When you imagine a first date, what do you think of? A nice dinner? Maybe coffee or drinks at a local bar? A trip to the movie theater? Or… a Chick-fil-A date? Well, according to a new survey by DatingNews.com, many men say the family-friendly chain restaurant would be their number one pick for a first date. The survey asked 3,000 American men where they would take their dates in lieu of a fancy restaurant, and beyond a Chick-fil-A first date, their answers did not disappoint of other fast food date spots.
While Chick-fil-A was most popular across the board, Dairy Queen stole the second place spot. Because who wouldn’t want to win over their suitor’s heart while getting a Blizzard-induced brain freeze? Tied for third are Sonic (most popular among men in Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Oregon) and Pizza Hut (most popular among men in Washington, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire).
Wait… are people actually going to fast food restaurants as a first date?
According to the survey, 54% of men indicated that they would consider taking their dates to a fast food chain, which is great for the 66% of women who said they would agree to going on a date somewhere like McDonald’s.
But why are people okay with such casual first dates? Amber Brooks, Editor-in-Chief at DatingNews.com, seems to think it all boils down to budget.
“The old-school method of taking a new date out for dinner has been replaced by casual quick-service dates at coffee shops, bars, and even fast-food joints,” Brooks said. “A first date is a risk, and in this economy, modern singles are saving their time and money by opting for a chicken sandwich over a chicken marsala.”
Would you rather split the bill or have a fast food first date?
Luckily for those with tight budgets, 56% of survey respondents said they are willing to split the bill on the first date. According to another survey from DatingNews.com, 85% of respondents believe that dating has become more expensive in recent years and 28% have even stopped dating to save money, so perhaps it’s better to go halvsies from now on.
According to that same survey, 1 in 2 respondents try to plan free dates to avoid spending money. In the new survey regarding first dates over fast food, 41% of respondents say that they would be open to a budget-friendly first date — assuming their date brought better vibes than they did spare change. On the other hand, 40% of respondents said they would be more open to a cheaper option if their date was simply honest about their budget while planning. Being honest about your finances is easier said than done, however. Over half of American singles have felt judged by their date for their financial situation and 23% of respondents have even lied to their dates about it, according to the earlier study.
The dating scene has clearly changed in recent years, but perhaps now they’re more realistic for a college student’s budget. So, will you be splurging on a fancy restaurant or on a $10 chicken sandwich meal for your next date night?