Dinner for One: Dining Tips for Eating on Your Own

If you prefer to dine alone, find plenty of ways to enjoy pizza and get the most out of the delicious meal. Whether you dine in at the restaurant or order a pizza to go, follow these tips to make the most out of the order and enjoy some delicious pizza all for yourself.

As you order by yourself, you may feel inclined to order a small pizza. However, stick with larger pizza sizes as the pizzas are often better in the large sizes. The crust spreads out the way it's supposed to, ingredients are not overcrowded, and the individual slices are larger.

Do not worry about eating the whole pizza, because you will have plenty of options for leftovers. With the large pizza, you can enjoy the signature flavors and will often get more for your money with the bigger order.

If you do order a large pizza, you may have some leftovers. The leftovers give you pizza options for the next few days, so learn how to properly store and reheat the extra pizza. If you take leftovers to go, request a cardboard box as opposed to a Styrofoam box.

When warm pizza goes in a Styrofoam box, the moisture will often rise up and eventually soak the pizza, taking away from the flavors and crispiness of the crust. A pizza box will help prevent this, but once you arrive home, you should transfer the pizza. Individually wrap slices in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to help contain flavors and protect slices.

When you go to reheat the pizza, avoid the microwave. A microwave will create soggy pizza. Place a few slices into a toaster oven. Broil slices in a stove for two to three minutes. Use a little oil on a flat pan and heat up the pizza on the stove top for a few minutes. No matter what method you choose, monitoring the pizza is key to ensure you don't overcook slices.

Enjoy many pizza toppings when you order half-topping pizzas. You may want to try two different types of pizzas, but two pizzas for a single person may seem like too much. Order a half pizza to enjoy half of one pizza and half of another all on the same pizza.

When you do order half pizzas, the options will typically include basic toppings. For example, you could have a half broccoli and chicken pizza and a half pepperoni pizza. If you want a specialty pizza like a taco pizza, then order a separate small pizza.

Just because you dine alone doesn't mean you should skip out on extras. Add a variety to your palette so you do not get sick of eating just pizza. For example, for something a little lighter with the pizza, order a side salad. After a few pieces of crust, a salad will usually feel light on the stomach and offer a variety of ingredients to eat from.

Fried vegetables like zucchini also offer some good flavors. Browse the appetizer menu to look for ways to compliment your pizza options.

When you dine alone at a restaurant, you may naturally sit at a smaller table. The table could feel crowded, even with just one person. Request a larger table or booth for when you dine. The larger space will give you room to place the pizza and enjoy your food.

If you are alone, you may also have laptops or other devices to complete work with. The larger space provides all the room and options necessary to fully enjoy the meal.

For your next pizza craving, contact us at Picano's Italian Grille. We have a wide selection of pizzas and will prepare delicious meals for you to have all to yourself.