aA dinner invitation can mean different things to different people. For some, it is a chance to meet someone new. For others, a good restaurant or free drinks can add extra appeal. That behavior has a name in dating culture: a “foodie call.”
A recent survey found that 30% of U.S. adults have accepted a date mainly because they expected a free meal or drinks.
The DatingAdvice survey included 1,016 U.S. adults. Gen Z and younger millennials reported this behavior most often, but the numbers show that it is not limited to younger daters.
What Is a “Foodie Call”?
A “foodie call” describes a date accepted mainly for the food or drinks rather than romantic interest. The term has appeared in dating discussions for years, including a version listed on Urban Dictionary as early as 2007.
Research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science later defined a foodie call as accepting a date without romantic attraction to receive a free meal.
The DatingAdvice findings show some differences between men and women. About 32% of women said they had accepted a date primarily for free food or drinks, compared with 26% of men.
Those numbers do not show exactly how much romantic interest each person had. That distinction matters because agreeing to dinner does not always mean the person had zero interest in the date.
Alexandra Foglia, a doctor of marriage and family therapy (DMFT), describes foodie calls as existing “on a continuum of intent.” She says that range can run from genuinely wanting to know someone better to acting mainly for personal benefit.
Someone who feels unsure about attraction but still wants to meet may have a different reason for accepting dinner than someone who has no romantic interest and only wants an expensive meal.
Younger Daters Report It Most Often
Gen Z and younger millennials recorded the highest rate in the DatingAdvice survey. About 32% said they had accepted a date primarily for food or drinks.
Dating coach Erika Ettin offers a different perspective based on what she sees among younger people. She says younger daters can be careful about how they spend their time and may prefer simple first dates, such as coffee.
“I think younger daters are actually more protective of their time,” Ettin says. She adds that they may choose “a lower-key date, like a coffee, which won’t cost much anyway.”
The survey also shows that foodie calls are not limited to one generation. Among adults ages 65 and older, 26% reported accepting a date mainly for the meal or drinks. At least one in four respondents across every generation reported similar behavior.
Foglia cautions against treating the age differences as proof that younger adults are responsible for a larger dating trend. The differences between generations were not large enough to support that conclusion.
Dating Costs May Affect the Decision
Money has become part of the conversation around modern dating. According to BMO Financial Group’s 2026 Real Financial Progress Index, Americans reported spending an average of $189 per date when costs such as transportation and grooming were included. That figure was 12.5% higher than the previous year.
The survey also found that half of respondents had reduced the number of dates they attended or selected less expensive activities because of rising costs.
Restaurant prices have also increased. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 3.4% year-over-year increase in restaurant prices in July.
Younger adults reported additional financial pressure. In the BMO survey, 50% of Gen Z respondents and 40% of millennials said dating expenses were interfering with their financial goals.
Nadia Edwards, author of The Dating Reset, says those pressures can make the planned meal or activity more important when someone decides whether to accept a date.
“Younger daters may be more comfortable viewing the meal or activity as part of what makes the date worthwhile, even if the romantic interest is limited,” Edwards says.
Food Does Not Always Mean Zero Interest
A person can have mixed feelings about a potential date. An attractive restaurant, special reservation, or interesting menu may provide an extra reason to say yes when romantic interest remains uncertain.
Foglia points to this middle ground. She says that when two people feel “somewhat ambivalent regarding their mutual attraction,” an appealing restaurant, tasting menu, or exclusive reservation can encourage them to meet.
That does not necessarily make the meal the sole reason for accepting the invitation. Instead, the dining experience can become one factor among several.
This distinction also changes how the term “foodie call” should be understood. Someone may accept dinner because the person seems interesting and the restaurant sounds appealing. That situation differs from accepting a date solely to receive an expensive meal.
What the Trend Says About Dating
Erika Ettin says she does not commonly see people accept dates only because of the meal. She notes that some daters do appreciate being treated by the person who invited them.
She also points out that disappointment after a first date can sometimes lead to unfair assumptions. “Sometimes men incorrectly equate this kindness (especially if a second date doesn’t follow) with a woman being greedy,” Ettin says.
Val Bastien, MS, a certified dating and relationship coach, focuses on the role the experience plays in the date. He says the meal or activity can complement romantic interest, but problems arise “when that experience replaces the attraction to the person.”
The survey shows that “foodie calls” occur across generations and among both men and women. However, accepting a date for a meal does not always mean there is no romantic interest.
For some, an appealing restaurant can make an uncertain date more attractive, while others may see the meal as the main reason to accept.
As dating expenses rise, food and activities can play a larger role in how people decide whether to meet. The term “foodie call” describes one type of dating behavior, but individual motivations can differ.
