Their conversation turned to soccer, and White mentioned her daughter played at a high level. She confessed she wished she understood the sport better so she could get more enjoyment out of watching it. Into the net? She soon implemented a new set of rules for blind dates, chief among them: never meet at a restaurant. Stress Test podcast: How to manage rising costs when dating. The nature of dating has been radically transformed in the past decade, fuelled by the popularity of dating apps.
Fewer people are choosing restaurants as a location. Inflation has also made dining out significantly more expensive than it was prepandemic. Marc Basque, 35, felt this way when he was on a first date with a woman at a Mexican restaurant in Toronto. He felt trapped. He overcompensated and began to pepper the woman with many questions. In those cases he hopes to stay under three figures. Going on a few first dates a month β especially bad ones β can add up quickly.
Restaurants were dealt a massive blow at the start of the decade from pandemic lockdowns, and those that survived have faced an enormous rise in operating expenses, from the cost of ingredients to labour. For those who are game to meet at a restaurant, the trend is toward more casual establishments. But once there, the ambiance can kill the vibe: stark overhead halogen lighting at a noodle shop, the spirited greetings interrupting conversation when diners enter and exit an izakaya, hip hop blasting through the speakers at a taqueria.
Liu, 36, had heard all the hype about it and had never been β he was curious. Big mistake. Bloated and tired from the fast-food feast, Liu told his date he wanted to get together again and went home alone. Visiting a restaurant on a first date can also be unnerving for those who are self-conscious about how they look when they eat. When Basque is dining with someone for the first time, he steers clear of messy foods such as wings.
Food preferences can reveal a lot and extinguish a spark quickly. Duffy said she prefers daytime walks or lunches to dinner dates. The space is quiet, has relatively affordable drinks and is dimly lit with candles, which cast a warm, flattering glow. Tables are close together, but each is meant to feel like a private island, says Diab. While the first date-ness of it all can be a bit uncomfortable to watch at the start β the formal greetings, the awkward handshakes β Diab can recognize the signs that a first date is going well.
