Dinner Date Ideas For The Adventurous Couple

Updated December 2, 2024by Regain Editorial Team

If you and your partner are adventurous, you might find yourself running out of date ideas. Every town has its own culture and activities, but there may be times when the well runs dry on activities to do together. Not every dinner date has to be a Valentine’s Day-style event; sometimes, you might just want to relax and enjoy a nice dinner. When you are in an adventurous relationship, though, it can be difficult to construct a good dinner date night that's fun and enjoyable for both of you. Here are some dinner date ideas for adventurous couples.

Try new foods

The most obvious of the adventurous dinner date ideas is one that takes place at an obscure restaurant. Perhaps the best venues are the restaurants that have ethnic or otherwise new foods that you haven't tried before.

When you choose your dinner, consider ordering the most exotic thing on the menu, even if it sounds a  little gross or weird. Even if the option you go with isn't very tasty, it might make a good story. If you do end up enjoying it, you will have expanded your palette.

If you have trouble locating a restaurant that works for you, you could ask around. Your friends or family members might have some suggestions that you can try. If this avenue doesn't pan out for you, consider searching online. There are plenty of websites and apps that may give you the information you are looking for. You can also search through reviews and recommendations for new places. Trying new places each time you go out could be a good way to keep it fresh and exciting. 

Location, location, location

Sometimes, it isn't what you eat but where you eat it. If you want to be adventurous but also want to enjoy a more mainstream meal, you could mix up the location instead.

Consider picking up takeout from a tried-and-true favorite restaurant. You might consider bringing an insulated bag along with you. Depending on where you decide to have your dinner date, you may have a bit of a drive ahead of you before reaching your destination. Be mindful of the item you choose as well. If you are in for a bit of a trip, you might avoid foods that don’t travel well.

When you are considering the location for your dinner, think about the places that you and your partner enjoy being. If you love the outdoors, for example, pick your favorite hiking spot and enjoy a picnic-style dinner in the woods. Since this taps into the things you are passionate about, you get the romantic aspect out of it while being adventurous and keeping it interesting.

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Have a destination dinner

Many adventurous couples enjoy traveling. When you are planning your dinner date ideas, consider making it a road trip. Different cities and towns offer different types of food. Chicago might be the best place to get pizza, for example. Seafood is often best somewhere near an ocean. If you are up for an adventure, plan a dinner date in a different city or state. Do your research and go somewhere that embodies the culture of the place you are visiting. You can also take this time to explore the city and get the full experience. In New York, for instance, there are plenty of food vendors along the road that serve food so you can eat while you tour the city.

Dinner date ideas can also be planned while you're on vacation. Add a few restaurants to your itinerary. The hotel or resort staff may have recommendations that are sure to impress. This could be a great way to spice up a vacation and make date night more memorable.

Making dinner at home

You don't always have to get dressed up and go out when it comes to adventurous dinner dates. You can get similar results from a cozy night in as well.

There are two ways you can approach this. The first would be with a plan. Go online and find a new recipe that neither of you has tried. The more off the wall, the better. Compile your grocery list and take a trip to the store. Once you have all your ingredients, come home and give it your best shot at recreating the recipe at home.

The second way to approach this is a little more spontaneous. Take a trip to the grocery store and peruse a new aisle. Most stores have sections for ethnic foods that you may not have tried. If you aren't the best cook, there are plenty of boxed dinners perfect for the average chef.

When you opt to have dinner dates at home, there could be many added benefits. The bonding time that you get from cooking dinner together may add a romantic aspect to your date night. Eating at home might also be easier on the wallet. You can also be comfortable at home on the couch while watching your favorite TV show with your partner. These are the nights that you may remember for years to come in your relationship.

Consider starting with simple meals, such as sheet pan bakes (there are some excellent one-pan dinner recipes for chicken thighs) or air fryer meals, then working your way up to more complicated recipes, so that you and your partner can grow your cooking skills together.

Have a movie dinner date

Perhaps a good way to spice up the average dinner date idea is to add a second activity along with it. Pairing your dinner date with a movie could be a great way to kick it up a notch.

When your goal is to have an adventurous date, you might have to get creative to get the right effect. Think outside the box when it comes to choosing a movie to watch on your date. For maximum results, pick an obscure or foreign movie to watch. This could add an air of uniqueness to your date. It might also add something new that you might not have experienced before. As with most other date ideas here, you can enjoy these memories for years to come.

Find a festival

Festival food might not offer the most balanced meal, but it could be tasty and adventurous. There is a wealth of festival options, ranging from music-based to actual food-based options.

Dinner and a concert could be another great way to add a sense of adventure to any date. Even if you and your partner aren't particularly interested in the genre of music, you can go anyway. You never know if you might pick up a liking for a new artist or band. Even if you don't enjoy the music, you may enjoy the change of pace and the shift in scenery. The mood and culture surrounding music festivals could offer an upbeat and fun way to enjoy a date night with your partner.

If you choose a food festival, there may be many directions you can go. Many food festivals advertise all different kinds of food options. If you happen to find a food truck festival, the options might be friendlier on the wallet. You could opt for smaller portions from each truck so that you can enjoy more than one type of food for your dinner without being too full.

Adventurous relationship problems

If you are having problems in your relationship, planning a dinner date might not always be the answer. In this circumstance, it could be best to seek out a licensed professional's help to solve your relationship issues. Mental health professionals like relationship counselors and therapists are equipped with tools and resources to guide you through common obstacles in romantic partnerships. 

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Problems in relationships aren’t always easy to talk about, though, especially in a clinical environment like a therapist’s office. Some couples report feeling more at ease in an online setting. Online counseling is also more convenient for couples since it can be scheduled day or night, leaving more time for travel, work, and family. 

Internet-based counseling for couples has been researched extensively, and the results are encouraging. A recent study found that therapy for couples was effective when delivered online and included positive outcomes like mental health gains and increased relationship functioning. 

Takeaway

The counselors and therapists at Regain are fully licensed and ready to help you with any challenges you might be facing, either individually or within your relationship. The platform is entirely online, making it one of the most easily accessible and convenient ways to get the support you need. When you sign up online, you can connect with a therapist who is compatible with you and your partner. Before long, you may be well on your way to solving your problems and getting back to planning fun adventures together.  

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