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So this is going to be the first time I will have a date for Valentines. I have asked out one of the nurses at work and she said yes, so far we have had 2 coffee dates but this is the first serious one. My question is, as it is early on where should I take her for dinner? Should it be something simple like Nando's or pizza hut? (thinking low end here). How about something more up market with Bella Italia, Browns or Cafe Rouge? Need advice on which would be acceptable, all help appreciated.

http://www.theoracle.com/dining These are the options I have to work with. Ruling out the Jamie Oliver restaurant though.

Depends on your budget and what she is like. Is she relaxed or would she like to be wined and dined?

Either way, not Pizza Hut. It's too kid friendly. Not McD's, just, well, thats not a date unless your 12.


Any reason your ruling out Jamie's?

Out of those, if you want a little bit of spoiling for her (as it is valentines day), then Browns. It's gone down hill in recent years, but is still passable.

Either that or go to Mission and show her your manliness with four Corona (with lime) and El Triple Lucha Libre!

Damit. Now I want a burrito...

Valentines day, well anything up market will cost you on that day. I would just suggest something fairly casual like a Nando's but would also suggest going to a nice wine bar or the like for a drink first, will loosen you both up for conversation over dinner and is a nice informal way of starting things.

All depends really though on if you are trying to hang out and have a good time leading, or trying to woo her in the typical valentines day fashion.

I don’t recognize the non fast food places, so didn’t vote. But I’d aim for a level above them. Defiantly a sit down and be waited on place. Nothing so fancy that you’d need to where a suit, but nice enough that if you did, you would not feel out of place. I think of valentines day there is an expectation of something a little nicer then the norm

But I know nothing about you and your date. If she’s the kind who wants beers and wings at a sports bar/pub, by all means, run with that.

There is low key for dates, then there is fast food (Pizza Hut/McD's). I would think long and hard about what sort of impression you are trying to give her, and what an appropriate venue may be that would reflect that.

The Maccy D one was a joke option, never really plan on going there on date. Reason for excluding Jamies is the fat I dislike the guy and don't want to patron one of his restaurants.

If you've already been on two dates with her do you have an idea what type of place she would be interested in? Might be best to take that into account

Do you really want your first date to involve stuffing your face? And women are usually very sensitive about eating in front of somebody they want to impress. I would suggest an activity. Show her you are fun, take her to go karts, mini golf, laser tag. People continue to enjoy those things we'll past adolescence. I was taking girls to these things into my mid twenties. If I hadn't gotten married I would still take girls to these types of things and I'm 30.

Imnewherewheresthebathroom wrote:
Do you really want your first date to involve stuffing your face? And women are usually very sensitive about eating in front of somebody they want to impress. I would suggest an activity. Show her you are fun, take her to go karts, mini golf, laser tag. People continue to enjoy those things we'll past adolescence. I was taking girls to these things into my mid twenties. If I hadn't gotten married I would still take girls to these types of things and I'm 30.

Good idea. A dinner is boring, and being its valentine's Day is too pretentious. Remember you don't necessarily want to be aroudn a lot of long time couples on Extortion Day er Valentines Day.

The Oracle in Reading, eh. Do you work at Royal Berkshire?

I definitely agree you want a proper sit down restaurant with table service, but not too up market as you don't want to come on hard, and you need to leave headroom for a future special occasion.

Cafe Rouge has a good menu selection. Food quality is good and service is friendly.

Cote Brasserie is similar, a little bit more up market perhaps, sort of fits in a bit below the now defunct Chez Gerard chain.

Strada would be good if he/she likes Italian. It's basically an Italian version of Cafe Rouge.

You might like to scoot over during lunchtime and recce them.

If you want to stretch your legs a few hundred yards farther, Bill's next to the Minster would be a good choice if you can get a table.
http://bills-website.co.uk/restaurants/reading/

Hopefully you already know that most restaurants are packed out on Valentine's Day.

Dude, Pizza Hut and it's ilk is barely acceptable for a regular date when you're in high school. It's certainly shouldn't be on the table as an adult, when you're trying to woo a new lady on valentines day. Pizza Hut level date would not only be cause for her to drop you like a hot potato, but it'd be really reasonable for her to start cautioning every lady she can meet against even talking to you.

