So you’ve got a date, and you’re in charge of deciding where to eat. The neighbourhood Italian with the handwritten specials board, the inner-city bar with a very serious wine list, the ramen restaurant that refuses to take bookings on principle – any of them could be a good date restaurant.

But not all restaurants are created equal when romance is on the line. Some places make you feel like the main characters in a film. Others make you feel like you’ve accidentally wandered into a food court at peak hour. And when first (or second) impressions are being formed over share plates and drinks, details matter.

So, based on absolutely no formal research – only a very small amount of lived experience – here are the five things that make a great date restaurant.

Credit: Supplied

Please, god, no downlights

The quickest way to kill the mood? Downlights. 

There’s a reason why date scenes in films are all in a candlelit bistro and not under a cool halogen glare. Soft lighting forgives all sins, like the makeup you did in the work bathroom, or the nervous sip of your drink that didn’t quite make it to your mouth. It also casts an instantly romantic glow over anything and anyone, which I think is the whole aim of this ‘date’ thing.

That said, let’s not go too far – the second quickest way to kill the mood is needing to use your phone torch to peruse the entrées. 

Credit: Christopher Pearce

Acoustics are essential

If “pardon?” is the most-used word in your conversation because of music that’s too loud, or because a diner three tables over has such a bellowing laugh that you see ripples in your water glass, then your restaurant has a sound issue. Choose another spot. 

However if you’re saying “pardon?” not because of the music but because your date has just said something so unhinged you can’t quite believe it, then perhaps some too-loud music would be doing you a favour. Ignorance, in this case, may be bliss.

Credit: Fergus Hurst

A menu designed to share

To share or not to share? Some would say – and by some, I mean me – that a willingness to split a bowl of fries is the ultimate compatibility test. If they won’t share a chip, what’s the point?

Besides, there’s a special type of intimacy in sharing your food – just look at Lady and the Tramp (it’s up to you to decide who is the Lady and who is the Tramp, but maybe keep the observation to yourself).

The more the merrier (no, not like that)

This might be contentious, but a good date restaurant should be busy. Not chaotic, not impossible to get a table, but alive. 

If things are going well, you’ll feel like you’re the only two people in the room anyway. Plus, you’ll have plenty of inspiration for conversation starters, or some observational comedy that will surely make your date fall in love with you. 

Try things like: “Look, they got the spaghetti!”; “Wow, that man is the spitting image of my high school English teacher”; or the always entertaining “Do you think that’s a father and daughter, or…”

Table location is also crucial. Something on a balcony overlooking the street gets a tick from me (see above note on people watching), as do bar seats. Because is there anything flirtier than brushing shoulders?

Credit: Chris McConville

Casual (dining, that is) is probably best

A 13-course degustation is not a good date idea. Just take my word for it. 

And a closing note – while these tips are great for impressing that special someone, they’re equally as useful for your platonic catch-ups. Because we should be romancing our friends, too.

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