7/5/2012 11:16 AM

You're seated at a great table. The lighting is cozy and intimate, the music at just the right volume to be atmospheric instead of distracting. Your waiter comes to take your order. You decide to impress your date with your chivalry by ordering her food for her. Homerun? Hardly. For many women, this is a serious dating deal breaker.
In a recent survey conducted by The Today Show, 67% of singles said that a date ordering their food for them is a bigtime turn-off. I can definitely understand why. There's something a little controlling and paternalistic about running interference between your date and your server. Also, if there are sides to be ordered or if she has special instructions like "hold the tomatoes," adding those in can just be awkward.
Many servers also have a rhythm for taking orders that starts with taking the woman's order first. Cutting in to order food for both can throw your server off, and possibly result in your server forgetting to ask about sides or drinks, and leading to a less than perfect experience. Sit back, enjoy your dinner date, and let the server do their job.
This, of course, specifically addresses a situation where you have found out what your date wants to eat, and then have chosen to relay the information to the waiter. Picking out what your date will eat is a whole other issue. There are situations where this is appropriate, such as in an ethnic restaurant where you are familiar with the food and your date is not. Outside of that? Don't do it. Just don't.
The survey included a lot of other behavior that hurts your chances of getting a second date. Fifty-six percent are turned off by picky eaters, so, pick a destination where you know you like the food. About two-thirds didn't like it when their date asked to split the check. Seventy percent of women said that it was a turn-off when their date drank more than they did.
Little behaviors can send the wrong signals, and end up in your date deciding that the two of you just aren't going to work out. However, if you put an emphasis on being respectful and interested in your date over pulling stunts to wow them, your chances of making it to date number two go way up.
Photo: imru2b12
7794e834-7719-4a7a-82a2-af2350b4cb85|1|5.0