Blind date: ‘We agreed that neither of us has good table manners and that neither of us cared’

Julia on Isabella

What were you hoping for?
I just moved to London from the US, so I wanted to meet a fun new person. Also my mom is a massive Blind Date fan, so I was kind of doing this for her, too.

First impressions?
Pretty and super friendly.

What did you talk about?
Books and writing. Legally Blonde. How brat our summers have been (not very). The upsides of walking, biking and cold-water swimming.

Most awkward moment?
I can’t think of much beyond the classic awkward dancing around who would get the last bites, as we shared all of our food.

Good table manners?
We agreed not to comment. (But yes.)

Best thing about Isabella?
She’s so smart and interested in so many things – chatting for three or four hours with her was easy and fun.

Would you introduce Isabella to your friends?
Definitely.

Describe Isabella in three words
Engaging, sparkly, ethicist.

Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.

What questions will I be asked?
We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.

Can I choose who I match with?
No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.

Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.

What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.

How should I answer?
Honestly but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.

Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.

Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!

Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.

How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com

What do you think Isabella made of you?
I think she had a similar experience to me – we were having fun but at a certain point we forgot that we were supposed to be on a date.

Did you go on somewhere?
Just to the tube station.

And … did you kiss?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
I would have attempted to make my hair behave better (an ongoing struggle for me) and maybe ordered less food.

Marks out of 10?
9.

Would you meet again?
I hope we will, but as friends.

Isabella on Julia

What were you hoping for?
An exciting story, good food, and a new connection.

First impressions?
Julia was bang on time and made me feel immediately comfortable.

What did you talk about?
Jia Tolentino. Zadie Smith. Bisexuality. Accents. Snake plants. Musicals. Ageing. Cold-water swimming. Brat summer.

Most awkward moment?
Nothing. As soon as she sat down, I felt comfortable.

Good table manners?
We agreed that neither of us has good table manners, and neither of us cared.

Best thing about Julia?
Fantastic listener.

Would you introduce Julia to your friends?
Yes, I think they would get on.

Describe Julia in three words
Charming, engaging, relaxed.

Related: Blind date: ‘She told me there wasn’t a spark in the middle of the date’

What do you think Julia made of you?
Initially: American. Then realised (disappointingly?) that I was not and that my accent was very misleading.

Did you go on somewhere?
Just to Baker Street so we could both get on the tube.

And … did you kiss?
Nope.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
I wish we had bigger appetites so we could have finished the food.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
We’ve swapped numbers and agreed to meet, but just as friends as neither of us felt “the spark”.

Julia and Isabella ate at Opso, London W1. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com