421427 Sun Jul 15 20:14:01 -0700 2007 18 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 2752596 Hi everyone, Originally I had posted asking for good Italian places in DC, but I've changed my mind. My boyfriend and I are celebrating an anniversary and I'm looking for a great, *romantic* restaurant that isn't exorbitantly expensive. I've noticed that several of these restaurants (such as 1789 and dino) have prix fixe specials for the summer which seemed pretty reasonable. What would you choose? I'm looking for great food, decent enough value and romance. Thanks! Other recommendations welcome. (What about PS 7's, Taberna or Palena?) Sun Jul 15 20:14:01 -0700 2007 111909 Laurenh87 1 2752946 As long as your goal is a romantic experience, you can scratch Corduroy from your list. That restaurant is all about the food. You'll have a glorious culinary experience in a setting that has all the ambiance of an airport concourse. I think 1789 is a contender, with a warning. You'll need to check with your boyfriend as to whether his definition of romantic includes a jacket since this is one of the few DC restaurants with a dress code. Ties are not required, but gentleman are required to wear jackets. (The restaurant does have some jackets to lend patrons, but wearing borrowed clothes sounds like a real mood-killer for a romantic evening.) There are many rooms in this restaurant, each with a different ambiance. While the downstairs room with the fireplace is considered the prime room, I'd recommend two specific tables in the Manassas room for coziness. There are two tables for two along a short banquette tucked into a little niche in the room. Those were occupied with young couples our last time dining at 1789. The food is excellent and the price with the coupon is amazing value. The word "romantic" and Tabard Inn come up with great regularity, but I have no personal experience. Taberna del Alabardaro is the European version of 1789. That is both share a rather old-fashioned, civilized, decor and ambiance. We used to eat at Taberna with some regularity, but it has fallen off our radar screen after a very condescending experience during Restaurant Week. Unless Taberna is offering specials, I don't think it will fit your budget. It is certainly every bit the equal pricewise of 1789, and I see that fits into your budget only because of the summer special pricing. Mon Jul 16 03:21:43 -0700 2007 2752596 61567 Indy 67 2 2752995 I agree that Corduroy is not romantic. The food is fabulous, but walking into a Sheraton for dinner does not set a romantic mood! Tabard can be romantic - especially the outdoor patio, weather permitting. If you can reserve outside on a nice evening, it's a winner. Tabard's parlor is also very romantic, but I like it best in winter when you can enjoy the fireplace. While the folks on this board do love Dino, it's just too crowded and casual to be really romantic. Also, it can get really warm in there during the summer. I've always had lovely experiences at 1789. Do sit downstairs, though. It's not very romantic upstairs. The service is warm and professional, and the ambiance allows for quiet conversation. The layout of PS7 is good for conversation and privacy - there are multiple levels so tables are somewhat distant from one another. I found the service to be uneven, though the food is creative. There are also tables at Zola that offer a good deal of privacy in a lovely setting. I haven't eaten there in a while, under the current chef, but the space is very nice. How about 701, overlooking the fountains at Navy yard? Mon Jul 16 05:11:17 -0700 2007 2752946 78030 dcandohio 3 2753077 I second 701. Moderate prices, good food and service, a jazz pianist. An excellent choice. Mon Jul 16 06:08:35 -0700 2007 2752995 12690 Dakota Guy 1 2753046 My boyfriend surprised me this past winter with a romantic dinner at 1789 and in my opinion he certainly succedeed. I find the restaurant very old-school DC and romantic. Plus the food is excellent and the service is some of the best in the city. The fact that they have a special going on this summer is even better because it makes it much more affordable. Tabard Inn---especially the back courtyard area---has a very romantic environment as well but in terms of food I think 1789 and Dino is far superior. I think Palena is another great choice and one of my favorite restaurants in DC. It can run pretty pricey though but in my opinion its worth it. Romantic environment in one of the best restaurants in the city. One restuarant not on your list is Cashions. I personally find this excellent neighborhood spot romantic if you are seated in the right spot. The service is very good and the food is usually season fresh. Plus its more in the range of Dino as compared to 1789 and Palena. Mon Jul 16 05:51:24 -0700 2007 2752596 76776 Elyssa 1 2753052 Also another cute little restaurant you might want to consider is Bistro D'Oc. It's classic french food at its best (my favorite dish is the duck confit!) and has little tables where you can have an intimate conversation. What's more romantic then french food anyway!? :) Completly affordable as well. Mon Jul 16 05:53:32 -0700 2007 2752596 76776 Elyssa 1 2753131 We had an incredibly awful dinner at the Tabard Inn about a month ago. Really, they did everything wrong that they possibly could have done wrong. Long wait even though empty tables everywhere and the confused hostess apparently forgetting about people