Hello Lovestruckers! Bluffer’s here again, because however suave you are, date ideas are still difficult. Noisy bars and a lack of seating can ruin even the best-laid plans in an instant, or an evening, at least.
SO WHERE SHOULD I TAKE THEM?
Noisy bars might be terrible at killing conversations dead in the water – everyone knows you can’t ask your date to repeat themselves more than three times, and nodding and smiling isn’t always the appropriate response – but vibeless restaurants with more tumbleweed than diners are just as dire. Though this is what best man speeches are made of… The solution? Take to the Street Feast.
WAIT, WHAT?
Street Feast, an evening market of pop-up food and drink vendors, has been feeding foodies and posers alike since 2012. They’ve got casual dining down to a fine art – and eating al fresco ensures you’ll still be able to hear your date above even the most excitable of Friday night crowds. This summer, increased seating and covered areas also help make Dalston Yard more date- and rain-friendly.
IS DALSTON ALWAYS WHERE IT’S AT?
There are now three locations to get your fix of koshari and kimchi. Dalston Yard on Hartwell Street, E8, was where it all started and is still the biggest Street Feast venue – boasting food and booze from Pizza Pilgrims, B.O.B’s Lobster and The Gin Store (if their 30-strong gin cupboard can’t loosen your tongue, nothing will). But if you’re hedging your bets and don’t want to commit to a weekend date, opt for Riverside Feast in Battersea, which is also open on Thursdays and Sundays.
HOW MUCH?
Entry to Street Feast is free before 7pm and £3 thereafter – food and drinks not included, we’re afraid. That would be both an excellent deal and a terrible business model.
Riverside Feast is free entry before 6pm on Thursdays and Sundays and £4 in advance or £5 on the gate at weekends.
MAXIMUM BLUFFING VALUE
If you run out of passers-by for your small talk, try out this ‘Did you know?’: Singapore has a particularly strong reputation for street food but, ironically, there’s virtually nothing cooked or eaten on the streets. Instead, they have 107 government-controlled, often air-conditioned ‘hawker’ centres housing some 16,000 small food businesses. While some (i.e., visitors) argue that this means Singapore ‘street’ food has lost some of its energy, many (i.e., Singaporeans) argue that, well, maybe, but this way people don’t die nasty germ-filled deaths.
DO SAY ‘I recommend Yum Bun’s pork belly buns – made with free-range meat from Suffolk.’
DON’T SAY ‘Look! There’s one seat, at least. Do you mind if I take it? I’ve been on my feet allll day.’
