NYC Woman’s First Hinge Date Starts With Him Sizing up Her Outfit. Then He Orders Food She Said She Hated and Leaves Without Waiting for Her Ride
Dating apps can create first impressions, but they cannot guarantee a good first date. One New York City woman says a single Hinge meetup left her questioning whether online dating is worth the effort at all.
TikTok creator Margot Lee (@margot.lee) says she expected a normal dinner with someone she had matched with on Hinge. Instead, she says the evening left her so uncomfortable that she canceled another date the following night and decided to delete the apps altogether.
Her video has since caught viewers’ attention because she says there was no single argument or dramatic confrontation. Instead, a series of interactions throughout the dinner gradually changed how she viewed the date before one final moment convinced her she had seen enough.
Some viewers say she stayed too long
In a TikTok video, the creator explains that she normally avoids dinner for a first date but agreed because she believed her match did not drink and thought a meal would work better. She also says she had already tried suggesting an alternative restaurant, but the man continued with his original choice.
She says the awkwardness began before they even sat down, when the man silently looked her outfit up and down. She also says he dismissed her work after claiming he did not have Instagram, despite later using the app during dinner.
She says the dinner became more awkward when he ordered fish after she specifically said she did not want anchovies. She also claims he refused the server’s suggestion to order more food, prompting her to add another dish herself.
She also alleges that the man spent several minutes on his phone shortly after they sat down. Although he later explained he was searching for a file to send someone, she says he repeated the behavior later in the meal while food was already on the table. The creator adds that she felt embarrassed enough to hope the waitress realized it was only a first date.
As the evening continued, she says the conversation never became easier. While she tried asking about his travels and business, she claims he often gave short responses and rarely asked questions about her. She also says he made generalizations about where she grew up and where she attended school.
The creator says the man barely touched the food despite making the dinner reservation. She says he complained the restaurant had “hustled” them into ordering too much and commented on the meal’s calorie count, leaving her to eat most of the food herself.
She says the final straw came after dinner, when the waitress followed them outside because the receipt had not been signed. The creator says she then realized no tip had been left and came to believe it was intentional after hearing him complain about the restaurant throughout the meal. She also says he left in his Uber without waiting for hers.
Afterward, the creator says she canceled another Hinge date planned for the next evening. She adds that she deleted the dating apps because she would rather meet people naturally than through online matches.
Lee’s experience also echoes other viral Hinge stories about early dating red flags. One New York woman said a disappointing coffee date left her wanting to cry, while a San Diego creator criticized what she described as the low-effort approach to online dating after receiving a last-minute 2 a.m. Hinge message instead of being asked on a proper date. Both stories prompted discussion about what people should expect from online dating.
The video quickly drew hundreds of reactions, with many viewers saying the creator stayed on the date longer than they would have. “Ladies let’s normalize immediately leaving when the vibe is bad. Strangers aren’t entitled to your time!” one commenter wrote. “He didn’t leave a tip!??? Disgusting,” another viewer commented.
(Featured Image: Screenshot via @margot.lee/TikTok)
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