Dating can seem like a war zone. A treacherous path lined with etiquette traps, tough calls and, like war, it’s hard to declare a definitive win. There’s an awful lot of anxiety that goes into the first date. There are billions of articles outlining the ways you can offend your date, from ordering the wrong foods to letting your nervous habits make a terrible first impression. 

The amount of online content devoted exclusively to eating in public, while simultaneously trying to attract a mate, is daunting at best. There are rules about onions and garlic, about too many toppings, about how to properly hold knives and forks and how many beers you can consume without appearing like a wild boar out on the town. It’s exhausting. With so many complex and at times contradictory rules on the internet, we hope this simple guide helps you step into your pizza date with confidence. 

Before the Date

There’s a reason many people in the modern dating scene opt to forgo dinner and just grab a quick coffee or a glass of wine. Preparing for a full meal on the first date can be a daunting task. It’s guaranteed to have some notable lulls, nervous laughter and fiddling with the menu. You’re eating actual food for the first time with what amounts to a total stranger. That’s no small thing. Keep these tips in mind to ensure you can step into your date as comfortably as possible:

Find a Spot You’re Excited About

So, now you’ve swiped right, asked out that cute customer from the coffee shop, or confessed to a longtime friend that you like them more than just a friend — and they’ve agreed to go out with you. In any case, now that you’ve locked down that date for Friday night, there’s still some work to be done. What’s next, you ask? Well, you’ve got to pick a place. Do you go with French, or a burger joint? Perhaps margaritas and tacos, or some sweet southern barbecue?

Pretty much the worst thing you can do is agree to go on a date to a place where you’re really not a fan of the food. The whole point of going out with someone is to get to know them better, enjoy their company and just have a nice night out. If you’re uncomfortable the entire time, your focus will be on yourself rather than getting to know the other person.

Establish a place where you both enjoy the food, rather than going somewhere just to impress each other. At the end of the day, food that you both like is a necessity if you want to have something in common. 

Choose Something You Actually Want to Eat

Now that you’ve picked a place you know you like or are genuinely excited to try, you can focus on finding a dish that adds to the night rather than takes away from it. Forget all the rules about eating something appropriate, or all those listicles that reveal what the food you order says about your personality. No matter what your latest quiz states, eating soup is not weird, and salads can be quite filling. 

At the end of the day, the best food to eat on your date is the kind you know tastes good. If you are enjoying yourself, both parties will feel more relaxed, and that’s when the conversation gets good. Stop looking at the ground, asking, “So um…what do you do for work again…” 

Why Pizza Is the Best Date Idea 

Given our position, as relative pizza experts at Giordano’s, we might be a touch biased, but we say, pizza is hands-down the best food for a date. Casual, cool and definitely everybody’s favorite, pizza is the perfect date night cuisine. 

Now before you write off this idea, or accuse us of being crazy, hear us out. Here’s why the pizza date rocks, whether it’s the first or fiftieth:

• It won’t break the bank: Whether you’re opting for a single slice or a whole pie, pizza is an affordable option, and there’s something for everyone. 
• You can find it in just about any city or town: Pizza is probably one of the most accessible food options, no matter where you are. Plus, so many places use different baking methods and unique recipes, which means you can still try something new while enjoying something great. 
• It’s a fool-proof meal: It’s exceptionally hard to make a fool out of yourself while eating a slice, which makes for the best, fool-proof date food. Compare it to other options, like sushi, where you may fumble with chopsticks and appear uncultured.
• You can learn something about your date: Pizza also functions as a way to weed out the “wrong” person. If you invite someone out for dinner and they say they don’t like pizza, it could be time to rethink this crush. If you’re feeling particularly bold, debate them about their thoughts on pineapple on pizza.

Pizza Etiquette and Minding Your Manners

Above all else, no matter how “chill” this date feels, you still have to keep your inner-Emily Post in check. Even if it is just pizza, you must still mind your manners. Stick to the basics. Say please and thank you as needed. Be kind and respectful to your server. There’s nothing worse than being on a date with someone who, by all accounts, has been perfectly lovely, but the second the service isn’t quite up to par, it’s like a classic Jekyll and Hyde situation. Blowing up at a server is never okay. Neither is snapping to get their attention, deciding not to tip, and so on and so forth. 

Before you go on a date, here are a few reminders on good etiquette for eating pizza:

1. Choose the Right Drink

Pizza and beer are perhaps one of history’s greatest couples. If you’re feeling nervous, it can be tempting to grease the wheels so to speak, and down a few brews before your date walks in the door. It goes without saying that you should try not to drink too much, as your date might end up getting the wrong impression of you. 

Luckily, pizza, in all its breaded, topping-loaded glory, is good at soaking up a bit of overzealous drinking, so if you’re moving a little too fast, you may be able to redeem yourself. Take cues from your date. Do they want to split a pitcher with you, or are they gravitating more toward water? It can be a little uncomfortable if you’re not on the same page concerning alcohol. Keep an eye out for red flag behavior from both you and your date, and when in doubt, have some water. You need 8-10 glasses a day anyway.

2. Refine Your Condiment Behavior

Are you into sauce? Tabasco sauce on your pizza, extra ranch dip on the side? Parmesan galore? Tone it down. We get it, sometimes the fun lies in the accoutrement. But if it’s the first date, chill. Dousing on the condiments or eating them without the main course can come off a little wrong. Be especially mindful if you’re sharing the pizza with your date. You want them to be comfortable, too, and while you may love that hot sauce, your date might be sensitive to the intense flavor. 