Look, I can't tell you what her tastes are but seriously, the bare minimum level for a an acceptable date is probably like $30/head before drinks.. and that's just for regular occasions. Be straightforward, make an evening of it. Do more than dinner, maybe hit a museum or a show as however your mutual tastes run.

Man really, like McDonalds is fine for a feeling lazy-as-gak sunday after you're in an LTR or something, but it isn't date. I can't even believe this is a question...

do you have any non branded eateries that you can scout out?

Like a decent non chain pub with table service? nice Chinese or Thai place? a restaurant or two?

if you do a bit of local research you can probably find an excellent place to eat that is wallet friendly.

Oh, whatever you go for get it sorted and booked asap! - You may already be too late for some spots.

Yes I work at RBH. I'm also considering Zazzi's that you just reminded me of. It's a pizzeria. Unfortunately the booking I cannot do till she can confirm she can swap a shift. Otherwise we are doing it a day early.

As for dinner being boring, was what she wanted.

Dinner dates are great and I usually go for a place that is a mix between an overall casual setting that has a quieter dinning room area (much easier to talk there then yelling across the table in a family/sports bar restaurant).

I second the non-branded setup. Don't you guys have family owned Italian places over there?

I'm wondering whether to go over my gf's place on Friday or go to Friday Night Magic. She doesn't seem keen on going out on the 14th exactly, but would like to do something at the weekend.

 daedalus wrote:
I second the non-branded setup. Don't you guys have family owned Italian places over there?

Not in Reading.

Oh. They're almost ubiquitous here.

Isn't Zizzi's/Zazzi's pr whatever its called a one of a kind?

Be classy and just take her back to your flat and have her model lingerie you got her (so she knows you are a giver) while watching porn. Ah, romance.

I'd go somewhere nice on Valentine's Day. But then, everywhere nice would already be booked by now, over here.

 Ahtman wrote:
Be classy and just take her back to your flat and have her model lingerie you got her (so she knows you are a giver) while watching porn. Ah, romance.

If you want to go the extra mile pick up some Boone's Farm wine, some Dixie cups, and McDonald's chicken strips. If it costs more than $7 to take a woman out, she's clearly a gold digger.

 Frazzled wrote:

 Ahtman wrote:
Be classy and just take her back to your flat and have her model lingerie you got her (so she knows you are a giver) while watching porn. Ah, romance.

If you want to go the extra mile pick up some Boone's Farm wine, some Dixie cups, and McDonald's chicken strips. If it costs more than $7 to take a woman out, she's clearly a gold digger.

This guy gets it. You just have to know how to treat a lady.

 Kilkrazy wrote:

 daedalus wrote:
I second the non-branded setup. Don't you guys have family owned Italian places over there?

Not in Reading.

They do. Mission burrito! (Well, they are a chain of 4) I'm still saying triple burrito and a bucket of cornea is the way to go!

Otherwise, ye, not in central Reading.

I'll leave this here.

I voted McD's just on the off chacne you were stupi... errr... I mean lucky enough to take the lovely lady there... also because you're a Bruins fan, those other places are for REAL people, not Bruins fans.... hah!

No but seriously, I dont know any of those places, and in my opinion the dinner-date is too mundane. Save it for when you're already in a solid relationship, instead show her you're dynamic, take her to something more interactive, I dont know what y'all are into and what you have for options in your area, but something like ice skating is always a good one (it gives you an excuse to hold her hand if she's never skated before, etc.).

Take her to a tractor pull. Nothing says "I'm a successful guy on the go" like a good tractor pull.

Hey, I know a few ladies that are into that sort of thing

There will surely be a nice place that you can go that stretches the imagination? Perhaps go for Lunch if you can't get dinner? Late lunch and maybe hit the cinema or go for some drinks/coffee? Not a bad third date.

Don't think a full bunch of flowers, perhaps a single rose?

448 Choices! Don't choose poorly!
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g186363-Reading_Berkshire_England.html

 Evil_Toast wrote:

Spoiler:

Going to assume this isn't actual Nando's promotional material?

Dude, if you're serious about this, use some common sense and DO NOT trust an internet poll. Take her somewhere nice.