First dates can be nerve-racking enough without adding the worry of what’s on your dinner plate. You want to enjoy the conversation, make a good impression, and feel comfortable around the person sitting across from you. Unfortunately, some foods can make that harder than expected.
Imagine leaning forward to share a funny story, only to discover tomato sauce on your shirt. Or picture yourself trying to look confident while struggling with a giant burger that refuses to stay together. These little dining disasters happen more often than anyone would like to admit.
According to a survey by the dating app Plenty of Fish, dining preferences and food choices can affect dating compatibility. Food can help people connect, but it can also create awkward moments when things get messy.
Of course, no food is completely off-limits when you’re dating. Still, if you want a smooth, comfortable evening, here are 10 foods you might want to think twice about ordering.
Spaghetti With Tomato Sauce
Spaghetti may seem like the ultimate romantic dinner, especially at a cozy Italian restaurant. However, those long, slippery noodles aren’t always easy to eat gracefully.
One minute, you’re twirling pasta around your fork. The next, a stubborn noodle slips loose and sends tomato sauce flying toward your clothes.
The biggest problem is that spaghetti requires more attention than you might expect. You might find yourself staring at your fork instead of listening to your date.
Tomato sauce also leaves noticeable stains, particularly on white or light-colored clothing.
If you’re craving Italian food, try penne, rigatoni, or ravioli. These pasta dishes are generally easier to manage, allowing you to focus on the conversation rather than your table manners.
Garlic Bread and Garlic-Heavy Meals
Garlic bread is delicious, especially when it’s served warm with melted butter. Unfortunately, garlic can leave a strong breath odor long after you finish eating.
That’s not ideal if you’re planning a romantic walk, sitting close together, or hoping for a goodnight kiss.
Raw garlic can be particularly noticeable, so consider garlic-heavy pasta, garlic sauces, and certain Mediterranean meals.
The challenge is that you might stop noticing the smell yourself, even though someone sitting nearby can still detect it.
You don’t need to eliminate garlic from your diet just because you’re dating. However, choosing a meal with a milder garlic flavor could help you feel more confident.
If you both decide to order garlic bread, at least you’ll enjoy it together.
Extra-Large Burgers Loaded With Toppings
A juicy cheeseburger can be hard to resist. But when it’s stacked with multiple beef patties, bacon, melted cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and several sauces, it becomes a challenge to eat.
Taking the first bite often requires opening your mouth wider than feels comfortable. After that, the real trouble begins.
The lettuce slides out, the tomato drops onto your plate, and sauce starts running down your fingers.
You may end up holding the burger with both hands while desperately searching for another napkin.
There’s nothing wrong with ordering a burger on a date, especially at a casual restaurant. Just consider choosing a smaller one with fewer toppings.
A simple cheeseburger can be just as satisfying without turning dinner into a juggling act.
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are a favorite at sports bars and casual restaurants across America. They’re flavorful, easy to share, and perfect for a relaxed gathering.
However, they’re not exactly designed for neat eating.
Traditional buffalo wings are coated in sauce, so your fingers will likely get sticky almost immediately. Add bones, dripping sauce, and a pile of used napkins, and the experience can get messy quickly.
Trying to answer a question while holding a half-eaten chicken wing can also feel awkward.
It gets even more complicated when you’re wearing something you don’t want to stain.
If you love chicken wings, save them for a casual date where getting messy is part of the fun. Otherwise, chicken tenders or fork-friendly chicken dishes may be easier to enjoy.
Extremely Spicy Foods
Ordering the hottest dish on the menu might seem like a fun way to show your adventurous side. Unfortunately, it can backfire.
Extra-spicy curry, hot wings, and dishes loaded with chili peppers can leave some people sweating, coughing, or reaching repeatedly for their drinks.
Instead of enjoying the conversation, you might spend the evening trying to recover from the heat.
Your eyes could start watering, your nose might run, and suddenly you’re more concerned about the next glass of water than your date’s interesting stories.
Spice tolerance varies considerably from person to person. What tastes pleasantly hot to one diner might overwhelm another.
If you’re unsure how spicy a particular dish will be, ask the server before ordering. Choosing a familiar spice level is usually better than testing your limits on a first date.
Whole Lobster or Crab
A seafood dinner can feel like a special occasion, especially at an upscale restaurant.
But ordering a whole lobster or crab means you’re signing up for a meal that requires effort.
Cracking shells, separating claws, and carefully removing meat can take a lot of time. You’ll probably need special tools, extra napkins, and plenty of patience.
Sometimes, a stubborn shell refuses to break. Other times, a small piece flies across the table when you finally manage to crack it open.
You could spend more time working on your seafood than enjoying the person sitting opposite you.
If you want seafood without the extra work, consider grilled salmon, shrimp pasta, or a lobster roll.
Those options let you enjoy seafood without dismantling your dinner.
