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Some restaurant dos and don'ts for that
imperative first date! And we recommend some
top spots.
Cheesy chicken strips
Picture this: You’re at the office/gym/pub and the
sexy stranger across the room catches your eye.
You finally work up the courage to speak to them,
and, wonder of wonders, they agree to go to
dinner with you. Boom! Right?
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Except, if you’re anything like me, 5 minutes after
this the nerves hit and my brain starts spinning:
What restaurant do I choose? Do I let the guy
choose? How expensive should it be? Will my date
judge me if they think I’m being cheap? I asked
him out, so do I pay for dinner? Do we split the
bill? And what on earth will I wear?
Suddenly the excitement of the first date seems ‘n
bietjie min in comparison to the minefield of
potential embarrassment and disaster.
on
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If you initiate the date, it’s up to you to choose
the venue. It should be quiet enough for
conversation, but busy enough to have a buzz.
Don’t call unnecessary outside attention to your
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table. Rose petals and violins are fine for an
anniversary, but way over the top for a first date.
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Polana, Takumi, Fork, The Leopard, The Good Luck Club, Thomas Maxwell, Orient, The Cargo Hold,
Unity Bar, Market and Mundo Vida.
Restaurant vs drinks
General consensus is that if you’re going out with someone you’ve only just met, a drinks date is a
http://www.food24.com/News-and-Guides/Features/First-date-restaurant-etiquette-20120711[2013/02/13 06:23:42 PM]
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better idea than dinner. An effective way to “dip your toe in the dating pool”, drinks are a lot less
pressure than a candlelit table for two.
Do relax and have a cocktail if you feel like it – it’ll calm your nerves and make you less selfconscious.
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Don’t overdo it. Beer goggles make your date look hot and you look… drunk.
We recommend Tjing Tjing Bar, The Winchester Mansions, Wafu, Wolves, Moyo u Shaka Pier, Spiga
and Hai.bo.
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This is one area where mediocre can be a good thing. Too expensive, and you’re showing off. Too
cheap, and…well, nobody likes a miser. Don’t go over the top – a private dining room and 8 different
forks tends to be more intimidating than impressive.
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It’s pretty common knowledge that unless dinner is on you, it’s bad form to order the most
Mellerwer – Juice extractor 700W “ Liqua
Fresh”
expensive item on the menu. That said, if it turns out your date is a less likeable version of the
Grinch, go right ahead and order the lobster. They probably deserve it.
Introduce the classic elegance along with a
welcomed freshness in your kitchen with the
LiquaFresh Juice Extractor. Buy now
Fruitopia
Do pay attention to what your date orders – if he/she is only having a main, you might want to skip
the starter.
Don’t order for both of you without consulting your date first – most girls I know find this arrogant
and presumptuous, and guys may feel emasculated.
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Call me spoiled, but in my experience on the downward slope to 30, most guys my age and older like
to pick up the cheque. Chivalry lives! Splitting the bill on dates is more common for under 25’s.
It’s still unusual, though not unheard of, for the woman to pay for the whole meal. It is important for
the girl to at least offer to contribute. A token reach for the bill when it arrives is considered good
etiquette, as is conceding gracefully if he politely declines your efforts.
Do pass the after dinner mints to the lady first. Small things like this make a good impression.
Don’t stiff the staff – unless the service was terrible, not tipping appropriately reflects badly on you.
Have you had any standout first dates? What made them work so well? Or do you have a
first date disaster that we can learn from? Share your stories, and let’s kick bad dates to
the curb!
Read more on: restaurant | first date | romantic
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koo.doyle - July 20, 2012 at 08:33
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If I invite a guy to dinner, I fully expect to pick up the tab. Its not fair to assume the guy must always
pay.
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Reply to koo.doyle
jim.page.92 - July 22, 2012 at 21:42
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the initiator should typically pick up the tab. You are quite correct, a relaxing environment for drinks is
perfect for a first (tentative) date. Picking the most expensive items on the menu makes me think of
THAT advert ...
Simple rules people!
0
0
Reply to jim.page.92
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