Looking for a date rest. with great food.

[bethanyj]

This is my first time posting-I love this website! So I am looking for a great place to go on a date. I'm not really looking for fancy or typically romantic but a bit more off the beaten track. I love tapas/dim sum spots where you can order and try a bunch of different things. A few of my faves are Hagi and Kuma Inn. Does anyone have other suggestions in this vein?

[JungMann]

Try Alta for an innovative tapas menu in a great setting.

[jthefoodie]

I love 'inoteca for Italian small plates, and since I know you like Japanese food, this isn't really tapas but Aburiya Kinnosuke is awesome - sit at the bar and you'll have plenty to talk about!

[kobetobiko]

Aburiya Kinnosuke is also the first thing that came to my mind! It has more of a Japanese businessmen vibe, and the focus is more on seafood (fish) and robata grill. The sister restaurant Yakitori Tottos has a younger clientele base and a more lively vibe, and there are so many choice for yakitori and different rice bowl (awesome tori don) and many many other small plates, you may have your head spinned! Sakagura is also great if you are into sake.

For spanish tapas, you can try Degustation - it is more initimate (well, actually can be considered romantic) but the food is great. Alta as suggested JungMann is a great choice, so is Tia Pol and Boqueria. I will not recommend Casa Mono for a date dinner, as it is so crowded you won't be able to hear and have a conversation.

[idia]

Zeytin for delicious Turkish food under a huge tent.
Service is friendly, prices are right.

[bethanyj]

thanks for all the great suggestions! I am so excited to try these places.. especially Aburiya Kinnosuke seems right up my alley. THANKS!

[kobetobiko]

Hi bethanyj,

Aburiya Kinnosuke is a great choice! It is one of my favorite izakayas in NYC. However, it is extremely crowded and the wait can be long, so you may want to reserve ahead of time. Also, there are "booths" (more like small side seats with a blind on top, so they feel more exclusive) or general seatings. In front of the grilling kitchen there are also a L-shaped seating areas where you can seat the chefs grill food and cut sashimi and prep in front of you (separated by a window, of course). Depending on where you want to seat, you may want to request that during your reservation or they will seat you randomly.

As for food, there is a large selection, and always a list of "today's specials". Those are usually the freshest and delicious. Usually I won't recommend others to order sushi at a non-sushi restaurant, but I was actually surprised by the high quality of sashimi they had there. You can select the platter (different price range) or what they recommend for the day. In general, I found the seafood (cooked or raw) at AK to be quite fresh and probably prepared.

Robata grill and shichirin grill are two of their specialties there. Not sure if you are familiar with either, but the former they will grill the meat/seafood for you and serve you finished food, while the latter they will actually place the entire grillware on your table to grill the meat yourself. The ones with houba leaf are actually grilling marinated meat of fish on top of a big houba leaf. While the leaf does not give much flavor to the meat and sometimes the meat can be tough, I think it is an interesting experience for people who haven't tried. I have attached a picture of the houba leaf & miso-marinated beef on shichirin grill for your reference.

Last but not least, you can round up the dinner with a hearty, comforting onigiri (rice ball) or the rice in a big iron earthenware pot. The latter takes time so if you want it you may want to order at the begining. It made me feel like my mom is cooking for me whenever I have this! (now I am home sick...)

Some of the servers speak little English, and sometimes I have to be the translater for my friends when ask for things. However, may be because of this, the servres are very very courteous and very attentive and helpful. During crowded time they may be short of hand, but the grilling will keep you busy!

I hope you have a wonderful date dinner! Please report back!