It has become evident that a restaurant date is one of the most sourced types of date for Nigerian women, not just any type of restaurant; we are talking about classy, fancy, expensive, and aesthetically pleasing restaurants. It is safe to say that Nigerian women have become obsessed with the idea of dates in strictly fine dining; fast food restaurants are no longer considered&nbsp; ideal locations for dates, particularly first dates. We can’t start without blaming social media for this recent ideology because we are constantly flooded with information about relationship goals and ideas, forgetting that everyone is different, from their goals to their ideas and their pockets. But we cannot deny that things might be changing; it could either be a positive change where women want to see more effort put in or a negative change where women become ungrateful and no longer see the beauty in little things. Whichever it is, Nigerian men are seeing it more on the negative side than on the positive because the idea behind a date is to know each other better and not just to take aesthetically pleasing pictures; fine dining can come along the line.

Today, we’ll hear from other individuals who will give their take on fine dining dates and fast food restaurant dates. For context, the scenario would be a first date, a first time seeing after weeks of talking via texts and calls. As a woman, would you go to a fast food restaurant on a first date, and as a man, would you take a woman to a fast food restaurant for a first date?

I’ve always believed that first impressions matter a lot, so I will not accept a fast-food restaurant as a venue for a first date. It would be a completely different case if we’ve been guys for a while or already in a relationship and decided to grab lunch at a fast-food restaurant. But with the scenario created, we’ve just freshly begun a talking stage, and you, as the man, have become clearly interested in me to ask me on a date; I would really love to see you put in effort to show how interested you are in me.

Let’s compare this to a job interview; you want to get that job and will want to put a lot of effort into getting that job. From your appearance to your manner of approach and speech, you would try to pay attention to every little detail because you know first impressions matter, and you might not be getting a second chance at this. To me, this goes the same with first dates, yes we are simply trying to get to know each other better, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t put in effort to try to know me better because this might as well be the one chance you get in making a good impression. And truthfully, if that isn’t something you are willing to do, then I wouldn’t think you consider me worth any time and effort since you didn’t show it.

I’ve always considered myself a simple dude, and if we’ve been talking for weeks without any form of awkwardness, I’d be willing to invite you over or maybe have a movie date or an ice cream date. I do not necessarily have to take you to an expensive restaurant. But I’ll also have to consider what the woman might want. However, I have never lived my life to impress any woman, so yes, a fast food restaurant won’t be a bad idea because after talking well for two weeks, we should be comfortable with each other to a certain level.

I understand that a first date is centred around knowing each other more, but brother, if you ask to take me to Mr. Biggs, I will leave your message on read, and if it’s via a call, you uttered that I would flat on tell you a no. men might not see the big deal in it; they usually do not see things how we do, but man, a fast food restaurant screams I didn’t even bother trying, which is a wrong first impression. I think a fast food restaurant is like an everyday place. As a 9-5 worker, I go to fast food restaurants every day for lunch, and then, for a first date, you suggest the same thing; that’s not going to happen, sir.

Now, I’m not saying go broke because you want to take me to a 5-star restaurant; if you have the money, sure, but if you are working on a tight budget, you could consider a lounge playing low music, an amusement park, game arcade, there are so many fun activities we can do on a first date while getting to know each other. I’d even prefer we go to an ice cream parlour, talk than go to a freaking fast food.

I’m the type of man who loves a good first impression. I love to make a good statement whenever I can, leaving you fascinated and feeling like you’re worth every effort and dime. If I have the necessary funds, I will in no way be taking a woman who I’m interested in to a fast food restaurant for a first date. I’d rather not ask her out yet than take her to chicken republic for a first date- not that there’s anything wrong with chicken republic, but I do not consider it first-date material. I’d only do that if I’m not interested in that woman.

But I have a friend who would say otherwise. He has the money, but he would not spend so much on a first date because he doesn’t want to attract the wrong woman to his finances. With the current trends of women billing men unnecessarily, he would rather play it cool, get to know her, and then spend as much as he wants. But I’d love to show you how worthy you are on the first date.

Ordinarily, the first date is to get to know each other outside social media, basically familiarizing yourselves without your phones. It could be anything from fast food to driving around or a bar for drinks. But what I believe is that as a guy, you need to know what is the best move for that particular babe and also what sort of conversations you have because your first date with me could be a 5-star restaurant, and your first date with someone else could be a walk and you may end up enjoying the long walk more than the restaurant date. Overall, the guy should know the lady's preference before choosing a first date location.

There’s no way I’m taking her to a fast food restaurant; I can’t even take myself to a fast food restaurant for a solo date and talk less of a woman I’m supposedly interested in. Even most business meetings do not happen in a fast food restaurant, so if this woman is someone you are hoping to one day consider important, why you would take her to a place where people just come to grab food and leave? The meaning of fast food is a quick meal or take out, and most fast food restaurants have minimal table service, so how do you take a woman you’re interested in to an everyday location?

Apart from the above, there were others who were interviewed but didn’t give in-depth reasons for their answers; two other men said yes to a fast-food restaurant, and a woman said absolutely no to that idea. But with everything, it is safe to say that communication is important; find someone whose ideas about dates and relationships align with yours instead of trying to enforce your ideas on them. Find a man who also agrees with your 5-star restaurant, and the same goes for men,&nbsp; find a woman who doesn’t see a big deal in fast food restaurants.&nbsp;

Nigerian women have raised the bar regarding dates, particularly first dates. They no longer buy the idea of fast food restaurants but are now going for classy, expensive restaurants, and don't forget aesthetically pleasing restaurants.

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