Are Fancy Or Casual Restaurants Better For Dates?
Posted by: Catherine Strawn
Filed in:
relationships
1:40PM, Wednesday October 28th 2009
When you go on a dinner date, do you eat at a fancy restaurant with cloth napkins, multiple courses, and a sommelier on staff? Or do you stop at a hole-in-the-wall that serves what are supposed to be the best hot dogs in town? According to an article in today’s New York Times, stuffy restaurant dates aren’t the preference these days for many people.
In general, people have gotten a lot more casual over the years; this has certainly been reflected in dating—from casual sex to casual restaurants. While I like wearing dresses, I’m definitely of the mindset that going to a cheap, hidden gem is usually much more fun and gives you a better chance to get to know someone than dining at a high-class establishment does (unless you want to evaluate his table manners). How can you even concentrate on getting to know someone when you have to think about which fork to use?
According to the New York Times, the date food trend seems to be for “dressed-up comfort food, small plates and sharable dishes.” I’d have to agree. A couple of the best dates I’ve been on have included a plate of macaroni-and-cheese-like spätzle and a veggie burger and French fries eaten at the bar.
What kind of restaurant do you prefer to eat at on dates? [NY Times]
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amandabear
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 12:51 pm: [report]
I prefer casual places. I’d be so out of place in a fancy restaurant, it would be hard to have fun.
snap
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 12:52 pm: [report]
casual all the way!
bethlynn00
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 12:58 pm: [report]
The fanciest restaurant I’ve gone to on a date is the Olive Garden, otherwise I prefer little hole in the walls, there are lots of good ones here, so you definitely get the best food then going to any of the higher-end establishments, those seem to primarily be occupied by business folks.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:00 pm: [report]
Street-food and a 6 pack, anyone down?
Raugiel
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:06 pm: [report]
Casual for sure!
joyy
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:08 pm: [report]
My first date with my bf was at a really, really nice place. We’d been there (in groups with others) before, but being at a nice place did kind of add to the whole first date thing in that instance.
That said, casual vs fancy isn’t what matters - you should be eating somewhere with awesome food (cas v fancy has nothing to do with that usually). Oh yeah, and that whole sharing each other’s company thing is important too, I guess =P
Riley
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:13 pm: [report]
Locally-owned and semi-casual. No chain places.
Humble Bee
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:19 pm: [report]
@CheeEEse, Street Vendors are the best and make that a 12-pack and i’ll be down! lol.
I agree that I go for cheaper places, but if your in a committed relationship, its nice to be taken to an upscale place. If your just getting to know the dude, then of course your local bar nachos, or hole in the wall is perfect.
lea322
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:25 pm: [report]
I love going for coffee for the first date. It’s inexpensive, and it sort of forces conversation. If it’s not going well, you can always think of a reason to leave and take your coffee with you!
brandyalexander
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:29 pm: [report]
eating whatever that is in the stock photo is an automatic dealbreaker. peas ‘n cheeze?
bogart4017
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:31 pm: [report]
Def casual. Women used to geet a kick out of being taken to swanky places but most of them didnt know how to order! These days as long as its not a chain its okay.
C.Munro
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:33 pm: [report]
I am so with Riley on this: No chains.
Yet another thing that made Austin such a great place for dating was the food scene. Tons of locally owned, inexpensive restaurants with stunningly good food.
I don’t mind expensive restaurants, but fancy ones bore me. I’m not going out to eat the tablecloths or the decor. I don’t want some foo-foo’ed-up dish where they put strawberries and ginger on a freaking steak. I don’t want more garnish on the plate than food. I’d rather hit Torchy’s Tacos anyday.
joyy
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:34 pm: [report]
@brandy - I know!
@lea322 - very true! I’ve felt trapped by the dinner-out timeline on dates before. Also with coffee, it’s not a big deal if you end up hanging out WAY longer than expected too since you aren’t tying up a server’s table (a friend of mine did this once - met for coffee on a first date around 9-10am and didn’t leave til 3pm or something).
lea322
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:45 pm: [report]
@joyy: It’s also great because if you are both having a good time, but it’s clearly more of a friend thing than a romantic situation, it’s less awkward.
Laurel
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:48 pm: [report]
I like dressing up (and seeing my guy dressed up), so I do like going somewhere fancy every few months or so. But for most dinner dates casual all the way—or even better, cooking at home!
*sam*
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:50 pm: [report]
I prefer casual places for sure, *esp* for a first date. However, like someone else above mentioned, when you’ve been with someone for a long time, it’s nice to go out to fancy place every once in a while to change things up a bit. Not to mention it gives you a reason to buy a sexy new outfit to show off (b/c really, who gets all dressed up to go to Chile’s?)
