Some business travelers hate eating alone. Others crave being by themselves, especially after an intense few days of meetings and social events with clients or colleagues. And for those times when room service won't do, there are plenty of ways for you to manage nicely on your own at a restaurant--no awkwardness required.

Seek out solo-friendly restaurants. Some places are practically tailor-made for singletons. Restaurants and diners with counters are a good example. So are Starbucks cafes, where you can lounge comfortably with a sandwich or salad; the WiFi connection is an added bonus. Many road warriors swear by brewpubs, as much for their convivial atmosphere as for the ambience that encourages friendliness, if it's wanted, or solitude, if it's preferred.

Find a restaurant with a communal table. Also called friendship, networking maverick or captain's tables, even hip restaurants, like the Border Grill in Santa Monica, California, have one such table. Border Grill's version seats 15 and is open to any patron who walks in, even without a reservation. The Le Pain Quotidien chain of bakery-cafes, found all over Europe and in New York and Los Angeles, all feature farmhouse-style communal tables as well.

If you've never eaten at a communal table, you may be in for a pleasant surprise. I met fellow American road warriors at a communal table in London four years ago and we've stayed in touch ever since.

Eat at the bar. Some upscale restaurants, such as the Union Square Cafe in New York City, have terrific bar menus. Besides offering a good value, you won't be pestered if you want to linger over a meal, read or write. Because the bartender is always a few feet away from you, you'll also likely get attentive service. One of my favorite places to eat when I'm on my own in a city I don't know well is a Japanese restaurant. I head right to the sushi bar and let the chef make the recommendations.

Bring along something to read. If you don't have anything with you, enlist your waitperson. Many restaurants, especially cafes, keep a selection of newspapers and magazines for their guests--sometimes displayed prominently, sometimes not. If you go upscale, you may be treated to more than magazines and newspapers: At the Seasons restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC, you'll also be offered a laptop to use at lunch.

Become a regular. In one city for a long stretch of time, or a repeat visitor? Frequent a restaurant where you feel comfortable. Tell the staff you're a traveler who's chosen their spot as your home away from home. As a regular, you'll probably receive insider treatment.

Sit at the chef's counter. A growing number of restaurants are offering chef's counters adjacent to or in the kitchen. The tables are typically small, encouraging conversation among strangers, and they often provide an extraordinary meal.

Get a recommendation. Ask your concierge for solo-friendly restaurants and have him or her phone ahead for you. You may get extra attention and a better table than you would if you just walked in. For online advice, check out SoloDining.com, a website that caters to solo diners. Managed by Editor Marya Charles Alexander, the site is serviceable rather than slick, but has a solid list of solo diner-friendly restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Great Britain, broken down by type (restaurants with communal tables or counter/bar dining) and by geographical region.