During the initial months of the pandemic, many restaurants followed social distancing protocols and started to space out their tables. No longer were you crowded at a two-person table six inches from another couple at their small two-person table. Whether you liked it or not, you were part of their conversation.

But now, at many restaurants, those tables — I call them the terrible twos — are creeping back into the old configuration.

So I’m also going back to my old playbook.

If I’m having dinner with one other person, I now make a reservation for three. That way the restaurant has to give me a table for four.

And once again, you have a little more space during your meal. And I always tip the server extra for the missing person.