It's Just Lunch Review (2026): Cost, How It Works and What Clients Say

How does It's Just Lunch work?

It's Just Lunch arranges first dates rather than giving you a profile directory to browse. The published process has six stages:

1. Interview: discuss yourself and what you want in a partner.
2. Match selection: receive a first name and description. IJL says it does not reveal your address, last name, phone number, email or workplace.
3. Meet: IJL books lunch, after-work drinks or brunch.
4. Give feedback: tell the matchmaker how the date went.
5. Pause if there is a spark: put the search on hold while exploring a connection.
6. Enjoy the dates: the service centers on meeting face to face.

The August 2023 court order describes phone interviews with dating specialists lasting 45–60 minutes, followed by a video welcome meeting with a matchmaker. The order records CEO testimony that IJL employed 15 matchmakers. That is historical evidence, not a current staffing count.

IJL's FAQ says no background checks are conducted. IJL offers multi-city packages, but does not offer free membership. Ask which office will handle your search and where introductions can take place. Our first date ideas in NYC guide can help you think through the lunch-and-drinks format.

How much does It's Just Lunch cost?

It's Just Lunch publishes no price and positions itself between apps and high-end matchmakers. New York clients report $800–$1,000 for three dates, including a three-month package, and $10,000 for eight dates over six months. These are historical reports, not offers.

The official FAQ directs prospective clients to call for a package. Compare the amount, promised introductions and deadline together. A reported payment does not establish what a new client will be quoted.

Other reported structures include 12 dates without a time limit and 24 dates within 30 months. ConsumerAffairs reports a $2,000–$4,000 range. LUMA, a competing matchmaker, reports $2,000–$5,000. Those summaries do not cover every payment above. For a wider budget comparison, see what matchmakers in NYC charge.

What do refunds, cancellation and the contract cover?

Ask for your agreement before paying. Have the office explain what counts as a delivered date, the deadline, pause fees and the refund calculation. A verbal description of flexibility should appear in the written proposal if it affects your decision.

New York's dating-service law sets rules for these contracts. Read what a matchmaking contract should say and GBL § 394-c; this review makes no finding about IJL's compliance.

What do clients say?

The platforms give different pictures. Keep each office and review population attached to its numbers; a national profile cannot tell you how your assigned team will perform.

In the supplied sample, few or slow dates appeared in five of ten recent Yelp New York reviews and two of six BBB NYC complaints. Matches allegedly ignoring stated preferences appeared in three of ten Yelp reviews and two of six BBB complaints. Refund refusals appeared in three of six BBB complaints. These overlapping counts describe the sample, not all customers.

Sales pressure and upsells appear in individual accounts: an October 2026 Yelp reviewer described a LUX upsell after paying $3,200. A September 2025 BBB reviewer described paying $7,700 beyond an initial $4,000. BBB complaints and business replies also dispute whether declined matches should consume dates.

Positive accounts praise handled logistics, responsive matchmakers, privacy and members seeking relationships. Yelp reviewer Kim J. praised the convenience in September 2026. The five-star shares on ConsumerAffairs and Trustpilot show substantial positive feedback alongside the complaints. Neither platform's review distribution measures relationship success.

What happened in the lawsuits?

Rodriguez v. It's Just Lunch International, filed in New York federal court in 2007, was a false-advertising class action. Final settlement approval came in March 2020. New York class members who spent more than $1,000 received $200.

Vrugtman v. It's Just Lunch International was filed in California federal court in November 2020. On August 25, 2023, the court denied class certification and granted IJL summary judgment. Separately, a 2013 EEOC consent decree provided approximately $900,000 to resolve allegations that IJL refused to hire men for sales roles.

How does It's Just Lunch operate in New York?

BBB and Yelp list 52 Vanderbilt Ave in Midtown. BBB identifies the NYC entity as It's Just Lunch! Inc. and lists Melissa Brown as president, along with four past Manhattan addresses. The official NYC page lists a phone number rather than a street address.

The NYC page does not name local matchmakers. IJL has separate pages for Long Island, Fort Lee, Stamford and Morristown. Ask whether the proposed package covers your actual dating radius and who will own your feedback. IJL's LGBTQ+ page says that service is currently offered in California only.

What are the pros and cons?

• Convenience: IJL selects matches and books dates, reducing the scheduling work.
• Privacy: IJL describes limited identifying information shared with a match.
• Price: some historical client payments offer a smaller commitment than a luxury retained search.
• Positive experiences: ConsumerAffairs includes many favorable reviews.
• Transparency: prices and the full membership contract are not published.
• Screening: IJL conducts no background checks.
• Local feedback: BBB NYC and Yelp New York have low customer averages.
• Contract risk: BBB replies describe refused refunds; the date guarantee does not promise fit.

Who is It's Just Lunch for, and who should skip it?

It's Just Lunch may suit a busy professional who wants someone else to organize low-pressure first meetings. The format makes most sense if you accept a defined number of dates and can evaluate each introduction without expecting a promised relationship.

Skip IJL if background checks are essential. If your criteria are narrow, ask how the proposed search can meet them before committing. If a clear refund right is essential, do not buy until the written clause meets your needs. We would compare the agreement with your priorities before choosing the package length.

What are the alternatives in New York?

Compare the purchase unit as well as the fee. These services offer different ways to delegate the search.

For more options, compare the best matchmakers in NYC. Request the same details from each firm: introductions, active term, screening, pauses and cancellation.

Sources and prices checked October 30, 2026. Firms can offer corrections through our contact page.