Who We Are

It’s Just Lunch is the “real people” dating service that skips online profiles and hand-selects matches. Here we answer some common dating questions.

What typically gets between singles and a rewarding dating life?
Some of the top challenges are making the time, knowing where to find like-minded people, and protecting personal privacy. For most people, the problem is very rarely getting a date. The problem is actually connecting with someone interesting who you’re attracted to and who you can really have fun with. We have a lot of clients who are very active in the community and in the business world who come to me specifically because they don’t want to date within those same circles. It’s too uncomfortable.
We also work with people who have recently moved or who have ended a long-term relationship and just don’t know where to start looking. The bar scene isn’t typically a viable option. And when it comes to online dating, there’s not enough security or personal privacy. No one wants to be Googled or continuously emailed by people they have no interest in dating.

What’s the best way to meet compatible people?
Making a connection through someone who knows you and is really looking out for you is the key to success. That’s one reason It’s Just Lunch has grown to be such a respected organization over the past 18 years. Our dating consultants handle everything in a very personalized and efficient manner… from finding the right matches to making all the arrangements for a date. All our clients have to do is show up and focus on having fun with someone new.

Why do people trust It's Just Lunch with their personal lives?
It comes down to discretion, standards, and personal service. When people call us to schedule an interview, it’s usually because they’ve made the decision to make a proactive change in their personal lives. And our service is completely confidential, so it makes taking that next step a lot easier. In fact, we never share last names or phone numbers with clients, even when we match people for a date. And then there’s the fact that we’re selective, just like the people we work with.
Another major distinction is that we personally hand-select every match. We’re not like dating services that believe an algorithm is a good way to match people. What we do is more of an art than a science. And we individually interview every candidate, which is incredibly important these days considering the fact that many people using online dating services are actually in a relationship or not very serious about dating.

What are the most common dating mistakes you see?
Number one is putting too much pressure on yourself. This happens a lot with people who don’t have a lot of connections to other singles. They meet someone and think, “I’ve got to make this work out. It could be six months before I find someone else even remotely interesting.”
Our clients know that I have plenty of great matches for them, so they can relax and not feel rushed. That’s really the focus of It’s Just Lunch — a casual, low-pressure way for people to meet for lunch, or a drink after work. Our main focus is to arrange that first date for my clients, so they can decide if there’s enough interest for a second date.
The other mistake people make is repeatedly dating the same type of person and expecting different results. We encourage clients to open themselves up to connecting with people who have similar core values but different professions, backgrounds, and interests. And we have a very diverse clientele, so there’s always a wide variety of interesting people to meet.

What’s the biggest reason people use a dating service like yours?
It’s definitely the time factor. Not in the sense that our clients don’t have time to meet people. They do. It’s just that the last thing they want to do is waste valuable personal time making a connection with someone who isn’t exactly what he or she made themselves out to be. We take that frustration away and make it easy to meet people well worth spending time with.


How has dating changed over the years? 

Technology has changed everything. When we started It’s Just Lunch eighteen years ago, singles simply introduced themselves and began talking – done. Now, couples chat, email, instant message, tweet, text and even video chat. People relate through their computers and mobile phones. This makes it easier than ever to stay in touch with someone you already know – but nearly impossible to meet someone you don’t. Now the methods that people used to rely on for romantic introductions are gone, and people usually find themselves with just one network in their city: the office. That’s not always ideal and busy singles don’t have the time or desire to cruise the bars or scan online profiles. This is exactly where It’s Just Lunch comes in. We introduce our clients to real people – not online profiles or phone numbers. We provide that missing network, and we do it in a way that fits into everyone’s hectic schedule.

What about internet dating sites?
While these sites are highly accessible (especially for singles who are already on a computer all day), they can become extremely time consuming. There’s enrollments, questionnaires, email correspondence, followed by looking through literally thousands of profiles, and then – finally – trying to arrange a meeting over more email. Many singles wind up discouraged. There’s just so little you can learn about a person from an internet profile and a low-resolution picture – and there are thousands to look through. Either it’s a fruitless game of trying to choose a book by the cover, or you’re trusting a computer to decide if you would click with someone.

How does It’s Just Lunch “match” singles?
We believe that nothing replaces the human touch, and we don’t believe in “computer matches.” It doesn’t matter if you both like to jog, both like Chinese food, and both would like something long term – you can like all the same things and still not like each other. That’s why we use our intuition to create the match. First, we interview each client like you would get to know a new friend, learning about their personalities, their likes and dislikes, and their relationship goals. Then, we call to arrange their first date. We contact both clients, get their schedules, find a convenient time and place for them to meet, and even make them a reservation. There are no online profiles for the world to see, and it’s up to the clients if they want to share more details during their date and exchange cards in order to meet again. As part of our policy, we don’t give out our clients’ last names or phone numbers.

What kind of people would I meet through It’s Just Lunch?
It’s Just Lunch clients are a diverse group representing many different professions, career stages and educational backgrounds. Some have just moved to a new city and want to fast-forward to meeting like-minded people. We commonly see singles spending most of their time with people from work, but they realize the pitfalls of dating coworkers. They come to us to expand their social circle outside of work. Our clients do have one thing in common, though: they’re ready to meet someone new.

Any advice for the first-date conversation?
Rule number one: Never talk about a past relationship. It can instill feelings of jealousy, awkwardness, or insecurity in seconds. If it comes up, give a brief answer and change the subject. Avoid topics such as politics and religion until you’ve gotten to know each other better. Make a conscious effort to ask or answer questions from your most positive perspective. If you don’t know what to say, ask a question instead – studies show people find you more interesting when you ask questions about them. If you don’t know what to ask, pause for a moment to think . . . silence can be sexy and mysterious.