Lynn
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 01:51 pm: [report]
Well, don’t take me to Taco Bell on a first date, but definitely more casual. I’d say a regular ol’ bar is best. Save the fancy stuff for when you’re celebrating big occasions with a guy you’ve been dating a while - going to a super fancy place makes me feel guilty if I’m not into the guy and he is spending all this money on my meal, and it also makes the whole experience a little more nerve-wracking, which is not what you want on an early date.
joyy
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 02:21 pm: [report]
@C.Munro - stop it, you’re making me miss Texas! And Pittsburgh. The food scene where I am is somewhat lacking, though my only comfort is that I didn’t befall my one Austard friend’s fate - she said she gained 10 pounds after moving back to Austin (I almost moved there after college, but didn’t). Keep me thin, AZ, keep me thin ...
Stellamira
wrote on October 28 2009 @ 05:35 pm: [report]
I’m totally going to agree with everyone on the “No Chain” rule. Some unique, quirky hole-in-the-wall is sooo much better.
My vote is towards a type of food that neither party has tried.
freepeople1986
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 10:54 am: [report]
And nothing too trendy either. It always makes you look like you’re trying to hard. Stop suggesting places that were just written up in this week’s New York Magazine.
SummertimeFirefly
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 11:28 am: [report]
Casual hole-in-the wall ethnic restaurants…
majicksand
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:26 pm: [report]
So far we have local faves for Chinese, Mexican, Greek, and Italian—all casual, no chains. I also know a great local place for seafood, but I can’t stand the owner, so I won’t go there anymore. Technically there are lots of great seafood places, but most are 45 minutes away, so we don’t go often.
Don’t beat up the chains but so bad though. I love me some IHOP!
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:31 pm: [report]
F IHOP. Waffle House ftw…except that there are exactly 0 in New Jersey.
bumbler
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:34 pm: [report]
@Cheeeeeese NJ has real diners. So much better than the chains here in FL where Waffle Houses abound. We also have Denny’s, Shoney’s, IHOPs and on and on but nothing like my old Galloway Diner.
writergirl
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:38 pm: [report]
No chains—casual and relaxed are best. For my second date with my husband he suggested a restaurant I had never heard of, so I just said it sounded nice. Then he said he’d let me know if he could get reservations. I remember calling my BFF and saying, “OMG! He’s taking me to a place that requires reservations!”
That hadn’t happened in years at that point. It was nice. And that restaurant is actually pretty casual. Just small.
luke15chick
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:40 pm: [report]
Florida has some good places if you know where to go and depending on where you live.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:44 pm: [report]
@Bumbler: Yes, but only a handful are good. Where I am right now it isn’t open 24 hours….closes at 11 opens at 6. Sucks monkey balls.
majicksand
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:45 pm: [report]
No way, cheese. IHOP just introduced eggnog pancakes! If they’re as good as the cheesecake ones were over the summer, I’ll be in heaven.
bumbler
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 02:49 pm: [report]
@Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeesey that’s blasphemous. The best thing about our diners were that they were 24 hours. Perfect pit-stop after a night of drinking. Nothing hit the spot at 4 in the morning like a big plate of fries.
@luke5chic, yeah I’ve found that if you live near a city you can get some excellent food in FL. We live outside of Fort Lauderdale so we can hit up Las Olas for some delicious Italian or head down to Miami for fusion, the seafood here is also excellent although it’s not my personal favorite. Like any other state if you live in the boonies your options are more limited.
hittheroadjack
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 07:14 am: [report]
for the first date better rest. are cool because you can listen and tell her everything about you and her. after that go to nice rest. with a nice music and people its better to have fun. I dont like to go same places are time so dont be the same change your self every time so she never understand what kind of guy you are.
) because its better to be harmonize to every place. I dont know but girls like this kind of people who can go and stay every type of rest. place or bars. 
)) AM I RIGHT GIRLS???
**Understanding**
wrote on November 1 2009 @ 06:45 pm: [report]
I’m an incredibly loud person once I get around someone I like to talk to, so I would have to opt for a more casual place to go on dates. But even if you’re not a loud type like me, a casual restaraunt might help you get to know the person better if you can comfortably talk and laugh with him/her…Plus casual places help you understand what they regularly wear in a casual setting, other than a stuffy suit, or some overworked cocktail dress…You get a natural feel for the person and what kind of foods they like to eat on the regular…So i say Casual all the way…(unless its an anniversary or sumthin)
BlueVibe
wrote on November 2 2009 @ 12:51 pm: [report]
Casual. I want to see him acting normally instead of chafing in a tie and jacket (nor do I want to be fidgeting in dressy clothes). Not a loud casual place, of course; a quiet one.