What is a good "first -date" restaurant?

[Cindy B]

Inspired by a very spirited discussion at work.. what type of restaurant would you go to on a first date and Why?

My workmates were very specific on where they would or wouldn't go.. and I'd like to hear others opinions.

 

[MsLeFever]

Somewhere that gives you something to talk about -

My choices would be anything Japanese (the more authentic the better) or the Melting pot!

 

[C.Ann]

Someplace moderately priced.. Not too cheap - not too fancy.. A well varied menu - not all Italian; all Chinese; all seafood; etc..

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well I am not really sure but my requirements would at the very least be -
1- No restaurant with a drive through
2- No buffets
3- Nothing where I have to share my food with someone- Melting Pot etc. (they could have gross eating habits!)

 

[N.Bailey]

The choices wouldn't be too many in my town. There just isn't much to choose from.

1 thing I wouldn't do however is, drive any extended distance. There would be several reasons for this. First and foremost is, so you can escape the date quickly if it's not going too well. I'll save the other reasons for another time.

I'd also not want to get too heavily invested either time wise or on a financial level.

There would be NO drinking at all. You just never know, plus drinking and driving don't mix too well.

I wouldn't go fast food, but I'd want to eat somewhere that will have you in an out in less than 90 minutes (60 minutes would be better but it might be a busy night) and still have a meal that's somewhat healthy. If things go good on the first night, you could expand it from there and maybe add a movie the next time.

When I was younger, who knows, but at my current age (and I'm married so not looking), I would be in no hurry to move any relationship along. Slow is definitely better, IMO.

 

[cdepauli]

I think it's important to go somewhere that at least one of you is comfortable. There's nothing worse than being nervous on a first date and also being in a place that makes you uncomfortable.

I think it also depends on your age too. In college, it was fine to hit up a chain, but as you get older, it's probably better to try something a bit more upscale or something that represents your local scene, unless there really aren't too many other places in your area.

 

[aprilgail2]

The Melting Pot--you can have a nice long dinner there and its usualy pretty quiet there with nice low light...you can get a dinner for 2 for about 100.00.

 

[GeorgeG]

It's probably best to avoid anyplace that has a "dollar menu" or meals that come with toys.

I think I would first try to determine what the other person liked and go from there. I also the the first date should lean more towards getting acquainted than romance. That could mean quiet, but with enough light to see across the table.

 

[autumnpalm]

As long as it isn't fast food, pretty much anything that's quiet is fine with me! I'm not picky about food but comfy seats would be a a plus!

 

[pearlieq]

A slightly upscale chain or local restaurant that had a reasonably quiet and comfortable atmosphere. Around us that would be something like Redstone, California Pizza Kitchen, PF Changs, etc.

My theory there is that it's nice enough to be "special" but not so nice as to be intimidating or to take the focus off the date.

The ideal restaurant would just fade into the background. The menu is familiar enough that you don't have to think about your choice too much, which is why I think chains are good. That way you can focus on getting to know each other.

 

[FireDancer]

Someplace medium priced and without too exotic of a cuisine unless you know for a fact the other person likes that cuisine. It should also be quiet enough to talk. The most important thing on a first date is the conversation. That is why I don't see the point in going to a movie on a first date after the age of 14.

If you try to hard it looks like you are just trying to impress. Just be yourself, there is no point putting on a fake facade that will eventually come crashing down. Either the person will like the real you or they won't, if they don't move along.

 

[Imzadi]

I'd want a place where service is fast in case you realise this is NOT going to work out and you want to get away quick.

Then you can order a salad and get out of there.

However, you also want a place where once served, they will leave you alone to talk if you do hit it off and want to talk for a while.

 

[Cindy B]

Interesting responses. Here's the premise of the argument.

Three single ladies were saying that they would turn around and leave if their date takes them to anywhere less than a 5 star restaurant and would go home directly if it was somewhere like a Friday's or an Applebee's after work.

The men in the room said that a Fridays or Applebee's (but not fast food) was ok, in case the date didn't work out. Some of the women said that if it was a place like that they would leave immediately.

The men then said they didn't want to outlay that much cash in case it didn't work out.

The women then said it had to be a five star place or nothing (they used the example of Le Bec Fin-- a very famous 5 star place around here).

The men then said if it was a $200 plus dinner and it didn't work out they would be out more cash!

These ladies also said that if the guy dresses nicely all the time and then takes them to a Friday's or Applebee's they should have more money than a "paper napkin restaurant".

I think I work with a bunch of princesses!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Interesting responses. Here's the premise of the argument.

Three single ladies were saying that they would turn around and leave if their date takes them to anywhere less than a 5 star restaurant and would go home directly if it was somewhere like a Friday's or an Applebee's after work.

