Trying to figure this out when it comes to girls?

First of all I was raised to treat a girl right and to make sure when you take her out, do it right. Make sure you take her to nice places and things like that. Yet on the other hand I see some guys take their girl to some common cheap places like mickey d's or subway and things like that and even then cheap out even further. After all that the girl stays with them. When I do what I stated above by taking the girl to a nice place like maybe outback or something like that I still never get the girl. When on a date what is important to make sure the girl feels like you are interested her and make her feel special? Because with the situation I don't understand what's going on.