ESSENCE Poll: Where Do You Prefer to Have a First Date?

Next to choosing the outfit, picking out a location is arguably the most stressful part of a first date. You want to pick a place that says, “Yes, I regularly visit this fabulous locale,” but you also may want someplace that will allow you to dip out early in case the person turns out to be a complete dud.

So what’s a girl to do?

The masterminds behind the dating app Clover recently surveyed 200,000 of its users and found that the overwhelming majority of women—52 percent—prefer coffee shops for first dates (perhaps so they can make a speedy getaway if need be?), while 51 percent of men are more likely to frequent restaurants. Sliding into third place for both genders? The dreaded bar.

Surprisingly, the top-rated date place among users was Starbucks, followed by Chipotle, Panera Bread and The Cheesecake Factory. Other beloved locations include Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings and Chili’s.

When it comes to dating, are you someone who likes a straightforward location, like a restaurant or coffee shop, or do you prefer something a little more unconventional, say, a park or cuddling on the couch while watching Netflix? Take our poll and tell us about the best (or worst!) first date that you’ve ever had.