How a good meal leads to better love lives, research reveals

The key to a potential partner’s heart is through their stomach, according to new research — proving the old adage right.

A survey of 2,000 adults, half of whom are single and the other half in relationships, explored how a good meal leads to better love lives.

According to the survey, it’s hard to go wrong with a good dinner date. Forty-one percent believe that a sit-down dinner should be expected on the first date.

Although touchy topics like politics or finances may spark disagreements at dinner, a majority of respondents are argument-free when it comes to what they order. Nine in 10 respect what their partner orders, having never gotten into a disagreement, even if there were differences.

On the other hand, those surveyed do keep close eyes on how their date converses (49%), what they talk about (44%) and their body language (33%).

Dining out for date night is a “come-as-you-are,” accepting endeavor, with the results showing there's no need to hide your favorite food, as 85% of those who have different food preferences than their partner are willing to accept them, and 95% of all respondents are unbothered by what their date orders on date night.

Conducted by Talker Research for Fogo de Chão, the survey delved deeper into what makes the perfect night out.

Nine in 10 agreed that a good date starts at a good location, saying that choosing memorable locations are key to the best nights out (85%).

In fact, more than a third of singles wouldn’t consider a second date if the first wasn’t somewhere up to standards (36%), with 63% agreeing that it’s important to impress the other person with your first date location pick.

“With so many Americans expecting a sit-down dinner for a first date, it’s important to pick a destination that has a dining experience with options for every dietary preference,” said Barry McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chão. “That’s how you’ll be sure to leave a lasting impression with your date. That’s why a restaurant like Fogo is a great date option for every occasion, as we strive for an engaging dining atmosphere with culinary favorites for every dietary tribe at every daypart that’s sure to create an exciting date.”

No matter what stage in the relationship, a majority of those surveyed want a night out that feels exciting (78%), and one in six would adventurously try out a new dish on date night.

But while more than half of Americans (54%) think new beginnings pave the way for new experiences together, sharing that they’d try a new restaurant on a first date; more respondents would prefer to wait until they’re casually dating (74%) or even further into the relationship (83%) to do so.

For those looking for other ways to play it safe and become more-than-friends by the holidays — respondents rated some of the best foods to order for a first date as roasted chicken breast (44%), salmon (28%), seared steak (26%) or filet mignon (23%).

“When it comes to picking a restaurant, having variety is key. Especially if it’s a first date and you’re not sure exactly what the other person likes, you want to pick a location with something for everyone — whether that’s smaller, shareable plates, vegan and vegetarian entrees, fresh and seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables and salads or premium meat selections,” continued McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chão. “And if the way your date correctly pronounces pi-can-ha makes them marriage material, we’re an excellent destination for rehearsal dinners.”

While the right location is a must and different food preferences aren’t a deal-breaker, respondents also shared other “dos” to make the date feel more romantic. This includes do stay off your phone (66%), do be kind to the service (65%), do chew quietly (47%), do hold the door open (44%) and do turn off your phone completely (40%).

Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 single Americans and 1,000 Americans in a relationship; the survey was commissioned by Fogo de Chão and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Sept. 6 and Sept. 11, 2024.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
● Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
● Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
● Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
● Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
● Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
● Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.