What His First Date Choice Says About Him

When you go on a first date with a dude, he usually picks the place. And good thing, because Bill Nichols, co-founder of 100RedFlags.com, says you can tell a lot from a man by what kind of date he takes you on. Here's how to suss out his intentions.

By Korin Miller

The Neighborhood Bar
He's a laid-back guy, and while it might not seem like he's trying, he is. Chances are, he's conscious of where he took you since he's looking for a girl who is equally laid-back.

His Deal: He's open to having a relationship, but his life isn't dependent on it.

The Indie Coffee Shop
He's making an attempt to be different. There's a certain level of maturity and confidence needed to choose a date that involves a lot of (sober) conversation. He places value in getting to know someone and isn't aiming for a one-night stand, which is more than you can say for a lot of guys.

His Deal: He knows what he wants and doesn't want to waste time finding it. If a connection is there, he'll explore it.

Something Active
You may be dreading his suggested baseball outing, friendly game of tennis, or walk in the park (what is he, 80?), but his approach is a good one. He wants a woman who he can share experiences with, and he knows there's no better predictor than going out and doing it.

His Deal: He wants to see if you can be friends. If you can be patient, you're in a good position if things start to escalate.

Related: 7 Signs He's Not The One

A Friend's Party
If he's inviting you to a party, he's obviously attracted to you and doesn't mind having you by his side. This guy may not have "settling down" very high on his priority list, but you can approach this date knowing that his intentions are clear: Let's have a good time and see where this goes.

His Deal: He might not be ready to jump into anything, but you could find a connection.

The Fancy Restaurant
On the surface, it feels right. You feel good, taken care of, and excited that someone with a real job is taking you to a real dinner. But make no mistake, a guy who goes straight for the nice dinner is going to expect that you'll hook up with him or that you'll at least go on another date.

His Deal: He could be looking for a three-month pseudo-relationship. If you like him and want to see where it could go, flip things around and suggest a date that isn't fancy.

The Spot Near His Place
If you live close to each other, it's a different story. But if he chooses a date spot that's much closer to his place, especially one within walking distance, you can assume that he wants you to try this "great hidden gem" so he can steer your date night back to his pad.

His Deal: He's probably looking for a hookup.

Related: 9 New Dating Rules for Getting the Guy

Cool Ethnic Food
He's thinking outside the box, which deserves some credit. Most guys play it safe, and his slightly more aggressive approach is the first test: He wants to see if he'll be pleasantly surprised by your love of hard-to-pronounce food and cool travel stories.

His Deal: He knows what he wants. If the feeling is mutual, you find yourself in a new relationship.

The Perfect Location
He nailed it. The place has it all. He somehow managed to choose a place that's not fancy (it's cute), it's not loud (it's conversation-level), and it's not romantic (it's cozy). He's no stranger to dating and making someone feel special, and whether he realizes his intentions or not, he's setting the scene to see if he gets lucky and sees his future wife sitting across the table from him.

His Deal: He might be ready to settle down. But he also might just be a total player.