Progressive Dinner Dates

Looking for some unique date ideas this month? Why not try one—or all—of  these?

One of my favorite dates is a progressive dinner. And I’m not talking about the kind where you go from house to house! Instead, this activity involves getting out of the house, which is often just what the two of you need most. My husband and I have done this date in three different ways.

Fast Food Progressive Dinner

If you’re short on time, money or both, this is the perfect option. We pick three or four places and get something small at each. On one of our outings, we stopped for pre-dinner “cocktails” from QuikTrip, then headed to Sonic for mini tots and popcorn chicken. Next up was the main course at Taco Bell, followed by sundaes at McDonald’s. To make this even more fun (and challenging!), we each took an envelope with $10 in it that we had to make last for all stops.

Around-the-World Progressive Dinner

This one I really enjoy; it moves at a more leisurely pace and requires a little bit more spending and planning. We made three stops on our tour, with the first being La Bodega on Southwest Boulevard. They have a good selection of tapas at happy hour, as well as half-price sangria! Our second stop was Lidia’s, where we shared the pasta trio. It’s delicious! The selections change daily, and it’s always unlimited. If you share with someone, you do not get refills, but because this a progressive dinner, you definitely don’t need seconds! The third stop we made on this dinner was at Grunaeur, where we enjoyed coffee and apple strudel to share.

Streetcar Route Progressive Dinner

 We have enjoyed this date a couple of times now, with great success! For one of them, we started at Opera House in the River Market for drinks. They have a wide selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic choices. Our second stop was at Milwaukee Deli in the Library District. We each treated ourselves to a slice of the delicious pizza, which, I will warn you, is bigger than the plate and more than enough for one person. Our last stop was for dessert at Yard House in the Power & Light District. They have a good selection, including mini-sized sweets. We highly recommend the peach apple cobbler!

The great thing about each of these dates is that it can be tailored to your own tastes and budget, and the options are almost endless! Plus, they make for great double dates as well.

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives with her husband in Kansas City. They enjoy regular date nights and love trying new restaurants and activities.