15+ Dinner dates that ended after people spotted red flags

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 9, 2026 3:15 PM EDT

These people may not be "foodies," but a food-related red flag caused them to end a date very quickly. 

Eating habits are one of those things that determine your compatibility as a couple. I know it sounds kind of silly on its face, but just think about how many times you share meals together when you're dating someone! 

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  • Man tries to feed his date while she looks unenthusiastic.
    via George Dagerotip

    Man tries to feed his date while she looks unenthusiastic.

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • For example, if you’re a chef, you might enjoy dating someone who lives on chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, and you might love watching them eat your fine creations. But you might instead be a chef who wants to date someone else who also enjoys the art of cooking. It’s always nice when someone cooks for you, especially if you’re not in the mood to make dinner on some random night. This is totally up to your preference. And maybe, even if your partner isn’t a good cook, they make up for it in other ways, like maybe they clean up all the time, or they do most of the driving, or something like that. 


     

    Sometimes just the act of eating itself can cause a rift, too. Maybe your partner loves to snack, but you grew up eating 3 meals a day at strict times, and not much else. Or perhaps you work out and have a protein-heavy diet where you just eat plain chicken all the time… but your partner is tempting you because they eat tons of junk food or make delectable but unhealthy meals. 

    Plus, a lot of us eat at restaurants all the time. But some folks like to save money by only eating at home. 

    See what I mean? There are like, a million little ways that food, both it’s consumption and it’s preparation, can factor into your relationship. 

    These people barely made it out of their dates, though. They didn’t even have time to start up a relationship because they were given such an ick by a first date encounter! 



     

  • RavioliFormuloni Went on a date once and the guy ordered my food for me. Didn't even give me time to look through the whole menu. I just made a comment about the tots looking good, and when the waiter came he immediately said "She will have the loaded tots".
    via RavioliFormuloni
  • CaptainMarrow Chewing with their mouth open and smacking their lips.
    via CaptainMarrow
  • Woman gives her date a bite of pizza.
    via Daiga Ellaby

    Woman gives her date a bite of pizza.

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • NeitherSparky When they tell you you can't order something because they hate that food and they don't want to even see it, it can't be on the table. True story.
    via NeitherSparky
  • Jon-switch An order with 10 substitutions
    via Jon-switch
  • dave8814 I have a friend thats been vegan for just about 20 years. She met a guy through a work friend and he picked her up and drove to a very expensive steak house.
    via dave8814
  • Woman listens to her date with amusement while they dine together.
    via Getty Images

    Woman listens to her date with amusement while they dine together.

  • No_Series1751 Not washing hands before eating/touching food with fingers is meant for a spoon/ fork. I see my mom put her fingers into restaurant food to try it all the time and it bothers me
    via No_Series1751
  • Jacuzzi901 Eating with mouth open
    via Jacuzzi901

  • Instantly over!

    Ridindirtydishes If he eats all the biscuits/ bread and I didn't get any, we're done
    via Ridindirtydishes
  • Women eat on a date together.
    via A.C.

    Women eat on a date together.

  • IAngenoire • Orders chicken fingers . and fries anywhere but a pub or snack bar. • Makes faces at foods other people are eating or on the menu.
    via IAngenoire
  • . Critiques other people's food in terms of health. Carb shaming, sugar counting, etc.
    via IAngenoire
  • Usual-Jackfruit4746 I once canceled a first date because the guy couldn't decide where to go. Not this place because he just had that and not that place because he doesn't feel like
    via Usual-Jackfruit4746
  • it. Then decided on something and changed his mind the day of. He was a 50+ yo man! It's not that hard.
    via Usual-Jackfruit4746
  • Man serves a woman salad.
    via Curated Lifestyle

    Man serves a woman salad. 

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • shalloner455555 Chewing like a cow and making that smacking sound. I would honestly just get up and leave.
    via shalloner455555
  • itsyagirlrey We went to the local chinese buffet and he got an entire plate of cold shrimp cocktail and ate the ENTIRE thing, tails and all. I just sat there in horror, i've never seen anyone eat the full tails on shrimp before.
    via itsyagirlrey

  • What would you do in this situation?

    stooj I started seeing a girl and she was allergic to everything. Whenever we tried to eat out, we would have to search restaurant menus in advance to see if there was anything she could eat. I feel bad because
    via stooj
  • it wasn't her fault that she was allergic, but dating her would mean that every meal becomes an ordeal, and I'll never get to eat the foods that I like. It was a relief when I realized I didn't like her personality.
    via stooj

  • So odd!

    utahmom1958 First date. Dude takes me Olive Garden. When the waiter says "tell me when to stop" with the parmesan cheese grater, he started screaming about how even one molecule of cheese
    via utahmom1958
  • would k I him instantly. Then are we at Olive Garden????? First and last date.
    via utahmom1958
  • Automatic-Force2535 If he doesn't eat the vegetables served to him
    via Automatic-Force2535

  • It's a dealbreaker for some people

    ColHapHapablap Super picky about everything in their food or sending food back that's totally fine just to make it about them.
    via ColHapHapablap

  • If they're even the tinies bit impolite, it's over

    Neatilia How they treat the waiter tells you way more than the date itself
    via Neatilia
  • illini02 She eats her peas one at a time
    via illini02

  • He couldn't handle the oyster sesh

    Prestigious_Body_659 My mind flashes back to a video of at woman who ordered something like 20+ oysters on a date and the guy walked out
    via Prestigious_Body_659

  • This is a good one!

    ClassicOrdinary8175 Not being accepting to someone choose on if they eat meat, vegetarian, or vegan, extra.
    via ClassicOrdinary8175
  • Great-Data8005 Getting mad at me for not eating tomatoes. F you I can't eat nightshades!!
    via Great-Data8005

  • No need to have a bad attitude

    formerNPC Complaining about the prices. Yeah dude, steak is expensive and we're at a steakhouse! Bye bye now.
    via formerNPC

  • This came up a few times in the discussion

    MeanSecurity I once went out with someone who was allergic to like... Everything. This person was responsible and called the restaurant ahead of time to make sure they
    via MeanSecurity
  • could accommodate his allergies. But I was not interested in accommodating his allergies.
    via MeanSecurity
  • maybe_a_fork Asking for something on the menu, then basically customizing it to sh so its. actually something else. The waiter is just there doodling on his pad.
    via maybe_a_fork
  • Stunning Mushroom_63 Eating with your mouth open or licking your fingers.
    via Stunning Mushroom_63

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