6 PROS AND CONS OF DINNER DATES
I don’t know if you’ve ever been on a dinner date. If you have, you probably have strong opinions on it, I’ve noticed a lot of people do (including me, I am people…) On the one hand, it’s a nice change from always going to someone’s local pub. On the other hand, it can feel very formal and like a lot of pressure. I would argue that a dinner date is still miles better than going to the cinema on your first few dates (seriously, what’s the point?! Why go on a date to essentially sit in silence…) Whatever your thoughts, we thought we’d break it down since restaurants are once again open in the UK for outdoor dining. So, let’s get into it. Here are 6 pros and cons of dinner dates…
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Pro: You really have to bring your A-game
It’s pretty easy to go for drinks and (if you do drink) it’s likely that the alcohol will at least give you some Dutch courage. For one thing, going for drinks on a date is the norm. It’s something that majority of us have gotten comfortable with. However, over dinner it’s probably a less familiar setting with a less chill vibe. You’ll really notice awkward silences even more over dinner, so you really need to have good chat. While you’re waiting for food in between courses, it’s the perfect time to really get deep with your questions! If you want to see how people feel about dinner dates, check out CLiKD!
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However, trying to leave a restaurant when you’ve just
ordered your food? Super awkward.
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Con: It’s harder to cut out early
Let’s be honest. If I decide my date is not really cutting it after one drink at a bar, I can easily make an excuse and duck out early at any time. However, trying to leave a restaurant when you’ve just ordered your food? Super awkward. Not just for you, but for everyone. There are many a horror story from restaurant staff about people having to cancel their orders or even sneaking out because their date was that bad. Since dinner dates are a more formal setting, leaving early is even more noticeable to all.
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Pro: It can be a great activity, if you’re both foodies
The thing is, not all dinner dates have to be a formal sit-down event. You can really have fun with it. If you’re both foodies, there are many interesting places to go and eat. You could go to a food market in the evening or, if things are going well, you and your date could go for a tapas vibe and order small dishes to share. I always think it’s a fairly good sign if you’re both comfortable sharing food early on. If you are someone who likes to go to restaurants a lot, this is a perfect way to see if you’re compatible in this department.
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However, we all know that a date doesn’t have to break
the bank to be fun, it’s all about the chemistry.
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Con: It can get expensive real quick
Not only can dating be time consuming, it can also be really expensive. When you start considering travel costs, clothing and makeup and just paying for the actual dates, it starts to add up. If you’re going on a fair amount of first dates and you’re always the one fitting the bill, dinner dates are probably your worst nightmare. There are some people who will pick dinner dates specifically so they can flex and show you how much they earn. However, we all know that a date doesn’t have to break the bank to be fun, it’s all about the chemistry.
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Pro: It can show you’re more serious about looking for something
Personally, anytime someone has suggested going on a dinner date I’ve had two thoughts. First, ‘whoa, is that a bit intense for a first date?!’ and then ‘well, this shows that they’re already putting more effort into things, great first impression!’ In a pre Covid world (before reservations were required for almost everything) making a dinner reservation really showed that they were looking for something serious. It also really showed that they were someone who probably had their sh** together, which is always important.
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If you’ve eaten a lot, one of the last things you may want
is to go back to someone else’s place.
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Con: It can feel like a high-pressure environment
If you look at how dating has changed over the ages, you’ll definitely see a clothing evolution. Dates can be a lot more casual now, wearing jeans and a nice top is not uncommon. However, dinner dates can be an area where that doesn’t feel like the case. Sitting opposite someone and eating can feel like a lot of pressure. A lot of people feel uncomfortable eating in front of a stranger. If you’ve eaten a lot, one of the last things you may want is to go back to someone else’s place. It can just feel like a lot of high expectations and it may cause you not to relax and be yourself.
So, there you have it! 6 pros and cons of dinner dates. Whether you love them or hate them, definitely something to be more open to in the near future 😉