waiting right next to her (we weren't the only ones!), bad food, bad drinks, wrong food, forgot to bring appetizer, brought it after dinner, tasted awful, disappearing server, confused server, confused kitchen, long wait for bill. Yeah, we had good memories of the Tabard Inn from years ago, and the patio is lovely, but the whole evening was just a comedy of errors. I wouldn't recommend it! Mon Jul 16 06:36:42 -0700 2007 2753061 10253 wookyluvr 2 2753179 Wow! That sounds like a disaster. I hope you spoke to the manager or something to point out the terrible service. I should say that while my experience was never anything like wookyluvr, the service I experienced was pretty good. One time for dinner much better then when I've been for brunch. But that just might be brunch. During brunch it was sometimes difficult to get my servers attention etc...but nothing too bad. Mon Jul 16 06:57:34 -0700 2007 2753131 76776 Elyssa 1 2755011 Another place that isn't on your list, but I find very romantic, is Bombay Club. They serve Indian food (sorry - I realize this is obvious) and there is a large vegetarian selection which keeps the prices low considering the quality and the gentle old-Raj feel of the room. Mon Jul 16 14:35:38 -0700 2007 2752596 56762 LulusMom 2 2755029 it blows my mind that because of people on this board Dino has made on to a list like this, its average at best! Mon Jul 16 14:39:59 -0700 2007 2755011 94470 elegantelliot 3 2756908 Count me as someone who hasn't drank the Dino Kool-Aid. It's OK, but my one meal at Tabard (under the former chef) was significantly better than anything I've had at Dino. And on par with Corduroy? No way, and I think even the Dino fans would agree with me on this. Tue Jul 17 08:00:00 -0700 2007 2755080 23639 chickenlover 3 2755303 this conversation....deja vu all over again (hey, it's DC...i can use that term) However, everyone's version of 'romantic' is different. Some think it's wait staff that will know how to take care of you, even if the food is average, because you're a many-repeat customer. Some think it's fancy atmosphere...or a hip one. My version of a romantic dinner would be falafal at Amsterdam Falafal, or a dinner at Simply Home on U Street, which is dimly lit, has low tables with candles, good food, and you can take a walk on a nice night afterwards. So to be fair, everyone is different. Mon Jul 16 16:31:24 -0700 2007 2755029 51422 Jeserf 4 2755678 Simply Home flies below the radar. It is VERY relaxing there, and the food is quite nice. Then you can walk over to Chi Cha lounge, which I also think can be romantic. I agree, romantic can be many things to many people...one of our favorite romantic evenings is it eat in Cleveland Park (even a snack at Cleveland Park Bar and Grill or a slice from Vace, or a nice meal at a much nicer place) and then to walk all the way to Dupont Circle. It's a lovely walk, downhill, and we always feel very romantic when doing it on a beautiful evening. Mon Jul 16 18:44:56 -0700 2007 2755303 78030 dcandohio 5 2756444 i love simply home. it's a little less expensive and upmarket then Rice, but has great service, great food, and a good atmosphere. It's very cozy. Tue Jul 17 04:48:04 -0700 2007 2755678 51422 Jeserf 1 2756910 Having eaten at both Dino and Corduroy, I agree with other posters that the food at both is excellent but I don't consider either romantic. My experience at 1789 is based on a visit a long time ago but I definitely consider that a romantic restaurant . However, as indicated previously - a jacket is required. I think the prix fixe special certainly make it an excellent value. Tue Jul 17 08:00:12 -0700 2007 2752596 50170 FayeD 1 2757121 Admittedly, I haven't been to Tabard in a few years, but that restaurant was at a time my wife and my favorite. We now live in Bethesda with 3 kids, so always get side-tracked before making it down there WHEN we ever get the chance to go out. I've always thought the food there was fantastic. And, the atmosphere is outstanding. It's where I proposed to my wife. I'm no amateur when it comes to dining out... I've been to CityZen, Maestro, Alaine Ducasse in NY, Tom Kelleher's restaurant in Time Warner (I can't remember the name, but I've been there twice- starts with a "P" I think). Tabard isn't on par with any of those restaurants, but I think it's very good (or, at least was!). Tue Jul 17 08:55:01 -0700 2007 2752596 17318 food dude 2 2757137 Per se is the restaurant you're thinking of, and it's Thomas Keller, not "Tom Kelleher" Tabard is very very far from being on par with any of those restaurants. Tue Jul 17 08:58:10 -0700 2007 2757121 49180 jpschust 3 2757152 but Tabbard is fun, has good donuts and bloodies, is cute, and the food is above the quality of MOST anything within 2 blocks of dupont circle. Tue Jul 17 09:01:05 -0700 2007 2757137 51422 Jeserf 4 2757211 cute, doughnuts and bloodies I'll give you, food, not so much. there's plenty of good places to eat within 2 blocks of Dupont (if we can consider dupont circle from the circle itself to the massive intersection at M street north to Florida since that's all really the core of DuPont. Some places that are of high quality: Firefly Nora Ruth's Chris (ok it's a chain, and not the best steakhouse in dc, but the food is ok and of decently high quality) Vidalia (stretching the 2 block radius but it's right there) Penang is pretty solid imho I can go on :) Tue Jul 17 09:12:02 -0700 2007 2757152 49180 jpschust