Dating and dining: what customers are looking for on Valentine’s Day 2025 (and beyond)

Bread and butter, fish and chips, salt and pepper — dining is all about finding the perfect pairing. So it’s no surprise that food is also a great accompaniment to romance.

For many of us, an ideal date night involves enjoying a delicious meal in a charming restaurant, whether we’re splitting small plates or sneaking forkfuls of our partner’s tempting dessert.

With Valentine’s Day coming up soon — and falling on a Friday, an especially popular day for restaurant reservations — you might be wondering exactly what customers are looking for in their date night dining experiences. 

Well, we asked the questions so you don’t have to. From how they pick a restaurant to their biggest food icks, read on to learn what customers are (and aren’t) looking for this Valentine’s Day and beyond.

The most important factors when choosing a restaurant for a date

As 14th February approaches, loved-up couples will be hunting for the perfect restaurant to reserve for the special occasion. But which factors influence their decision the most?

For the diners we surveyed, the quality of the restaurant and its ambience were the two biggest considerations, rather than its location or cuisine type. This suggests that customers are willing to travel further than usual (and potentially spend more money) to make the most romantic day of the year one to remember.

How diners find new restaurants for a date

72% of diners told us they’d happily try a new restaurant on a first date. As for how they find these date spots — whether it’s the first meeting or the first anniversary — ratings and reviews are the biggest influencers for customers trying out somewhere different, closely followed by word of mouth.

It goes without saying that top-notch food and friendly customer service are essential for earning a high restaurant rating, but don’t neglect the importance of encouraging customers to leave a review, too. One glowing customer review on your TheFork listing could be the difference between a diner booking a table for their date night with you versus a competitor.

Favourite first date dishes

A first date is like the starter course of a meal. It sets the tone for what you can expect next, and a good one leaves you wanting more.

A lot of planning goes into a first date, and if you’ve decided to go to a restaurant, the next big decision to consider is what to eat. According to our survey, most diners would prefer to order a sophisticated steak when dining with a new date, closely followed by pasta.

First impressions count, so many diners steer clear of potentially messy dishes on a first date — such as burgers or ramen, which ranked as the two least popular choices in our survey. 

What are some of the biggest dining ‘icks’ or red flags?

Dining out with someone is a naturally intimate experience, but it also presents its fair share of opportunities for people to show off their bad habits. 

The most common pet peeve with surveyed diners was when a date spends too much time on their phone. So, if you’re using a QR code menu or online payment system, make sure it’s speedy and slick so diners can pay attention to their date rather than staring at a screen.

Unsurprisingly, the next biggest bugbear on dinner dates is messy or loud eaters — it’s no wonder that ramen is perhaps a more popular dish for diners eating out with friends or family than on a romantic evening.

Meanwhile, only 10% of diners have issues with their date using vouchers or discount codes for a meal out, reflecting customers’ penchant for getting a good deal — no matter the occasion. That’s why now is the perfect time to set up an exclusive discount for customers making a Valentine’s Day reservation with your restaurant through TheFork.

By getting set up on TheFork Manager today, you can increase your bookings on Valentine’s Day and keep those loved-up diners coming back to fill more tables. Chat with our team to get started.