---
title: "Data Shows Fast-Casual Chains Are Top Choice For First Dates"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/84bc2c24-aac1-419e-8166-3af55538a397
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/data-shows-fast-casual-chains-are-top-choice-for-first-dates-2709137
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
published: 2019-02-12T20:15:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:30:57.163Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/eadb1f4173d3702a16d89e1f46baf19a3589.jpg
---

# Data Shows Fast-Casual Chains Are Top Choice For First Dates

**TL;DR:** A survey by the dating app Clover found that quick-service and fast-casual dining chains are the hottest spots for first dates, with Starbucks as the top first date spot. The survey suggests chains offer a low-pressure setting for people meeting up for the first time due to their casual atmospheres and affordable prices.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2019-02-12. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/data-shows-fast-casual-chains-are-top-choice-for-first-dates-2709137).*

## Story

First rule of online dating: keep things (fast) casual. According to an article on Restaurant Hospitality, a survey conducted by the dating app Clover found that quick-service and fast-casual dining chains are currently the hottest spots for first dates, opening the door for brands to increase their dine-in business to accommodate this market.

The survey of 3.5 million singles named Starbucks as the top first date spot, with Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out, Panera, Buffalo Wild Wings and The Cheesecake Factory all ranking in the top 10, according to the article. With casual atmospheres and affordable prices, the survey suggests chains offer a low-pressure setting for people meeting up for the first time, the article points out.

“In the past, people would meet their dates through family, friends or another community network,” said Jonathan Bennett, dating coach and co-owner of Columbus, Ohio-based Double Trust Dating according to the article. “However, with online dating, you’re going out with someone you might not know at all and who has no connection to any of your social circles. As a result, most people aren’t willing to invest a lot of time or money. So, they go somewhere inexpensive and casual.”

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- fast casual (topic)
- Starbucks (company)
- Chick-fil-A (company)
- Buffalo Wild Wings (company)
- quick service (topic)
- The Cheesecake Factory (company)
- In-N-Out (company)
- dining trends (topic)
- first dates (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/data-shows-fast-casual-chains-are-top-choice-for-first-dates-2709137). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/84bc2c24-aac1-419e-8166-3af55538a397).