3. Always Tip Your Servers

As far as date etiquette goes, how you interact with the wait staff is by far the most important, and perhaps most telling, of what kind of person you are. On the flip side, check out how your date interacts with the waitress — their behavior over the course of a meal can be indicative of how they end up treating you for the long haul. If they seem overcritical and hard to please, it’s only a matter of time before you are on the receiving end of that criticism.

4. Navigate the Dessert Menu With Confidence

Keep in mind, if you made it to dessert, you should be giving yourself a pat on the back — that’s an accomplishment in its own right! If you find you’re still a little worried about how silly you look while eating a piece of cheesecake, or that triple mudslide something or other, try sticking to something slightly more toward the simple side. Chocolate cake could end up around your mouth, and it all depends on how kind your date is in telling you that you have food around your mouth.

5. Foot the Bill if You Made the Date

Okay, listen, the times of men expecting to pay for every date are long gone. Some people might still have a strong opinion one way or the other, so reading your date’s behavior might help clear up some uncertainty. Or better yet, discuss it with your date beforehand so there’s no deer-in-headlights moment when the check arrives. 

Our rule of thumb is to prepare to pay if you were the one to orchestrate the date. On the flip side, if your date was the one to make the reservation, go into the date with an open mind about splitting the bill. This way, you can avoid any awkwardness when the check arrives, and, if your date foots the bill, you’ll be extra thankful. 

6. Stay Off Your Phone

In the age of all things digital, we’re accustomed to being on our phones almost all the time. With all the dating apps available, it’s even likely that being on your phone is what brought you and your date together. Plus, we’ve all experienced an awkward moment or two where we pick up our phone just for something to do. 

We understand that it can take a strong mind to set that phone down and focus on connecting with someone on a personal level. However, picking up your phone at an inappropriate moment can seem rude, or at the very least, make your date feel like you’re uninterested in them. So, try your best to keep the phone away and revel in remembering how enjoyable an “analog” night out can be.

7. Break Down the Age-Old Debate: Should You Use a Fork?

We’re entering contentious territory here. There are many different ways to eat pizza — for the most part, we think pizza is best eaten with the hands. It’s laid back, easy and doesn’t really raise any red flags. Using a fork at your favorite casual dining spot might look a little pretentious. 

However, do eat your pizza with a knife and fork if you so happen to be at an upscale restaurant. Also, consider utensils if you really went for it and ordered Chicago-style deep dish or something with a high topping count. It’s far better to be seen eating pizza with a fork than to have to work it into your outfit — bright red sauce isn’t exactly subtle.

Other Pizza-Related Thoughts

Okay, now we’ve gotten the dreaded subject of dating manners out of the way, and you’ve got a time and place for the date locked down. Here are some things to watch out for when navigating the treacherous waters of pizza varieties and toppings. 

As we just mentioned, with all the rules and rituals surrounding the dating mythology, there is a lot that goes into consideration. With a pizza date, you’re eating your favorite food in a comfortable, easy-going atmosphere. But beware of the friendly disagreements that could arise, like whether cheese or pepperoni is the go-to, or if BBQ chicken is acceptable on a white sauce pie. Some things to be aware of are:

• Toppings: Negotiating the topping space is another unexpected challenge. Maybe your date is a plain Jane where pizza is concerned, and you’re eye-balling some wild toppings like crocodile or controversial ones like anchovies. This is a good place to gain some insights into your date’s food preferences. Are they a classic pepperoni person, or a vegetarian? Be willing to try something new or offer to split the pie with half your preferences and half of theirs.
• Food-sharing philosophy: We think pizza is made for sharing, but your date might prefer to have their own pie. While some people love to try each other’s food choices at restaurants, others might take a more “hands off” policy — as in, “hands off my pizza.” Luckily, pizza is one of the best leftover foods, so if you order separate pies, you can both go home with lunch for the next day!
• White sauce vs. red: You’ve got the choice of the delicate, creamy yet slightly unconventional white pie playing against what arguably makes pizza taste like, well, pizza. If you’re thinking white here, defer to your date before ordering, especially if you two lovebirds plan on sharing. The white sauce pizza, albeit delicious, isn’t for everyone.
• Chicago Deep Dish vs. East Coast thin crust: Although a thick, dramatically tomato-sauced, deep dish pie is kind of our signature dish here at Giordano’s, we’d like to mention that unless you are both die-hard deep dish fans, it’s probably a good idea to think thin on your date. People tend to get defensive with their regional pizza preferences, so tread lightly.

Once you’ve made your pizza selections (and inevitable compromises), you should be in the clear. On the off chance that getting some tasty pizza in your system doesn’t soothe all those requisite first date jitters, just try to stay calm, and don’t overthink it. Once your pies arrive, kick back, relax and enjoy the conversation. Even if you get stuck making small talk about where you grew up, went to college, and what your parents are up to these days, you’re still eating pizza, and therefore, life is good.

Choose Giordano’s for Your First Date

If you’re looking for a great date spot in the Chicago area, stop by Giordano’s. You can also check out our locations around the country. We’ve got an extensive lineup of pizzas from our signature Chicago-style deep dish to thin-crust cheese and classic pepperoni. We even have salad, if you must get leafy greens involved in your love life. 

And, if you’re looking for a date night at home, order your pizza online while you set up a movie. We also ship frozen pizzas, but if you’re thinking of doing that for a date, it might take a little more planning.