Hi, I'm going out with a girl who was introduced to me by a friend to dinner this weekend. We're not set on the place yet, but I already said that I'll surprise her.
I was wandering if anyone know a place that has good music, not too expensive, not too romantic (it's a first date anyway), and possibly close by LA or Pasadena area? Preferably Asian food, but I'm open to suggestion.

Thank you in advance.

If I were you, I would just look in a phone book or do a search online
and see what my suggestions were.

Find out what the food critics have to say about those places.

Searching the net should give you more information than you might
need. Then again, it might be just what you're looking for.

I've always liked the idea of sushi places. You can make it as casual
or formal as you want and the chefs always seem to be entertaining.

Not sure how similar all sushi places are, but if there is a "bar" area, I
think that would be a great place to sit side by side, initiate kino and
watch the chefs work.

And for whatever reason, the first date scene (between Minni Driver
and Matt Damon) in Good Will Hunting always comes to mind. It was
casual and they bounced to different places... at least from my recollection.

Only a quick bit of advice on this -

Unless you KNOW your in and will be seeing her again don't waste cash taking her to anywhere expensive. I find a few drinks in a bar is good, so you can chat and work from there. Seeing as this is a PUA site and not mens health I'll stick it in PUA terms.

A1 youve pretty much done when you first saw her, brush quickly over A1 in a quiet bar having drinks, move A2, A3 Kino escalate, bounce her to a restaurant, somewhere a little low key. I wouldn't go sushi on a first date, it smells, takes lots of gum to get rid of and I would imagine your going for a kiss at the end of this date?

If you get any kind of resistance A3/C1 then you certainyl don't want to be paying for dinner, thats how you get stuck in LJBF zone... I've been there 3 times this month and only just learnt that. Now Ive started making the girl pick-up her half unless she can demostrate that shes worth me spending my hard earned cash on her.

Something I tried which, I actually really enjoyed was going out with a gril to a restaurant with live smooth jazz band, but my mate and his gf came aswell, I put it across that it was their first date too. Halfway through the night I just moved her off alone from the table to the bar and we started to talk there.

Possiblities are endless, just be creative and don't get stuck in AFC nice guy mode only to be hit with LJBF - I'm sure you'll be fine

Dinner's should be rewards for already existing relationships. But other than that I think it's a waste of money and you're telegraphing too much neediness.

_________________
Say goodnight to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on.

Make way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Betta get outta his way!

I would check out a site like www.yelp.com where you can put in your zip code and search for restraunts and read reviews.

Since you're in LA, you can always take her to 3rd Street Promoade in Santa Monica where you can walk around, see people preform on the street, there's even musicians, which I've danced with in the middle of the street with a date.

_________________
www.thesocialsecrets.com - Personal blog
www.myspace.com/johnnywolfpua -Add me

I don't know about the posting dinner recommendation on a PUA forum, but I'll bite.

If you are looking for a LTR, then I'm all for taking a girl out to dinner. But if you don't know for sure then really is just a waste of money. Also, what level is you skills. Can you be the AMOG? Do you have the $$ waste if nothing pans out? If she fizzles are you up to pivoting her? I'm guessing if you aren't sure were to even take a girl to dinner then the answer is no to all the above.

So today is Tuesday and we need to turn you into a newbie PUA by Friday/Saturday.

Here is the plan:

Prepare her:
Call her up for some chit chat and qualify her for her adventurous level when it comes to dining. Most girls love exotic food, but a few don't care sushi.

If it is true, tell her how much you love great food. Get her mental picture of you as fun and adventurous. If you talk about yourself convey to her what you are *passionate* about. If it is work, hobbies, whatever. as long as it is not Halo or WOW, this should DHV.

Prepare yourself:

Go find an outline/copy of Straus's 30-days to a date (or whatever it is called, I checked: google for "stylelife challenge"). Speed thru to day 4-6 (I think). Start practing the part were you freaking talk to *everyone*. Men, women, the guy pumping gas next to you, the checkout lady at the grocery store.

When time comes for the date you should be the guy that can talk to anyone in the room. Your date should feel special just because she gets to hang out with you.

Those are the important parts, not so much were you actually eat at.

Pick the place (your actual question):

If I'm right, you should treat this a grand experiment (and unless she is giving you DDB, don't push the close). So that said, how much are you willing to spend on a date when there is no expected return? $50, $100, more, less??

Let's say you can swing $75 including drinks and tip. Find a dive sushi bar, or other locally owned exotic food (Indian, Persian, etc) ask around. Find one that has a line out the door Thurs-Sun night. You can usually get really good sushi/kabobs at a reasonable price. Avoid places that have no crowd (bad food and/or high price).

If you are unsure about a place (sushi or otherwise), grab a female co-worker HB, UG, doesn't matter, and go there for lunch to check it out. Make sure *you* like it. Get the name of the staff working there for lunch. Write their names down so you can remember. Talk to them, ask the about the weekend crowd. Also when it is date night, you can say hi to them or ask if so-and-so is working to your server. DHV to the staff, and you get better service, etc. etc.

Also make sure you like eating at the place also. If *you* don't like sushi, go get a steak, etc.

I only recommend sushi if you KNOW it is fresh.

List of ideas:
Sushi/Japaneses
Greek/Mediterranean
Middle Eastern
Indian
Thai (spicy! yeah baby!)
Jewish/israeli (saturday only)
Local specialties: fish markets/restaurants, Mongolian bbq, Vietnamese, authentic European (French, German).

OR unique local dive places: like Rosco's chicken (!!!!) or the Shack in Los Angeles, Cordon Bleu in SF, etc

google for "los angles dive restaurants" or "los angles unique restaurants"

Good luck, and make sure to write up a report afterwards.

-Mr. Hyde

Thanks a lot on the quick replies.
I might end up taking her to D&B or hooters or something just to make it more casual, but I'll definitely post follow ups.

Personally I'd say she has to earn her dinner...take her to an arcade or something before and tell her you'll buy if she beats you at mortal kombat. (or pool, etc)

I just remembered that I forgot to post a follow up report.

Honestly, we had to cancel the dinner plan because she had some unplanned business to take care off. We agreed to set another date for some other time, but after reading some of the replies, I'm not sure if I should even take her to dinner.

Any suggestions?

_________________
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4ufa-q7DcWM

Nothing says I love you like taco bell!

_________________
http://www.realpuas.com

lol, exactly what I was thinking.

Is this serious? I mean, I WILL do this if you are. I'm all for trying new things.

_________________
afc-challenge-to-the-masters-social-anx ... 10108.html

Absolutely serious.

Heck, you can feed a chick at Taco Bell for a couple o' bucks.

Another option that chicks dig, if you have these in your area.. This gives you plenty of time to pursue other options. It's just smart money management. This will no doubt impress the young lady as well, if she's got anything on the ball. If she doesn't she just wants your wallet, forget her.

_________________
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4ufa-q7DcWM