The Right Type of Impression on a First Date

First impressions are so important when dating, so there are so many questions that need to be answered when considering asking a person out for that all-important first date. In these difficult economic times, it is imperative to make certain that the choice of restaurant fits with the person with whom you plan to go out, the amount of money that you want to spend, and the type of food that is most likely to be enjoyed by both of you.

Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a small city, but it is filled with many restaurants of many types. We are a little limited on ethnic foods, but we do have some excellent restaurants in the downtown area that would fit the bill for a first date, when a prospective couple is just getting to know each other. There are options for dinner and lunch, and if you choose a weekend dinner date, there are not only many restaurants available on Garrison Avenue, there are many pubs, clubs and bars where the date can continue with live music and dancing.

Once excellent place to meet a first date is Papa's Pub and Pizzeria at 508 Garrison Avenue. It has wonderful pizza, a good selection of appetizers and a decent array of alcoholic beverages available. The service is friendly and non-intrusive, and the overall cost is reasonable. I recommend the cheese sticks as appetizers, and the ranch sauce is fantastic. The personal pizzas are small, but by the time you have worked on the appetizers, you will usually have some leftovers. The bacon cheeseburger pizza is wonderful as is the pepperoni. With two draft beers and two Smirnoff Ice Watermelon coolers, the bill will be around thirty dollars. I would like to remind the couple that Papa's is a pub, and it is a bit loud, but conversation is completely possible, and the background noise helps keep others from eavesdropping.

Also in downtown Fort Smith, at 400 Garrison Avenue, is one of the local La Huerta restaurants. Out of all of the local La Huerta restaurants, and there are several in the area, this is the best one for a first date. It is a bit cozier, and the prices are more than reasonable. There is always the appetizer of chips and salsa, and the salsa is always fresh and delicious. The margaritas are stout, and there are other mixed drinks available, but really, who wants anything but a margarita or a good beer with Mexican food? I will admit the options are slightly limited on the mixed drinks, but the beer choices are a little better with emphasis on imports. However, there is no need for an appetizer, since one comes free, two entrees are usually going to be less than fifteen dollars, the beer and mixed drinks will average around seven dollars per round, depending on who gets what. It is easy to spend less than thirty dollars on a good meal with a couple of drinks, each with friendly, efficient service that is not annoyingly obtrusive.

Finally, if you like a little bit of spice, you'll like R. Landry's New Orleans Cafe, at 613 Garrison. Landry's is a little more expensive, but you get more than you're money's worth in quality and quantity. The Creole Chicken is wonderfully spiced and the Seafood Pasta is divine, and both of those dishes are under fifteen dollars, a piece. Like Papa's, Landry's is a little more like a bar, so there's a bit more noise, but the atmosphere is fun, and the live music is awesome. There is a huge selection of beer, and twenty-eight of them are on tap. You will be more likely to spend forty or fifty dollars for the meal in here, but it will be worth it. The service is friendly and efficient, and the experience is most enjoyable.

There are many wonderful places to eat in Fort Smith, but for my first date with a new person, I prefer a nice, crowded, fun-filled atmosphere with good food, good service and reasonable prices. All three of these restaurants also feel comfortable and safe, to me, which makes a big difference in my behavior. If a date tries too hard to impress me on the first date with a really fancy restaurant, I am going to be nervous and on my toes, while the aforementioned restaurants make it easier to relax and be myself without having to worry about breaking his bank account or if the date does not go well, breaking my own bank account when splitting the ticket and ditching him. Either way, I will have had a terrific meal and the chance to see if the first date might lead to a second more intimate date in a slightly different type of restaurant. Bon appetit!