Top 10 Date Dishes To Avoid

What you eat on a date could ruin your chances of getting to first base. Join MsMojo as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Worst Date Dishes.

For this list, we're taking a look at those foods that are too messy and complicated to get you in a romantic mood. You want to be dazzled by your date’s smile, not disgusted by what’s in his teeth or all over his hands. That sexy dress you just bought last week could be splattered by the time the night is over, not to mention the fact that you could find gunk under your freshly manicured nails. So if you’d like to make it home without an egg on your face, we suggest you avoid these dishes while on a date.

Unless you’re a fan of “Home Improvement,” then you shouldn’t be using heavy duty tools on a date. Trying to crack open those stubborn hard shells and potentially spewing melted butter all over your fab new outfit? That will definitely dampen your dress and the mood. And what if you’re actually better at handling your crustacean’s claws than he is? Your badass-ery could either be a turn-on or he’ll be embarrassed you had to show him how to break a crab leg. The only red face at the table should be the lobster’s, so avoid this dish at all costs.

Not only is this choice messy because of all the red, yellow and green condiments available, (don’t even think about adding chili or cheese!), but there are too many sexual innuendos involved. Do you really want him rating the size of your mouth as you try to stuff one end of the hot dog in? He might be impressed, but we’re guessing you’d only want to divulge that whopping bit of info at a later time. Plus it’s always a good idea to stay away from any kind of wiener talk or “hot” dog jokes. so we recommend you steer clear of the vendor’s curb.

We’ve all wondered about the possibility of tongue after any good date, but there is such a thing as overkill. The constant, aggressive use of it while maneuvering a sloppy ice cream cone is enough to put any French woman to shame. Meanwhile, the wiping, licking and slobbering, as well as the sticky hands, and never having enough napkins, all just scream disaster and awkwardness. If it’s a hot night and you could really go for something cool, we recommend ice cream in a cup with two spoons, and lots of hot fudge or chocolate. That’s how you keep this dish clean and sinful at the same time.

Corn on the cob can be wet, juicy and delicious... when you’re at Granny’s house. A date is not the occasion when you want sucking noises coming from your mouth with butter oozing down your cheek. There’s also the fact that biting into corn will ultimately leave stuff stuck between your teeth. So if you happen to be in a seedy joint that’s all out of toothpicks, you’ll be self-conscious for the rest of the night, trying not to smile or laugh - much less get kissed. We suggest packing your own dental floss or just pass on the corn, completely.

Nobody has ever successfully eaten a taco without getting food everywhere. Loose ground beef sprinkled with raw veggies, grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream in an open hard shell, which basically shatters into small pieces on the first bite? After taking your date’s eye out from flying debris, the whole thing just crumbles into your plate, and all you can do is stare sadly at the mess. Not a sexy look for you or him. So instead of going home hungry because everything ended up on the floor, we recommend staying away from tacos. And this applies to the softe shell ones too!

We all try to make a good impression while on a date, but drooling, indigestion and flatulence will get you nowhere fast - unless it’s to the Ladies Room that you want to go. Spicy foods are notorious for making your eyes water, and then they make you start to sweat with your tongue hanging out. All that smokin’ talk about peppers, jalapenos and hot tamales might initially get your heart racing and glasses all foggy… but if you’d rather not gag from the fire happening in your mouth, or are unsure of how your stomach will react to the heat, rather than risk passing gas, we suggest you pass on these kinds of dishes instead.

Despite how much flavor, taste and even health benefits garlic adds to any meal, we can all agree it also makes your breath smell horrible. When you’ve spent so much time and money on planning the perfect date, don’t spoil it by eating the kind of meal that contaminates the air around everyone for hours (and maybe try to gently recommend your date doesn’t consume any as well.) Tzatziki and other types of garlicky foods should be avoided to not only ensure cozy, intimate conversation without the stench, but also to increase your chances of ending the night in a lip-lock.

Who doesn’t love a great set of BBQ ribs or a heaping tray of buffalo wings? (xref) The problem is, no matter how hard anyone tries not to, you will always end up looking like some kind of wild cannibal tearing meaty flesh off an animal’s bone while you eat either of these. Sucking on fingers is not really a turn-on in this particular scenario. The dipping sauces and decadent dips won’t help the overall look either. Will your date be a gentleman and tell you there’s something on the edge of your nose, or will he just sit uncomfortably watching the glob on your face take on a life of its own?

It’s hard to make a great impression when you’re trying to fit a whopper of a sandwich into your mouth. Any meal involving slabs of meat smothered in ketchup, mayo and tomatoes squished between a bun is not usually consumed with elegance or grace, even if your pinky is lifted just so. The excess juices that inevitably fall through your fingers and unflatteringly decorate your lips will, no doubt, create a gigantic mess that no amount of napkins will clean up sufficiently. We also don’t recommend adding onions to your burger since this gives a whole new meaning to the breathalyzer test.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

• Soup

• Baked Beans

• Noodles

• Dumplings

• Salad / Spinach Dip / Pesto

Spaghetti is the most difficult meal to operate with any or all utensils. Despite how expertly you think you’ve spooled the pasta around your fork, it will undoubtedly unravel just before reaching your chin, sending sauce everywhere. And rather than try swirling again, you’ll foolishly make an open-mouthed rush for the loaded fork but fail, and are left slurping up drippy noodles. So unless your date has already soiled his own clothes and is elbow deep in marinara, having spaghetti on a date is not the best idea.

Do you agree with our list? What do you think is the Worst Date Dish? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.com.