Americans reveal the best and worst places to get engaged

The best way to head to the altar may be popping the question during a romantic, intimate dinner.

A survey of 2,000 Americans in a relationship asked them which places are the best and worst for getting engaged and found half believe wining-and-dining may help seal the deal.

Along with dinners, people said the best moments to propose are during the holidays (47%), vacation (46%) or a concert (36%).

Meanwhile, the worst moments to pop the question include doing so via text (41%), phone call (39%), at a fast food joint (28%), at their parent’s home (24%) or during a sporting event (23%).

While not engaged yet, 92% of those surveyed currently in a serious relationship said they’ve daydreamed about being proposed to or proposing to their significant other.

Commissioned by Hungry Howie’s and conducted by OnePoll, the study also revealed that of those who have previously been engaged (75%), the majority (85%) shared they can recall the exact moment their proposals happened.

However, over half (58%) admitted they regret how their proposal went down and 45% wish they could get a do-over of their engagements.

Nearly a third of engaged couples (31%) have lied about their proposals when talking to others to make it seem more impressive than it actually was. Twenty-three percent, by comparison, lied to make their proposals seem more low-key than reality.

More than a quarter (28%) said they love cheesy, over-the-top proposals. And while 31% said they prefer something private and intimate, 67% secretly admitted they also love over-the-top engagements.

“When it comes to planning the perfect proposal, it’s not about the extravagance of the setting,” said Hungry Howie's CEO and President Steve Jackson. “It should be highly personalized to reflect your relationship as a couple. Whether you’re proposing your promise to continue weekly traditions of pizza and movie night or at a fancy dinner in a 5-star restaurant – the perfect proposal is different for everyone.”

The study further suggests that the best proposals happen around food since four in five said they want their special moment to include their favorite meals.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they got engaged during a meal (65%), with one in five saying their special moment happened during appetizers.

Others said “I do” before the meal took place (18%), and more than a third (36%) had their ring presented to them in the actual meal.

According to respondents, the best foods to hide an engagement ring are pizza (34%), salads (29%) or burgers (28%). Meanwhile, the worst foods include soup (31%), seafood (25%), or pasta (24%).

“Whether we realize it or not, food plays a big role in our romantic lives,” said Jackson. “Food speaks affection. There’s a reason why dinner proposals are a classic after all these years. It can be at home in a private and intimate setting, over takeout, or in a public space with an over-the-top gesture. From first dates to celebrating these special moments in life, we use food to show love in so many ways.”