What does it mean if a guy asks you if you ever dated?

[Anonymous]

We were at a restaurant last night. I initially thought he was bringing a friend and even asked him if he can bring his roommate along with him, and he never really responded to that. So when we were in the car (he picked me up since the location was close) I asked him and he said he left early to do something. I invited one other guy who flaked out last minute so the guy I went with change the restaurant to something less group-like.
We were talking and he looked so giddy and happy :) we were former coworkers so it was great catching up with him after not seeing him for almost two months. We were talking and he randomly mentioned if I ever dated, and I told him about a fake one I had in elementary that ended terribly, but other than that I've never really dated. Then he asked me if it was my first time actually eating out with a guy, and I was like "Yep" and then he mentioned how he was pretty nervous and stuff. It was cute cause at the end of the meal he made this little "volcano" where he cooked the last meat on the plate and gave it to me to eat 😊 he even gave me a second hug, once when we got to the restaurant and another when he dropped me off home. Towards the end of the dinner he mentioned this soba noodle place that was good, and he asked me if it's cool if we eat there next Sunday as well.

[Idonthaveausername]

It sounds like he wants to date you, but is nervous about asking you out directly. He obviously likes you because he gave you a second guy and that "volcano" thing... my ex liked to feed me too, so I guess some guys like that

I have a guy friend who may have done stuff like this (not the feeding thing) and I didn't really think about it because I wasn't interested in him. I've been very clear I'm not interested in him, but he still brings up being interested in me and it gets kind of awkward. But my other guy friend who takes me to super nice places never gets awkward because we're both on the same page, and he never does anything like this

It sounds like he likes you. If you like him back, maybe try to be a little more flirty, dress nicer, be more suggestive. If you don't like him in any sort of romantic way, then you need to be very clear with him that you're not interested, or else he'll think you're giving him mixed signals

[Asker]

I'm definitely going to try to dress nicer the next time I see him. Yesterday he did point out this one random girl and said aloud about how he thought I was gonna look like her... I wasn't sure if he meant her hair, which was really nice, or her outfit, which was a light blue one-piece. One of his friends who couldn't go was like "how romantic" when I told him it was just two of us going out to eat lol

[Asker]

It's weird cause some people at work think I went on a date last night lol. It was amazing getting to spend time with him though 😄

[Idonthaveausername]

Lol. Just be yourself and dress nice, laugh st his jokes. He seems like the type to take it slow, so don't pressure him

[Asker]

Gotcha! Thanks for the advice :)

[Abcfابس]

I think he asked that because you kept asking if somebody could come with you 2.

[Asker]

I asked him a couple times before we met up if his other roommate was gonna show, but he never really responded to those so I naturally thought that guy was going to come, but I figured he wasn't, which was totally fine.