No-No First Date Meals
Dining out on a first date is a fantastic idea. You get to know each other, you get to know what your date enjoys eating and drinking, and it’s an intimate enough setting where you can hear one another without being in a dangerous position in a more secluded environment. But this proximity means that there are a few different food items that might not be the best choices for your date. Here are a handful of foods that you may want to stay away from while you’re ordering.
Onions or garlic. These can be the stinkiest foods in any restaurant for sure, and many people perceive them as a turn-off. That said, if you both want to share, say, a blooming onion, or some spaghetti, you might be okay. Just don’t talk too closely together—and be sure to share some breath mints, too!
Oysters or lobster. Though they may have a reputation as aphrodisiacs, oysters, as well as lobsters, are insanely messy to eat. You don’t want to get embarrassed with buttery juice dripping down your face, even if you are trying to impress your date with your big spending. Even if you wear a bib, do you really want that to be the first impression you make? The same goes for barbecue, watermelon, soup, corn on the cob, and other notoriously messy foods.
Meat. If you know your date is a vegetarian, try to avoid meat just this once. There are plenty of tasty alternatives, from cheesy ravioli or pizza at your local Italian eatery to a meatless salad or burger at the bar and grill. Once you start talking, you can see if your date is comfortable with a meat eater—but even with that said, there are still some no-no foods that a vegetarian will probably not be able to tolerate, such as foie gras or veal, which are cruelly made.
Alcohol. Some people may want to go out for drinks, while others may be recovering from alcoholism or other addictions. It’s always good to ask first; you might want to give a date the choice of going out for drinks or coffee in order to avoid any embarrassment or confusion.
Super spicy foods. If you are used to something very spicy, that’s one thing; but don’t make your date eat habanero peppers, and certainly don’t eat them if you haven’t had them before. You definitely don’t want to embarrass yourself sweating profusely, or even getting sick.