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It is always exciting to go on a dinner date with your match for the first time. Of course you want to prepare yourself as well as possible. But as we can all see regularly in the First Dates program , not everyone shows their best side.
What many people don’t realize is that a restaurant date can be a minefield as well. As an inexperienced single, it can be quite intimidating: having a conversation with someone you don’t know at all. But don’t panic: with these 10 tips, your dinner date will become a dream date .
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What is a dinner date?
Before we fire all kinds of tips at you, it is useful to know what a dinner date is exactly. Simply put, this is a date where you go out to eat together in a nice restaurant. If you like sushi, then a sushi restaurant is of course the perfect place to meet. Discuss together what you like most, but don’t make it too difficult. Because remember: a dinner date is more about the date than the dinner.
10 tips for your first dinner date
There are many tips you can use to make your dinner date a successful evening, but we have listed the best ten for you. Of course, it depends on which restaurant you go to, but also how you behave and what your manners are during the date itself. You will also discover what you should and should not say and we will give you a few exit strategies for when the dinner date is a complete flop.
1. Select a cozy restaurant
Of course it starts with choosing a nice and cozy restaurant for the dinner date. There are many nice locations to choose from, but it also depends on the city and what you both like.
In the summer you can dine by the water or outdoors, but in the winter you can make it romantic indoors. It also depends on what you like in terms of food. Sushi? Meat? Or vegan? It’s all possible.
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2. Choose the right outfit
Choosing the right outfit is of course also important for the dinner date. Dress for the occasion and make a well-groomed impression. Take a shower beforehand, make sure your teeth are brushed well and that you have paid the necessary attention to your hair and/or make-up.
There is no need to spray half a bottle of perfume on yourself, because then you can be sure that the other person will run away. The most important thing is that you wear something that you feel comfortable in, but that still makes a good impression.
3. Think of some topics of conversation
Once you are seated at the table during the dinner date, you will want to have some nice conversations with each other. It is perfectly normal to be nervous, but don’t turn the conversation into a job interview. Try to find common topics that you are both interested in. Some lists of questions that can help you find a topic:
Topics to avoid are wedding dreams, sexual topics or talking about exes. Once you find a fun topic, other topics will naturally flow from there. And don’t forget to laugh or smile every now and then during the dinner date.
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4. Listen to each other
Have you found a nice topic of conversation during the dinner date? Then it is also important that you listen to the other person. Show interest by asking the right questions but let it come across naturally. If you are nervous, you can also indicate this in advance, perhaps the other person is just as nervous as you are. You can then laugh about it together and the ice is broken immediately.
Also try not to talk over someone, no matter how enthusiastic you are. Let the other person finish or otherwise politely indicate it during the dinner date.
5. Make smart food choices
It is sometimes said that during a dinner date it is better not to eat food with a smell or something that is hard to eat. Do you still want to kiss the other person at the end of the evening? Then definitely do not eat garlic or something vegetable that can get stuck between your teeth. That is of course not very charming.
You can check the menu online in advance or choose something to share with the other person. This way you can immediately discover what the other person likes and doesn’t like. And you might even taste new dishes yourself during the dinner date.
6. Don’t forget to eat
No matter how interesting the conversation is during the dinner date, don’t forget to eat. There’s nothing more unfortunate than sitting at the table with someone who barely eats from their plate. It can also happen that someone only orders a salad, and that’s a bit of a shame too.
Enjoy this evening out and make sure you haven’t eaten a heavy meal before the date. This way you’ll have enough room for dinner and a nice dessert during the dinner date.
7. Don’t drink too much alcohol
A nice glass of wine or a beer is of course fine for a dinner date, but don’t overdo it by ordering one after the other. You want to seduce the other: talking with a double tongue is not very charming.
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Enjoy your drink and if you order something stronger than a glass of wine or beer, don’t drink it at the same pace. It will only make you drunk faster. Also, don’t eat too much, because it could happen that you go home with him or her after the dinner date for some more excitement.
8. Behave towards the staff
Another important factor for a successful dinner date? How you treat the staff. Never be rude or act like a jerk. It is a real turn-off if you or the other person behaves arrogantly or rudely towards the staff.
Always be friendly to others, because you want to be considered a considerate person. Treat others as you would like to be treated, only then will you make the evening a successful dinner date.
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9. Take your time eating
There is no need to eat a dish at the speed of a vacuum cleaner during a dinner date. Enjoy the food and take your time. Make eye contact with the other person every now and then and keep it sensual.
Don’t forget to use good table manners. Nothing is more distasteful than eating with your mouth open or scraping cutlery. Or maybe even worse: licking the plate. The goal of a dinner date is to enjoy yourself together and to show your good manners.
10. Think of a good exit strategy
It can happen that during the dinner date you already have the feeling that it will not work out. Therefore, think of a good exit strategy in advance. You can of course pretend that your mother is calling you because ‘Fikkie’ has died. You can also go to the toilet, stay away for fifteen minutes and come back with the message that you have a stomach ache.
If you’re not so good at faking the above examples, you can use the ‘deterrent method’. Say you’re looking for someone with whom you can build a house, tree and pet life within a year, including a child, dog and house.
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4 things to watch out for
Eating out with your match can be a lot of fun, unless you order the wrong things. You only get one chance to make a good first impression and what you order plays a major role in this. For example, there is no need to order a salad to emphasize that you are a health addict when you would rather have a greasy burger on your plate.
What should you watch out for? That you don’t order something that the other person finds unpalatable. The dinner is not about the food, but about the date. It is therefore wise to choose a ‘neutral’ meal.
1. Food with a smell
If you are planning on kissing at the end of the date , it is wise to choose a meal that does not contain anything like garlic. Foods with a smell are best avoided on a first date. This includes any food that has strong flavors such as onions, garlic, and cheeses. By choosing a neutral flavor, you can be sure that you do not have to worry about bad breath.
2. Food that is difficult to eat
A date is not the time to try something new, like fish in a shell or something else that is hard to eat. The last thing you want is pieces of shell flying out of your hands and across the table. This may be seen as funny by your date, but it is more likely not to be found attractive.
The same goes for a dish like spareribs. You can hardly eat them without using your hands. Don’t do this to yourself on a first date. After all, who can eat a sparerib without getting dirty cheeks?
3. Sticky food
Certain products tend to stick. An example of this is vegetables such as spinach. Pieces can stick to your teeth. This does not look attractive. It is possible that your conversation partner will say something about it, but you can also let them walk around with it all evening without saying anything. Only afterwards will you realize how much of a fool you have been.
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4. View menu
When choosing a meal, think about what impression you will leave with it. You don’t want to let the food ruin your evening in any way. If you have agreed to go out for dinner with your date, you can check out the restaurant’s menu in advance. You can read up on the restaurant’s website and choose a meal in advance.
If you are on a date with a vegetarian or someone with certain preferences: take that into account. Choose a restaurant that suits the wishes of your date. It is also an unwritten rule not to choose the most expensive dish if your date is paying for you. Finally, choosing a restaurant that you know is smart, so that you know that the food and service is of good quality.
Enjoy the dinner date
With these handy tips for a dinner date, you will definitely get through the evening. The most important thing is of course that you just be yourself, have fun and that you do not pretend to be someone else. The point is that you have a nice evening together and that you eat well. And who knows how the evening will end…
Even if it turns out not to be a fun evening, you can use one of the exit strategies, curl up on the couch at home and happily swipe left to right again: for the next dinner date.
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