Always sit next to her on a date, not face to face

Sitting directly across from someone is too formal. It feels like a job interview, and it forces you to stare at her the whole time. When you sit next to each other, you can talk naturally, look over at her when you want to make a point, and then look away again. More importantly, it makes breaking the touch barrier dramatically easier. When she is sitting across the table, your options are limited to things like asking to see her nails. When she is beside you, casual physical contact happens far more naturally. A couch or bench against a wall is ideal, but even regular chairs work if you position them next to each other.