of empty seats between them. She then proceeded to put her purse and coat on the seat next to her. At first, I thought LD was waiting for someone, but then she ordered (macaroni and cheese), pulled out a textbook of some sort, and ate. In other words, she was trying to preserve her personal space at the expense of another diner.

But the server was too smart for that. Soon enough, a couple--a mom and college-aged son, by the looks of them--came in. The waitress politely (but with the teensiest bit of an edge to her voice) asked Lone Diner to remove her coat and purse from the empty seat so the newbies could sit across from each other. The mom and son proceeded to get into a little argument and left without ordering. Someone came and sat next to me (in the mom's spot), but the son's chair remained empty.

LD, apparently aware that our waitress (I wish I'd caught her name--she was really good) had an eye on her, wasn't ballsy enough to put her coat and purse back. But she made a bit of a show throwing her arm over the empty chair while studying and eating, as if she were going to be joined by someone any minute so stay away from that chair. By the time she left, you could tell the waitress was just the teensiest bit fed up with LD's sense of entitlement about her personal space.

For the sake of the long-suffering hosts and waiters of Mr. Bartley's, I recommend that the LDs of the world grab one of those little tables at the Au Bon Pain down the block if they have "space" issues. On the other hand, for me (a compulsive people watcher), it was like getting dinner and a show, so come on in!