1. Set limits first
Agree on budget, distance and time before naming any place. Constraints cut the list down so the choice gets easier.
2. The 5-3-1 method
One person names five places, the other removes two, and the first person picks one of the remaining three. Everyone has a say and it ends in three steps.
3. Veto rounds
Each person may veto one option. Whatever survives wins.
4. Pick the cuisine before the restaurant
Deciding "Thai" first and the restaurant second is easier than comparing a burger place with a sushi bar.
5. Spin a wheel
Put the shortlist into the random restaurant picker and agree in advance that the result is final. Randomness removes the pressure of being the one who chose.
6. Take turns
Alternate who decides each time you eat out. A random pair generator can also assign who picks for whom in a group.
7. Keep a favourites list
Write down places you enjoyed. A saved list on the wheel turns the next decision into one tap.
8. Notice your gut reaction
If the wheel lands on something and you feel disappointed, that tells you what you actually wanted. Go with that.
Frequently asked questions
What if nobody accepts the wheel's result?
Agree beforehand that you may re-spin only once. If the second result is also rejected, the person who rejected it chooses.