How to Choose a Restaurant for a First Date

American chef and food writer James Beard once said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” Put simply, everyone eats. And for something like a first date where food is the centerpiece, what you eat, how you eat it and where you eat it lets a woman get to know a piece of your psyche.

There are virtually hundreds to thousands of restaurant choices in any given town or city. Guys, when planning a first date, take heed some of our advice on how to pick a great place to eat.

If you’re especially nervous about a first date, choose a restaurant where the food isn’t the only focal point.

It could be kitschy like Dave & Buster’s where you can both have a beer and play arcade games before sitting down to eat. Or it could be more upscale like a Japanese hibachi grill where vegetables, fried rice, seafood and steak is cooked right in front of you.

If you’re running out of things to talk about, you can always focus on the chef’s culinary skills and cheesy one-liners.

It doesn’t matter if your favorite chain restaurant is offering two-for-one house wine. Choose an eatery with a unique flair.

It can be a farm-to-table experience where the menu changes based on what local foods are in season or a seven-course food and wine pairing at a historic bed and breakfast.

Either way, give the restaurant of choice some thought before settling on everyday, standard grub.

Tear down the walls of your traditional cafe or bistro and order takeout for a beach or park picnic. Order ahead and make sure the food will travel well to your destination.

Any lady would be impressed by the thoughtfulness of choosing the great outdoors as a first date setting. Just don’t forget a blanket, bug spray, wine and bottle opener, water and salt and pepper. A rose and bud vase wouldn’t hurt either.

When you’re choosing a first date eatery, stay away from boring, old chain restaurants offering happy hour drink specials and free appetizers with your choice of fajita.

Instead, give some thought to a unique, uninhibited and eventful dining experience.