First dates are full of potential! Whether you’re looking for a little fun or a committed relationship, so much good can happen after a first meet-up with a romantic interest. And… so much could go terribly, horribly wrong. Honestly, it feels like, more often than not, a series of just-okay or completely horrible first dates have to happen before someone promising crosses your path. It’s just fate.
Hearing about the frustrating, funny, and downright sad experiences of other hopeful romantics can be cathartic, though. That’s especially true if you had a few horrible first dates yourself. Consequently, we rounded up the worst first date experiences as seen through the eyes of an outsider — the waiters serving at that romantic first date restaurant. They see all kinds of weird things at work and the customer requests get outrageous. Thank goodness some waiters like to share; now everyone can treat these bad dates as cautionary experiences.
1. Not A Lifetime Movie
This first date was anything but heartwarming.
When a health emergency arose during this date, the potential love interest didn’t make much fuss. He didn’t hold his date’s hand during a dramatic ambulance ride, and he certainly didn’t wait heroically by her hospital bed. Instead, this poor, injured woman rode to the hospital alone and unconscious while her date set to work finishing her meal. We doubt Noah Centineo will play this guy in a rom-com anytime soon!
2. Rain Check
Fresh out the hospital? Your first date can wait.
Desperation isn’t a good look on anyone, especially on a first date! Still, though, this guy appeared to be completely intent on carrying out his first date plans. He even decided to show up in the middle of his oral surgery recovery process. And what happened? This guy turned the date into a painful ordeal that lasted way too long!
3. Dollar Signs In Her Eyes
This question shouldn’t be a part of the process.
That first date should provide both parties an opportunity to get acquainted with one another. But there are some questions that are better left unsaid. How did she not realize this? To all daters, when you’re working on breaking the ice, stick with light-hearted questions about music and books. Steer clear of money talk or overly private details, at least in the beginning. Even the waiter felt uncomfortable.
4. An Unexpectedly Cruel Visitor
First dates are hard enough without family drama.
Unsupportive family members can make same-sex dating experiences feel miserable. According to the American Psychological Association, teens can negatively internalize those rejections. That said, this guy and his date both deserve a hug after enduring this parent’s bad behavior. She berated him and threatened to kick him out when he simply wanted to have a very normal first date.
5. Not All That Glitters Is Gold
You couldn’t pay us to go out with this rich date.
In college, being broke and in love seems like a rite of passage. Unfortunately, this guy’s date totally missed that memo! She showed up with unrealistic and entitled expectations. If marrying rich was her goal, she should probably look somewhere besides the halls of her dorm. Don’t worry, though, this terrible experience ended with a little bit of justice.
6. Been There, Done That
frogsmouth/Reddit
His vanity put his date in an awkward position.
Even if this guy was really smart, he wasn’t smart enough to realize that completely monopolizing the first date conversation was a bad move. Seriously, he seems like a horrible partner who values himself more than anyone else. It’s kind of surprising his date put up with all of the narcissistic and braggadocious behavior.
7. Thanks, But No Thanks
Her treatment of the restaurant staff was a red flag.
There may be no truer indication of a person’s character than how they treat a stranger. Consequently, we sure hope this woman’s date hightailed it out of there once the bill was paid. Degrading or insulting the employees who serve your food is never a good look. And assuming a waiter needs or wants your leftover food is just as terrible.
8. McRib, Not McDreamy
SSRobot/Reddit
This guy ordered a whole lot of ribs and then left his date with the bill.
We definitely don’t expect only one party to foot the entire bill on any first date. But this guy certainly did. In fact, he took things to a seriously uncomfortable place by controlling his date’s food intake but not his own. His meal made the bill super expensive, but he didn’t even attempt to pay. And his language was simply unacceptable. We have a feeling this fellow’s still single.
9. Pulled A Houdini
This escape was epic.
How far would you go to bring a terrible first date to a close? This Tinder fellow was willing to go pretty far. When his date had too much to drink and suggested he should be grateful for her presence, he refused to play along any longer. He straight up disappeared from the bar. Not even the danger of using the fire escape could force him to stay with the annoying woman any longer.
10. A Major Mess
If you can’t hold your liquor, stick with water.
There are many foods to avoid eating on first dates, but what about drinks? We can’t help but feel terrible for this girl who met her first date through a mutual friend. She couldn’t know the guy would get absolutely wasted and proceed to lose his lunch all over the floor of the bar. The bar staff really stepped up to make her feel less humiliated, though. Thank goodness they covered her tab and kept her company long after the drunk dinner date headed home.
11. Childless And Dateless
Avoid controversial opinions on first dates.
Listen, everyone is entitled to their opinions about whether or not parenting is for them. But it’s probably best not to launch into a passionate rant about your disdain for children on a first date. You never know if your date has any or wants any in the future. This guy learned that lesson the hard way. And we applaud his date for walking out on him. Now he’s not just childfree; he’s girlfriend-free too!
12. The Accidental Wingman
Kauboi/Reddit
Kauboi/Reddit
Kauboi/Reddit
No one goes on a first date and expects to be the third wheel.
And you especially don’t plan to be a third wheel on your 21st birthday. Accordingly, it’s nearly impossible not to feel terrible for this guy. Did the girl not think she was on a first date in the first place? She started majorly crushing on the bartender and made no attempt to hide her affection. We appreciate the initiative, but she even lost her temper with the bartender too.
13. Special Agent Or Major Jerk?
This girl’s date sounded delusional and unstable.
After making claims threatening to harm a woman’s family and ranting about about all women in general, this man proved himself to be unstable. It’s no wonder his date felt completely unsafe. The servers and the bouncers at this bar had to get involved. It is pretty scary to be on a date with someone delusional, but it might be even more terrifying to spend time with someone who is actually a special agent and obviously unstable and scary.
14. Dangerous Company
There is nothing funny about this terrible first date.
It’s one thing for a first date to be cringeworthy, but there is nothing funny about finding yourself on a dangerous date. This woman was threatened with a knife, and the restaurant staff had to get involved. What a relief to know there are decent people out there keeping an eye out for others when things get a little scary, though.
15. “Yo,” You’re Not My Type
The_Neck/Reddit
Would you ruin a good date for the sake of a friend?
Not all bad dates are what they seem, and this story renews our faith in humanity, even if only a little bit. We think this loyal friend took things a bit further than necessary. But hey, everyone turned out happy. Hopefully, that good friend will find his own match in the future.
