We Asked The ‘First Dates’ Restaurant Staff To Share Their Worst Date Stories
First Dates is the perfect show for people who hate dating but love watching random people date from the comfort of their couch.
The long-running international series offers viewers the chance to date vicariously through strangers without having to endure painful small-talk, bad haircuts, and awkward goodbye hugs — it’s the actual dream. The popular reality dating show last aired in Australia in 2020 on Channel 7 but has found a new home on Channel 10, with the rebooted show set to premiere on February 24.
Along with a brand new network, the series is set in a new restaurant — and features a new bunch of staff. Fans of First Dates will know that the show’s funniest moments often come from the contestants interactions with the restaurant staff as they try to ease the nervous tension. So we thought: who better to ask for dating tips and bad date stories than these true heroes of reality TV?
We asked dating advice from First Dates bartender James, maître d’ Giacomo, and waitstaff Luka and Ama.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve seen on a date?
Ama: Obviously I wasn’t there, but my parents’ first date sounds pretty romantic. My dad surprised my mum and organised the entire thing. Before the date, he sent her 12 long-stem roses and an invitation. He took her to a fancy restaurant and wined and dined her. It’s the most romantic to me because it obviously worked — they’ve been together 32 years this year.
Giacomo: I once saw someone wiping the dirty mouth of their date. I thought that was pretty sweet.
Luka: I think a romantic gesture like flowers or a handmade gift is beautiful.
James: Bringing flowers on a date, it’s a cute gesture. I also like it when a couple are that into each other, they cant keep their eyes off each other. You can tell a date is going well when they hardly touch their food and are too busy talking and flirting with each other.
Have you witnessed any disaster dates?
Ama: Once I was waiting on a first date and overall, it seemed to be going quite well. When it came to paying for the bill, the pair squabbled over who was going to pay and the man aggressively asserted that he would. Embarrassingly, however, his card declined.
Giacomo: There was a double-date going on, and the two women stood up and stormed out. The men were just left at the table, gobsmacked. I have no idea what was happening, but it definitely wasn’t a happily ever after ending.
Luka: Absolutely. From storm-outs to arguments, I’ve seen it all. Once someone on a date even tried to leave his date and pick me up, while I was working!
James: I saw a woman walk out on a date! Her date didn’t agree with her line of work, and was being quite rude about it. I felt like giving her a round of applause when she walked out on him!
Do pick-up lines ever work?
Ama: The best I heard was, “If you were words on a page, you’d be fine print”. This worked, but I’m not sure if it was because the pick-up line was actually good or the guy was very good-looking and said it so smoothly. Worst one was, “Are you an onion? Because I want to remove your layers”. No explanation needed.
Giacomo: A funny line might be good at the beginning, but it’s always best to truly be yourself to make that genuine connection.
Luka: A guy once asked me to feel his shirt and asked what material I thought it was… only to tell me it was “husband material”. I thought that one was awful! I once used a line from Friends to pick up a guy: he told me that Luka was a really cool name and I told him that if he liked that, he should hear my phone number… I still cringe at that to this day.
James: I am the world’s worse flirt. I love the cheesy classics like “Is your name ‘parking ticket’, because you’ve got FINE written all over you.” Or “Grab your coat love, you have pulled!”