1. As it is a good idea that you get to know each other, stay away from noisy places where you can barely hear each other speak, at least on the very first date, (it will not be so important later when you have got to know each other a bit.) Go to a quiet bar where there are not many people and no noisy children. Or a quiet restaurant where you can take your time and have a really good conversation while you eat your meal. That way you can get to know each other properly and are more likely to feel like you get on well enough and like each other well enough to meet up again. You can always go to noisy places later on as you get to know each other when it is less important to have a good conversation. If you get to have a good chat with your date on the first date you will feel far more relaxed on other dates that follow.
2. Let your hair down and go bowling. Bowling is a lot of fun and it brings out the best in people. It is not an expensive evening, there must be a bowling alley near you. Having a lot of fun together is a great way to get to know someone and get to feel relaxed with someone.
The other good thing about going bowling is that you can go in a group or go just the two of you and as there are a lot of people at a bowling alley you will both feel safe in numbers. An evening spent bowling can be a lot of fun, it can include having a meal, you can go out for a drink after, it is up to you how you play things according to how well you are getting on.
3. Go to an art gallery, it shows you are “cultured” and interested in things that most people do not understand or show an interest in. It also gives you a chance to have a good talk whilst you are walking around looking at the paintings, and it is a cheap evening too. One of the other advantages to this type of evening is that you can prolong it if you get on really well by having a good look around and then maybe going for a drink or a meal after, or you can cut your losses and go home if you are not getting on very well.