While I havent been here in a few years, I remember their meatball sliders to be the best Ive ever had, and their burger is lights out. Up Thai is romantic in its own way. Also primely located for going out afterwards. This is a fun, adventurous date spot for anyone into comedy shows. You ever just want to go on a casual date at an understated cozy restaurant and eat the best burger of your life? Now that Ive prefaced that. The food menu is just as youd expect with an inventive twist: pastrami popcorn, gefilte croquettes and vodka, and dill lox. I think it will be bad if I plan to go there and can't get a table. After 10PM, it does get a little rowdy and loud, but I think thats fun. You get a table front and center, drinks and American comfort food options on the menu. If theyre empty, grab two of those and see if your dates pupils dilate when they look at the menu and read pigs in a blanket. Thats a good sign. Good gastropub food, nice atmosphere and a cool garden area. Theres a relaxed vibe thats hard to find nowadays, so much so that you might just become a regular. For first dates, I used to prefer lively vibes instead of awkwardly intimate spots. Bobo offers both, but I do recommend coming here for dinner. You cant live in NYC and not go to Veselka. Think: alcoholic glow in the dark Capri Suns. The menu boasts French-style cuisine with light bites or heavier entres. I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? Thats what youll find at Iggys, so if belting tunes onstage in front of strangers isnt your thing, you might want to turn around. Your waiter will probably have a French accent, there are outdoor cafe tables, and you can eat an entre-sized portion of steak tartare. To be fully transparent, I went here on a friend date after a breakup. If Filipino and Georgian food arent really your jam, heres a safe bet for the farm-to-table American food lovers out there. Ive been on a date here, and also have come here with girl friends. The menu here is Southern soul food-inspired, and they also serve barrel-aged cocktails and craft beers for a well-rounded, fun dining experience that you ant really get anywhere else! Its also open late night, so you can also do a full dinner, then dessert after if youre feeling very adventurous and money is no object. Theres nothing like a flowers and red sauce Italian food to bring the romance and fun! Great for anyone visiting the city and trying to find a place to go on a date. Behind a door lined with empty ice cream cartons is the shops secret bar. But, I do think The Nomads sexy chicken dish brings romance to any date. And if you do, ask about the bars beer passport program where you can track all the beers you try, and once you hit 100, you get a free shirt! Overall, this is just a nice little bistro. Cheap, Fun, and something very NYC, Wine + park = open container summons? This is the place for an efficient drinks-based first date, with a side of light bites. With all the plants and hanging lanterns, it feels sort of like an indoor garden. I am looking for a casual place that is good for a date on Friday night. If youre looking for the Hong Kong in NYC experience, go to my next suggestion instead. This speakeasy aint cheap, but its certainly memorable. You cannot get a reservation here, so make sure to have a backup plan in Chinatown incase it doesnt work out! If you are not a wine drinker or a cheese eater, please skip this recommendation and move onto the next one. Classic Carrie Bradshaw. Its the perfect spot for when youre feeling too antisocial to do the whole bar scene, but not lazy enough to Netflix and Chill, CMX Cinebistro might be the perfect fit. Editors note: *Must love Bee Gees.*. You get drinks and a show. All rights reserved. Seb and I came here a few years ago and dined in the intimate upstairs dining room. This is not the place. This place is an experience. Just like The East Pole, you can get a macro bowl here, but you can also have a burger or a pork chop. I love this place for a good late lunch because you miss the crowds. Great cocktails, great comfort food, and fun vibes. I'm (25/m) looking to have dinner with a girl(24/f still in school) I just met but seems like a lot of the places I am being recommended are little to fancy for my taste. Granted, I havent been here since 2014, but the reviews Im reading on the Internet seem to agree with my stance. Cafe Mogador is a casual and cozy Moroccan restaurant in the East Village (they also have a Brookyln location) that is good for a dinner, lunch or brunch date. Yefsi does a good plate of octopus, and were down with their meatballs and kebabs. I mean, we brown bagged a wine bottle in an uber and went to a party. