A plate of messy Spaghetti Bolognese has been voted the worst meal to eat on a first date.

Fears of splattering clean clothes with tomato sauce made the popular Italian dish the top no-no.

In second place were spare ribs, which were found to be too sticky, fiddly and made diners look 'ungainly' when gnawing the bones.

In third place was the French dish of snails, according to the poll by The Food Network.

Similarly, mussels were voted in fourth place due to having to tease each one from the shell leaving diners with wet fingers.

The study also found that nearly two thirds of people said they get nervous about eating dinner in front of someone on a first date.

And one in five said it would completely turn them off a new partner if they couldn't eat their food properly.

But a more sympathetic 52 per cent said it would make them warm to their date if they got in a mess with their food.

Nick Thorogood, Managing Director of Food Network EMEA said: "Spaghetti Bolognese is one of the most popular dishes in the UK and probably the most famous meal to come out of Italy.

"But it can be tricky to eat without spilling the sauce, which would not impress a potential suitor.

"Your choice of food at a dinner could mean the difference between a successful date or a disastrous one, so stick to your instincts to make the best impression.

"Food is so closely linked to love and plays an important part when it comes to impressing a potential partner."

Despite being an aphrodisiac Oysters were fifth on list of meals to avoid when dating.

And in sixth place was garlic bread due to it's overpowering smell.

Other dishes that made the top ten were raw steak, baked beans and carbonara – another tricky spaghetti dish.

The poll found that 37 per cent of singletons said they worry about the food they order on a date in case it made their breath smell and 43 per cent said they wouldn't order anything messy.

One in ten admitted to only choosing a meal if they knew what cutlery to use when eating it.

A delicate one in five said they had to bear in mind if a meal would give them an 'upset stomach' on a date.

In contrast to foods not to eat, the study found that steak should be on the menu if you are planning on popping the question this Valentine's Day.

Four in ten said a good piece of steak would be the best meal to have cooked for them at a proposal followed by a roast dinner.

Over half of those that took part in the study said the food that someone cooks can reflect their personality.

Nick Thorogood added: "Preparing a meal shows you have made a lot of effort, and allows you to cook something to show-off your personality."

Not surprisingly 42 per cent said that if they were taken to a fast food joint on a romantic date they wouldn't go out with them again.

And 84 per cent said they would call the date to an abrupt end if their love interest tucked a napkin in to their shirt or blouse.

DISASTROUS FIRST DATE DISHES

1. Spaghetti Bolognese
2. Spare ribs
3. Snails
4. Mussels
5. Oysters
6. Garlic bread
7. Raw steak
8. Baked Beans
9. Spaghetti Carbonara
10. Noodles