Dating Advice for Men: How to Choose a Restaurant for a First Date

Picking the right restaurant for a first date can be quite a challenge. The first thing you should do is gather as much information about the person as possible. This involves a little bit of stalking the other person if you can like on the internet profile web sites such as MySpace and Facebook. See what the other person's interests are. If they are a good looking girl and are pretty down to earth, I would suggest someplace that will impress but is not too expensive.

For most guys, you will have to pay for the dinner or lunch for your date so you don't want to be spending more than $30 for your date on the first date. More expensive restaurants should come later in the relationship when you know the person and are heavily involved. For all you know, you could hate your date and want to get out of the restaurant as soon as possible.

The restaurant doesn't have to be too romantic, although you certainly don't want to pick a "family restaurant" with children running around. Ideally you would like a place that has candle lit tables, possibly flowers and has a nice ambiance. You also want to pick a restaurant that isn't always packed because you don't want to feel like you are being rushed out of the restaurant. You should be spending at least an hour at that restaurant talking to your date and eating a great meal.

That brings me to my next point about food. Make sure that you speak to your friends about the restaurant you are going to if you have never been there before. The food at the restaurant does not have to be spectacular but it does have to taste good. Bad tasting food can ruin a first date.

For the service, ideally you would like nice waiters and waitresses and if you can a charming host. The alternative is to have a waiter or waitress who leaves you alone with your date. You don't want someone constantly coming over to your table to make sure that everything is OK.

Table location is of crucial important for your first table. You want to get a table off to the side, preferably against the wall and in a corner someone. You do not want to get a table in the middle of the room. You want to make sure that you get some privacy. You should wait until there is a table on the side before sitting down at an open table in the middle of the room.

Perhaps the most important bit of advice that I can give you is to eat somewhere that you can make reservations. You definitely don't want to be waiting for a table for a long time with your date. You want to be able to sit down right away. Making a reservation for dinner which should your date that you are responsible and organized.

Finally, don't be cheap with the bill and the tip. Leaving too little for a tip for the waiter will show that you are cheap with money which is a turn-off. Leave about 18-20% for the tip, even if that means coughing up a few more dollars.