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If youve been to Nitehawk or Alamo Drafthouse, youre well aware of this kind of setup. Go to the Gramercy location for drinks and if the date is going well, head out to Petes Tavern across the street and get a late night bite! I also had the most awkward hinge date of my life here, but it would have been 1000000x more awkward if I were somewhere else. Its pricey, but if you want someone to look at you and think of a meadow with birds that dont poop, this place is worth it. Theres a reason that nearly all of the best rom-coms out there were filmed in New York it is, after all, a with options. As for drinks, the names alone will give you a chuckle, but we suggest the Man-O-Manischewitz or the Icarus Parachute, which essentially tastes like an Early Grey Creamsicle dipped in Gin. These places are fancier than your average weeknight dinner spot, but they arent so formal that youll freak out your date. Everything about the bar, from the wittily-named menu items to the wall paintings, is NYC-themed. So, I had to include this place. Talk about charming. This speakeasy is for the swanky cocktail lovers out there in the world. The food isnt going to blow your mind, but thatll help you focus on the task at hand: convincing this person sitting across from you that you floss daily and can do your own taxes. For our 4th, we went to the bronx Botanical Gardens and ate dinner in the Bronx Little Italy. Ive also done my fair share of eating, and honestly, more than my fair share of drinking (especially on dates.) I also think there are different dates for different tastes. Having been in NYC for 8+ years, Ive done my fair share of dating here. Its the perfect balance between exotic and playing it safe, because the menu really does have something for everyone. You can come here for brunch, lunch or dinner, but since its naturally dark inside, I recommend going at night. Need we say more? On the flip side, if your date is going well, its a super fun place to knock back some beers and eat some comfort pub food. (They will if they like good food.) This place is cozy, with leather seats, a few chandeliers, and some outdoor seating when its warm. Do yourself a favor and consult our fool-proof list. Now, isnt that romantic? This is a local spot, with relaxed vibes. Sfoglia looks like it was built for a wedding reception. Drinks to try: The Girls Gossip on the East, served with a flaming strip of corn husk or the Heres Looking At You Bradshaw, delivered with its own condom and cigarette. Sign me up. Its a good mix of healthy/unhealthy, although there are always a lot of vegetables on the menu. It was a good choice. All mussels are served in a pot, soaked in flavors ranging from sake and pickled ginger (The Geisha Girl) to spicy chorizo, olives and red wine (The Spaniard). If you dont get the chicken, you are doing it wrong. This is an adventurous first date spot its a hidden, intimate speakeasy located above a restaurant in the East Village. Cherry on topthey serve delicious $5 burgers all night long. If youre trying to impress your date with your elevated taste and a special upscale speakeasy experience, Dear Irving is the spot. If you are really picky and if you feel any urge to blame me for a date gone wrong, please double check my recommendations to make sure its the right fit for you! If its nice out, sit on the outdoor patio. Okay, The Smith is like the basic betch of date spots, but I like it because its really just a reliable restaurant where you always will have a great time. Order some duck that was raised within biking distance (probably) and have an heirloom something-or-other. How far upper and how far east? To get to the hidden downstairs restaurant, you go through the kitchen and find yourself in another world downstairs. So, keep that in mind when youre reading! But thats why this place is great theyve got something for everyone, and the vibes are great. In Hong Kong, dim sum brunch (AKA yum-cha) is a traditional Chinese meal where families get together to enjoy a multitude of dishes and tea. Whether you go for brunch or dinner, Pig & Khao is an experience in a hot Lower East Side location, which makes it great for the possibility of going out for drinks or dancing after. The restaurant is authentically Georgian (we had it verified by one of our Georgian friends) with delicious comforting dishes and a Georgian wine selection. If traditional Ukranian food isnt your scene, they do have pancakes and mac n cheese. Its a pub, but a nice one. Ive been through the reunite after weeks apart in a long distance relationship dates, awkward tinder first dates that end in a how did I get this drunk, and the best first date of my life (and many more) with my now husband. I used to suggest Westville as a reliable place to dine out with someone Im still getting to know. I went here with Sebastian early on in our relationship, and I honestly forget if there is food. The decor is both rustic, with dark, wooden furniture and historic, with Yiddish theater posters hanging on the walls. You can get a little table in back and eat some seared salmon or a kale salad thats better than it needs to be. The dining room itself is sort of nautical-themed, and it gets dark and romantic at night. A great spot to shake up your routine, the 2nd floor is located above the Second Avenue Deli. For a wedding that takes place in a meadow, with birds flying overhead. If youre on the Upper East Side, heres where you should go. And if youre looking for a full-day date, go to the Bontanical Garden beforehand! Required fields are marked *. The food menu is pretty great, too, with items ranging from chicken sliders to mac n cheese. Theres always a good time to be had at Workshop, no matter the day of the week (note: Tuesdays are trivia night). This is probably the priciest and most high-end on this list. I blog quite often and I genuinely thank you for your information. My trendy dairy-eating people (usually the two dont go together, but Im hoping for the best here,) Caf Select is the date spot for you. Enough that we dont really care that it looks like a generic upscale Greek place from the late 90s. The sheer number of options youll be faced with in terms of mussel treatments might be overwhelming, but thats why the staff are highly equipped to offer recommendationsand you really cant go wrong. