Having a first date that involves a meal is never easy. Whereas a first meeting over drinks gives you the opportunity to run, if need be, a dinner date is far longer and, in some cases, far more revealing of who that person truly is. I’m not talking about any deep dark secrets, because those goodies usually don’t come out until date three or four. I’m talking about table manners. Table manners say A LOT about a person.
For most, table manners are everything. If you can’t get through a meal without showing some basic social skills and the ability to act appropriately at the dinner table, then nine out of 10 women (86 percent) and 74 percent of men will not be going on a second date. Do you blame them? If someone can’t put their addiction to social media and texting on hold for an hour, then what does that say about other areas of the relationship, if things were to evolve? Nothing too good, that’s for sure.
Relationship expert, Kate Taylor, commissioned an extensive research to see exactly what table manners will send a date running, and what behavior is bound to impress. Overall, Italian food was voted the best choice for a first date, and those who are polite and kind to the wait-staff (because, hello?! Why wouldn’t you be?), are traits that immediately score high with singles, both men and women.
But what are the bad manners? You know, the ones you might not even be aware that are grating on the nerves of someone else? Well, let me list them out for you, from the least aggravating to the absolute worst. Keep in mind, just because it’s last on the list of annoyances, doesn’t mean it still isn’t awful.
