Dating coach Louanne Ward says coffee dates are a faux pas. Her reasoning is cafes are noisy, uncomfortable and crowded. You and your date will be distracted from one another by all the people coming and going. The table creates a barrier between you and your date. Coffee dates tend to be short so you end up firing off interview-style questions. There's not chance to extend the date.
Boring, noisy, and uncomfortable? I feel like that's an excellent first date option. If they can keep you entertained in that environment, they'll keep you entertained when it's 10 years (and 30 extra pounds) into the relationship.