Loaded Nachos
A plate of loaded nachos sounds like a fantastic appetizer to share with someone you’re getting to know.
After all, who doesn’t enjoy tortilla chips covered in melted cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and other tasty toppings?
The trouble begins when you try to pick up a chip.
Sometimes, the cheese stretches halfway across the plate. Other times, the chip breaks under the weight of its toppings.
Before you know it, you’re dropping salsa, chasing loose beans, and trying to keep melted cheese off your clothes.
There’s also the awkward decision about who gets the last perfectly loaded chip.
Nachos are great for a fun, casual evening, but they aren’t the neatest choice if you want to make a polished first impression.
A smaller, easier-to-share appetizer might be a better option.
Onion Rings and Raw Onion Sandwiches
Onions add great flavor to many popular restaurant dishes, but they can pose a few challenges on a date.
Raw onions have a strong aroma that can linger on your breath. This can make you feel uncomfortable when the conversation gets more personal.
Onion rings create a different problem.
Have you ever bitten into an onion ring and accidentally pulled the entire onion out of its crispy coating?
Suddenly, you’re left holding an empty piece of batter while a long strip of onion dangles awkwardly from your mouth.
It’s funny with close friends, but it may feel embarrassing on a first date.
If you’re ordering a sandwich or burger, ask for it without raw onions. French fries or potato wedges are also simpler alternatives to oversized onion rings.
Powdered Donuts and Flaky Pastries
Not every date happens over dinner. Sometimes, meeting for coffee and pastries is the perfect way to get acquainted without committing to a long evening.
However, certain bakery treats can be surprisingly messy.
Powdered donuts can leave white sugar on your lips or clothes. Croissants and other flaky pastries can scatter crumbs across the table with every bite.
Cream-filled pastries bring another challenge. Take one enthusiastic bite, and the filling might squeeze out from the opposite side.
The worst part is that you may not realize you’ve made a mess until your date points it out.
Fortunately, these little accidents are usually harmless and can even lead to a good laugh.
If you prefer something easier to eat, consider a slice of pound cake, banana bread, or a simple muffin.
Overstuffed Tacos
Tacos are one of the most enjoyable foods to share during a casual outing. They’re flavorful, customizable, and commonly available at restaurants across the United States.
But tacos overflowing with fillings can become difficult to manage.
Crunchy taco shells tend to crack after the first few bites, while soft tortillas can tear when overloaded.
That means seasoned meat, shredded lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and salsa may fall onto your plate or lap.
Trying to catch everything before it lands can be especially awkward mid-conversation.
If you’re visiting a Mexican restaurant, consider ordering smaller tacos with fewer toppings.
You could also choose a burrito bowl, quesadilla, or another dish that’s easier to eat with utensils.
You’ll still get plenty of flavor without worrying about your meal falling apart.
What Foods Should You Order on a First Date?
Choosing the right food for a date doesn’t mean ordering the most expensive item on the menu.
The goal is to find something you genuinely enjoy and can eat comfortably.
Grilled chicken, short pasta, rice dishes, simple sandwiches, salads with manageable ingredients, and boneless seafood are all practical choices.
It’s also worth thinking about the restaurant itself.
A casual café might be perfect for sandwiches and coffee, while an Italian restaurant offers plenty of pasta dishes that don’t involve long noodles.
If you’re visiting a new restaurant, reading the menu beforehand can help you feel more prepared.
Most importantly, order something familiar enough that you can relax and enjoy yourself.
Does What You Eat on a Date Really Matter?
Food choices can influence how comfortable you feel during a date, but they don’t determine whether someone will like you.
Someone who genuinely enjoys your company probably won’t lose interest because you spilled a little sauce or dropped a piece of lettuce.
In fact, small mistakes sometimes make dates more memorable.
Laughing together over a messy burger or an unexpectedly spicy meal can help break the ice and make both people feel more relaxed.
What matters is how you handle the situation.
If something embarrassing happens, a simple smile and a little humor can often turn an uncomfortable moment into a shared joke.
You don’t need perfect table manners to have a wonderful date. Being considerate, listening carefully, and showing genuine interest matter much more.
Final Thoughts
A great date should be about good conversation, shared experiences, and getting to know someone better. The last thing you want is to spend the entire meal worrying about stains, strong breath, or food falling off your fork.
Spaghetti, garlic-heavy dishes, oversized burgers, buffalo wings, extremely spicy meals, whole shellfish, loaded nachos, onions, messy pastries, and overstuffed tacos can all create unexpected dining challenges.
That doesn’t mean these foods are bad choices for everyone. If you and your date love tacos or enjoy cracking crab together, there’s no reason to avoid them.
But when you’re meeting someone for the first time and want to keep things simple, choosing an easier-to-eat meal can help you feel more comfortable.
At the end of the day, the best date isn’t about what you order. It’s about who you’re sharing the meal with and how much you enjoy being together.
