Chinese is always good and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like it and it doesn’t break the bank, usually.
What about finding one of those dining-in-the-dark places. I’m pretty sure there was just a thread on them recently, but can’t find it.
Also, I haven’t been there in years, nor do I know if there’s something similar in London, but Mars 2112 might be a perfect fit. Eclectic cuisine in an eclectic (Martian) atmosphere. (Note, when I was there it wasn’t a kid’s restaurant, but that may have changed over time.)
Lastly, any place with Solyentsup[/sup] on the menu?
…there’s only one dining-in-the-dark place I know of in London, Dans Le Noir. Never tried it and looks to be out of your budget (and mine, for that matter).
Hoepfully you picked Wahaca. It’s great and eclectic for London.
Of the listed, Vietnamese; probably the most off-the-beaten-path of the ones you’ve mentioned & most likely to make a positive impression.
I also categorically reject the possibility that there is decent Mexican food to be found anywhere east of the Atlantic.
Get food you can share and order some random dishes off the menu that neither of you have had before. You then get to have a share experience and some thing that you can talk about.
Think Thai or Vietnamese.
Not too expensive but not too cheap. You can split the bill or, if you want a second date, go “I’ll get this one you can get it next time”.
Get a nice bowl of pho. It’s the perfect time of year for it, and I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t love the stuff.
The first date I had with my wife was definitely adventurous. We went to one of those places that boils your crab/shrimp, serves it in a bag, and it’s up to you to shell them, heads and all. We made a pact to not waste paper towels cleaning up during dinner too so it was a bit messy! A lot of fun though - good luck!
And you would be wrong. Wahaca in London is excellent and authentic. Evaluated by a Texan.
I’m from Texas, and I maintain that most Texans don’t know squat about good Mexican food. Tex-Mex is bland. Northern New Mexico, that’s where the good stuff is.
Meanwhile, I have just the Thai eatery for a first date: Cabbages & Condoms, a genuine restaurant that gives condoms instead of after-dinner mints. Really. Run by the non-profit Population and Community Development Association. Problem is, you have to be in Bangkok.
I would say go with Ethiopian, since it’s not common, but it seems I’m too late.
You should always go to a great salad place on a first date. Women always only order salad on the first date, so you don’t want her to starve. I would recommend Ruby Tuesdays or California Pizza Kitchen.
Tapas, great for first dates, you order smal portions of fingerfood you can share. if the date goes well you order more, if the date doesnt work out, you can quit after the first batch
This.
Nothing makes a restaurant more interesting than someone who knows what to order/ what to avoid and which table to reserve.,
Do you have a Japanese Steak House? Those are always lots of fun! Are you familiar with them? You get the option of sitting at a private table/booth, or sitting around the flat-top grill, watching the chef. The chef always puts on quite the show (you can YouTube Japanese Steak House Chefs for examples if you’d like); the menus have lots of variety, so you can be adventurous if you feel like it, and to me, watching the chef gives you an instant topic of conversation if things should grow stilted or awkward.
If you did something like that, and had lots of fun, maybe you could go to a quieter bar afterward for a night-cap and more intimate conversation.
At any rate, even though she’s said she’s ‘feeling adventurous’, you may want to choose some place that has at least a few more ‘traditional’ style dishes (Chinese restaurants usually do), just in case her definition of adventurous is very different from yours.
Have fun!
A commonwealth point of view there. Nobody in the United States would lump a tandoori shop in with a MacDonalds or a KFC. Indian food is considered exotic in the United States.
How about Lebanese or Moroccan ?
Reasonably different and might remind her of her Syrian roots.
I know it’s a bit late, but I’m going to go ahead and assume you got a second dateand throw out a couple of other suggestions 
In terms of Asian stuff, but also a little bit different:
There’s a Burmese restaurant in London up near Edgware Rd. We tried it a couple of times and seemed really nice (and pretty inexpensive).
Also, down in Wimbledon Park there’s a Hakka Chinese place my wife and I really like (supposedly it’s Chinese food, but how the Chinese settlers in India developed it; so you get a fairly familiar Chinese menu, but with a bunch of Indian influences etc)
(P.S. definitely seeing some other stuff in this thread we’re going to have to try)
I did indeed! Thanks for all the suggestions all; Wahaca on Sunday isn’t nearly as crowded as Saturday. It was actually a pretty good date.
I’ve had several American friends quote equally categorically that Wahaca is pretty damn good Mexican food, and since they’ve actually tried it before making sweeping statements, I’m more likely to trust their judgement, yaknow? 
Oddly enough, she ordered a burrito, and ate all of it. She’s definitely not a salad- muncher, thank heavens!
It’s on the list. Maybe for the second date! 
Also added to the list. Let’s hope I get enough dates to run through the list of recommendations here!
Ooooo, Burmese! Never had Burmese! I’m clearly going to have to try this.
Again, thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I had an excellent time, strongly suggested to her that I’d like to do this again, sent a follow-up text and got a reply. She’s a bit busy at the moment with work and moving house, so a second date might have to wait for a while, but I certainly hope there will be one!