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Moving on from that, relationship dates didnt require as much alcohol, but more great food and romantic-ish vibes. I think you need to see the menu for yourself to fully understand what Im saying. This East Village restaurant is full of fun fun dishes, drinks and vibes. Its a great spot to go after work, for dinner, or even for lunch its almost always bustling. At DTUT, cozy up on some couches and make eyes at your lover as you roast marshmallows and try to perfect that golden crisp. There are a few Westville locations around the city, but each of them is pretty small with a casual, cozy vibe. Theres no lack of delicious eateries, crowded bars, and interesting folk. Nom Wah has been open since 1920, so it is old school, but its not like what you get in Hong Kong. I love going to fun restaurants or bars with unique cuisines, and authentic experiences. Felice 83 is owned by the same people behind the Sant Ambroeus mini-chain, so expect consistency and good vibes. I once broke-up with someone here, but that doesnt mean its not a great date spot! The vibes are casual and romantic, but Pierre Loti is usually very busy, which obviously makes a first date less awkward. Who doesnt love free things? Im recommending the Chinatown Jing Fong location, as I have not been to the UWS one. There are two locations, but Ive been to the West Village location, which I highly recommend! Also, this is a great late night date spot if you want to have a sit down meal instead of a dollar slice. Birds that dont poop. The vibes are so chill that it will feel like youre in your living room enjoying each others company and great food. So, Im just going to give you the whole rundown on different spots and why I think they are great. Dip strawberries in chocolate fondue, and sip on some hot toddies. Inside, its cozy and (usually) crowded with tables and a bar. Its also a great brunch spot for the morning after, if you just cant get enough of each other. The TVs are almost always playing Saturday Night Fever, Soul Train episodes are projected onto the back wall and go-go dancers strut across the bar throughout the night. Can you tell I like to be adventurous with my dining date spots?! Not life-changing, but if you and a date have been lost in Central Park for three-plus hours, its one of your best last-minute date options on the east side. Let me just say this: the food is overpriced for what it is, but I went here with Sebastian and we had a good time because it was just a fun experience! This is a casual Swiss spot with a good old shareable fondue pot and a good drink selection. But, we highly suggest you nom over the homemade tater tots. Dante is that nice balance of refined and casual, with a hip and busy geographic location. Just know that this place is very small and that this only enhances its charm. Come here less for the food, and more for the comedy show. There are beer bars, and speakeasies and discosoh my! Pil Pil is a good tapas place on 78th near 2nd, again pretty small and intimate. Press J to jump to the feed. If you want a lively bar to enjoy a drink with a first date and assess the potential of the relationship, this is definitely the place. Who doesnt have a soft spot for smores? Ethyls is a one-of-a-kind UES staple, where all kinds of magic and debauchery will transpire underneath the dance-floor disco ball. Once upon a time, on our third date, Sebastian and I went to the Bronx Little Italy and enjoyed a delicious Italian meal and wine tasting. And if you hit it off over dinner, you can forever relive your special night by ordering Up Thai when youre home watching Netflix (after you put your seven children to sleep). I went here for light bites and negronis with a fellow foodie. I recommend Dear Irving for drinks and atmosphere. Walk into Ethyls with your boo by your side, and believe us, itll feel like youve just walked into Studio 54 at its prime, and in the best way possible. Jones Wood Foundry. They do have food here, but its pricy and just small bites. The vibes are fun and it is almost always crowded on the weekend. If you squint, this place looks like a brick house in the Italian countryside - and if you really squint, it look looks like your eyelids. Its usually crowded, but not overly so. At the end of a hidden alleyway in the Lower East Side, youll find this quaint, low-key Colonial tavern. Your email address will not be published. They also do steak, ceviche, and miso black cod (for some reason). If you like a good dining and drinking adventure, Thursday Kitchen is the place. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. . Or, if your date isnt impressed by awesome things, go for the brisket or lobster ones. The choice is yours. Heres a romantic hidden West Village gem for you! Theres enough action going on around you to make any awkward moments completely not awkward. Its interactive and fun, and a true cultural experience. I try to keep date night casual, because I think fine dining is meant for special occasions.