In February 2026, The New York Times published its “Modern Dating Rules” - a crowdsourced guide to how adults are navigating romance these days.

While the article is written for a U.S. audience, we think many of the lessons translate perfectly to dating here in Australia and to A Table For Six!

The key takeaway? Dating doesn’t have to be complicated.

No more waiting three days to reply to a message.
No more playing games behind a screen. 
No more awkward drama over who pays the bill.

Instead, the new rules are refreshingly simple: be kind, be clear, be emotionally aware. 

Here are three modern dating truths from the New York Times that feel especially relevant for our fun & social group dinners.

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1. Basic Decency Is In.  Games Are Out.

One of the strongest themes from the article?

Be polite, act with decency and don’t play games.

Modern singles are prioritising things like:

• Turning up on time

• Being gracious to staff

• Listening properly

• Not trauma-dumping in the first 5 minutes

At A Table For Six there’s plenty of space for genuine warmth, humility, humour and connection. 

In a group of six, you shine by being inclusive, curious and relaxed. 

Group dinners reward emotional intelligence. And honestly? That’s far more attractive than any carefully curated dating app persona.

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2. The Magic of Shared Values

The New York Times made another point very clear: spark is exciting - but shared values are what actually sustain something.

Modern daters are asking bigger questions:

• Are we aligned in outlook?

• Do we treat people similarly?

• Do we laugh at the same things?

• Could I bring this person into my real life?

At A Table For Six, you don’t just meet someone briefly over a speedy drink. You see them socially, in a group, over a relaxed dinner.

You notice:

• How they include quieter guests

• How they handle a difference of opinion

• Whether they’re generous in conversation

• How they tell stories

Over a few relaxed hours, people reveal who they are without trying too hard. There’s no interrogation. No spotlight. Just conversation flowing naturally around the table.

And because we match by age group and life stage, there’s already thoughtful alignment in the room.

Sometimes the magic isn’t fireworks.

Sometimes it’s the calm, lovely feeling of “Oh… this feels easy.”

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3. Who Pays? Everyone Equally!

Yes - the article tackled the eternal debate: Who pays? 

The modern answer? Clarity over choreography.

Gone are the days of dramatic wallet lunges and card fights! 

Most singles today prefer equality, fairness and transparency.

At A Table For Six, we keep it beautifully simple: everyone pays for themselves.

No decoding required.
No awkward hovering.
No mental maths. 

Just six adults ordering what they like and settling their own bill.

It keeps the energy balanced. It removes weirdness. And it allows everyone to focus on what actually matters - connection.

(Also, you can order dessert guilt-free. Financially and emotionally.)

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Why Group Dinner Dating Just Works

What the New York Times article really highlights is this: dating has grown up.

It’s less about strategy.
Less about ego.
Less about games.

And more about:

• Showing up well

• Being emotionally aware

• Enjoying the experience

• Letting things unfold naturally

That’s exactly what A Table For Six was designed for.

Our dinners are relaxed, structured enough to feel safe, and social enough to feel natural. 

And here’s the heartfelt (& real) part.

Behind every dinner booking is someone hopeful. Someone brave enough to try again. Someone willing to sit at a table with five strangers and see what might happen.

That’s not casual. That’s courageous.

Modern dating doesn’t need more rules. It needs good people, good conversation and a little bit of magic.

And sometimes, that magic starts with six chairs, one table and someone walking in thinking, “Let’s give this a go”.

We’ll set the table.