You've probably noticed restaurants are waking up to the fact that millions of Americans are single and don't like to get THAT look when we walk into a restaurant and mumble, "One. Please." We want to walk through the door with head held up high and greet the greeter and say, "Hi. Charlie. I'll sit there -- at the communal table." We want to show up when we are hungry and leave when we have eaten and in between get something decent to eat at a decent price, preferably with the tip included. Without apologies!

Restaurants have become are a lot more accommodating lately, perhaps because they have to compete for their guests' dinner dollar. So in order to attract more people to come in for dinner, they have had to waive dress codes and formality. And preferably, they should be happy to see you.

"One" is the way it is, and is likely to go on being, for a lot of us. If we are going to eat dinner alone, it's nice to have it with others. Unattached people like to eat out just as much as the next guy. But we don't want it to be a big deal. We want to go to a place in our neighborhood ... to a hang-out to call our own. We can talk if we want to. Or be private in public. Others catch on very quickly when you give off a signal you want to be left alone. But if you feel like talking, there are plenty of people to talk to and the company keeps changing. A communal table makes you feel you're O.K. You don't have to pretend you're expecting a knock-out companion to walk through the door and give you a big kiss.