Dinner With Cupid
Art Crandall, 25, fine-dining server
His hobbies: Hockey player and avid Bruins fan; [putting on a] cooking show with my father
His ideal mate: An attorney of importance but able to enjoy life and relax with me
Allie DeAngelis, 25, paralegal
What makes her a catch: How many girls can go skate shopping and know why Japanese diners use wasabi on fish?
Her ideal mate: Shares my passion for unique cuisine
7 p.m. Island Creek Oyster Bar, Boston
Playing it cool
Allie: I arrived early so I could enjoy a glass of wine. The bar was really crowded, so I opted to sit at our table.
Art: After a small workout, I enjoyed a Green Monsta IPA before the date.
Allie: Art was brought over by the hostess. Art’s best feature is his striking eye color. Other than that, I wasn’t really into it. He wore this black button-up shirt – too casual for the place we were eating.
Art: I thought she was very attractive. To play catch-up, I ordered a double reposado tequila with a sangrita back.
Chilling out
Allie: We are both from Framingham, play hockey, and are self-proclaimed foodies. [We ordered] oyster sliders, tuna tartare, and the halibut. They pushed the oyster sliders (which were overdone and underwhelming).
Art: A little dry; we both critiqued it.
Allie: Art is kind and easy to get along with. I think he was thrilled I wasn’t a troll, crazy, or a crazy troll.
Art: She told me how she was an amateur writer and aspiring to be a lawyer.
Allie: On the way to the bar after dinner, he lifted up his shirt to show me his full-back angel wing tattoo. Dude, no one is going to take you seriously with that inked on your body for life.
Art: Honestly, I can’t think of a single deal breaker. The point I realized it could work was after she told me, “I had my friends waiting at the next restaurant, just in case the date wasn’t going well.” I started laughing and joked, “I can still leave, you know,” but just smiled and kept on enjoying dinner.
Allie: I mentioned I had friends waiting for me at Boston Beer Works.
Art: After the meal I suggested we meet up with them.
Allie: I wanted to leave by myself but he got the impression I wanted to barhop all night.
Art: We walked there together.I mentioned my cooking show.They found this intriguing, and I was quickly put on the spot to create a menu for Allie: vegetable crudite, grilled string beans, and pan-seared sea bass in a fig-yogurt sauce. I passed [the test].
Allie: Looking back, it just doesn’t seem our conversation was that substantive.
The cold shoulder
Art: It was time for us to part for the night. I told her my car was right down the street. She said if I could drop her off at the T station, it would be more than helpful enough.
Allie: I offered to get out so he could get on the highway easier. He had to head home to go see Harry Potter.
Art: A good night kiss and she was off.
Post-mortem
Art: A+
Allie: C+
A second date?
Art: Since she’s a skater, I’d have to say yes, but the date would have to involve some ice time so I can see the skills.
Allie: No thanks. Art was super nice, but I don’t think we have any chemistry.
-- Compiled by Melissa Schorr
CUPID PLAYS BALL Apply now for a very special Dinner With Cupid. We’re sending two daters to the Saturday, September 17, 7:10 p.m. 
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