The men in the room said that a Fridays or Applebee's (but not fast food) was ok, in case the date didn't work out. Some of the women said that if it was a place like that they would leave immediately.

The men then said they didn't want to outlay that much cash in case it didn't work out.

The women then said it had to be a five star place or nothing (they used the example of Le Bec Fin-- a very famous 5 star place around here).

The men then said if it was a $200 plus dinner and it didn't work out they would be out more cash!

These ladies also said that if the guy dresses nicely all the time and then takes them to a Friday's or Applebee's they should have more money than a "paper napkin restaurant".

I think I work with a bunch of princesses!

Well I think it is pretty obvious WHY those girls you work with are still single I think Fridays or Applebees is fine for a first date. -Full disclosure: I am a woman and I totally take the male coworkers' side on this.

 

[aprilgail2]

Interesting responses. Here's the premise of the argument.

Three single ladies were saying that they would turn around and leave if their date takes them to anywhere less than a 5 star restaurant and would go home directly if it was somewhere like a Friday's or an Applebee's after work.

The men in the room said that a Fridays or Applebee's (but not fast food) was ok, in case the date didn't work out. Some of the women said that if it was a place like that they would leave immediately.

esses!

Well I sure wouldn't want to go on a date to Applebees or Fridays! It could be not be a 5 star restaurant but a family owned nice quiet place but please....applebees and fridays are barely a step over fast food IMO.

 

[Cindy B]

Well I think it is pretty obvious WHY those girls you work with are still single I think Fridays or Applebees is fine for a first date. -Full disclosure: I am a woman and I totally take the male coworkers' side on this.

I said to others that it was not a suprise that they are still single as well.

I said as a woman Applebees or Fridays was fine-- nice casual atmosphere.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I said to others that it was not a suprise that they are still single as well.

I said as a woman Applebees or Fridays was fine-- nice casual atmosphere.

Yep, variety of food for most tastes, a chance to spend an hour talking and getting to know each other--which I thought was the point of a first date (the point not being to have someone spend a ton of money to impress you when they do not yet know if you are worth impressing). If I wanted a free meal i would enter a contest.
Then again, I ahven't had a "first date" since I was a teen and I only ever went out once with someone I did not allready know (and he took me to the closest Applebees/Firdays equivlant)

 

[Cindy B]

Yep, variety of food for most tastes, a chance to spend an hour talking and getting to know each other--which I thought was the point of a first date (the point not being to have someone spend a ton of money to impress you when they do not yet know if you are worth impressing). If I wanted a free meal i would enter a contest.
Then again, I ahven't had a "first date" since I was a teen and I only ever went out once with someone I did not allready know (and he took me to the closest Applebees/Firdays equivlant)

I agree with you. I haven't been on a first date since I was 19 though--now I'm an old married lady.


Here is where the ladies "Needed" to go: http://lebecfin.com/

Aren't they crazy?

 

[NHdisneylover]

I agree with you. I haven't been on a first date since I was 19 though--now I'm an old married lady.


Here is where the ladies "Needed" to go: http://lebecfin.com/

Aren't they crazy?

That is an anniversary dinner kind of place, or a proposal kind of place, maybe even birthday of someone you have been dating a few months, but first date? Nah, I don't think so. In addition to the insane cost (we're cheap--we don't spend that even for big anniversaries) I would never want to take a first date to somewhere with such a menu--lots of people would not find something they like on it.

Maybe our happy with cheap date status' are why you and I got snatched up so young I like to think there was more to it than that though

 

[Imzadi]

I think I work with a bunch of princesses!

Well I think it is pretty obvious WHY those girls you work with are still single I think Fridays or Applebees is fine for a first date. -Full disclosure: I am a woman and I totally take the male coworkers' side on this.

I agree. These women sound very superficial and full of themselves. I doubt very much they have the class to attract a man who can afford to drop $200 in a single date.

A 5 star restaurant is some place you take someone for a special occasion. I would actually be very suspicious as to why a man would need to impress me so much, if doesn't have money like Donald Trump to drop on a dinner like that every night. I'm more interested in finding out who the man really is. Not what he's like when he's on his best behavior trying to impress me, being someone phony.

Oh, and unlike someone who said they wouldn't go someplace where they can drink. I would. I want to find out first off if the guy is an alcoholic or not or has a potential drinking problem. An alcoholic would naturally order a bunch of drinks without thinking, or would feel very unnatural NOT drinking, if he was not drinking (because I don't,) to impress me.

Maya Angelou, Oprah's trusted, elder advisor & mentor says: "People always show you who they are in the first 20 minutes of meeting them. Our problem is, we don't want to believe it."

Police profilers and counselors know this to be true. People always leak who they are. Some people are itching to tell you.

I think those girls in your office said loud & clear who they are. For me, a potential alcoholic would show himself, too. I know the signs to look for, even the subtle ones.