casual, interesting date place w/ potential for a quiet walk afterward

[beckwith]

OK, here's a sort of strange solicitation... but I'm looking for something really specific.

Anyone know of a place to go for a casual, interesting date for dinner or dessert where afterwards you could easily just up and take a nice, quiet walk around?

A good example would be Aroma Coffee and Tea in Studio City...

Anyone have any input on something like this?

Thanks!

B

[SauceSupreme]

No love for the Grove?

In its immediate vicinity are places like BLD and Celadon.

[ipsedixit]

Is it possible to have a "quiet" walk at the Grove?

[LaLa Eat]

No,no love for the Grove.
The most "quiet" walk I have had after dinner in LA at night was in Venice...Lilly's
The Getty rec makes sense, but your walking space is obviously somewhat limited but quite romantic...

[cheesenun]

there a really great little place in venice...it's on Dudley...i think it used to be called 5 Dudley not sure of the name now. it's a little italian place, very authentic, no reservations are taken. when you're done you're right there at the beach. does anyone know the name

[mollyomormon]

Piccolo Ristorante

[andytseng]

I would have recommended Abode, but I think they closed down recently. It wasn't really my favorite spot, but it's right by the Santa Monica pier. I think there are a few restaurants down there, and what with the weather these days, a walk by the beach wouldn't be too cold.

In fact, it'll be warm enough where she'd show up w/o a coat, but when dinner is over, it'll be too cold... a great opportunity to sling your coat over her shoulders. (i'm assuming you're a guy)

[Suebee]

South Pasadena immediately came to mind. Several places to try:

Firefly
Mike and Anne's
Bistro de la Gare

We've had lovely dinners at all followed by quiet strolls around town.

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Mike & Anne's
1040 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Firefly
1009 El Centro St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Bistro de la Gare
921 Meridian Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

[amandine]

Restos in the South Bay are pretty lame, but I'd suggest dinner around the Hermosa Pier (I went to Mediterraneo once, and it wasn't bad. Nice outdoor patio) just so you can take a long sunset walk on the Strand (kind of like a wide sidewalk with the beach on one side and beach bungalows on the other). Or skip dinner altogether and get drinks at Shutters in Manhattan. More low key than walking around SaMo IMO, so depends on what kind of casual you're thinking about.

I'm an Eastsider, so walking by the beach without the 'sketch element' of SaMo and Venice is a draw.

[petecfoodie]

If you want to do Hermosa, take her to La Sosta in northern Hermosa for wine and cheese/antipasti, then go for a walk along the beach. It's normally a pricey place but if you just go for a glass of wine and some antipasti, it won't break the bank and it will seem more casual. I wouldn't advise going to Mediterraneo on a date. Service can be terrible, food is overpriced (unless it's Tuesday night 1/2 price tapas).

[bellabar]

Venice on Abbott Kinney.... I like Lillys or Joes..... It's a Great walking street... grab a Pinkberry after dinner or a coffee... The bar The Other Room is also a nice hang..

[tannazie]

one more -- izayoi in little tokyo. cute yummy place, and there's lots of poeple walking around the area at night (some fun shops to duck into, as well)

[Emme]

in case you go out again... Musha in Santa Monica, Cafe del Rey, and most places in beverly hills, like il pastaio, belwood bakery, nick and stef's, sprinkles (if that's her/your thing), sushi sushi, mako, etc.

[westsidegal]

fwiw, cafe del rey is one of my favorite restaurants, and it is just about my all time favorite restaurant for a date, but i wouldn't call it casual.

[Emme]

yes youre right :) but i still lik it... third date and a walk?

[westsidegal]

i LOVE it as a date restaurant.

i have a first date scheduled for their brunch this weekend.
the guy taking me there will certainly get MANY points for his restaurant selection.. . . .

[beckwith]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. Nobody walks in L.A., right? :p I'll let you know how it goes...

[Quik]

If you dine at any of the restaurants on Lake Ave. in Pasadena (e.g. Smitty's, Magnolia, Green Street Restaurant) you can walk around Caltech's campus afterwards. There are a few ponds with turtles, fish & frogs that are fun to poke around.

Hope your date goes well.

[PayOrPlay]

Urth (any branch) is the easy answer but I'd suggest Coupa Cafe in Beverly Hills. Unusual sorta-Venezuelan restaurant with huge menu, nice sidewalk patio, indoor fireplace for cold nights (if we ever see those again). Slightly expensive but nothing outrageous. And nowhere in LA is as nice to walk around at night as downtown BH.

[JE33]

Piccolo in Venice

[glutton]

This is a great suggestion. When you leave Piccolo and walk along the beach, I suggest heading north, where the boardwalk seems much calmer and a bit more scenic. If you head south after dinner, you won't have much to look at (all the kitschy vendors are shuttered) and there is a heavy sketch element running the boardwalk at the time.

[glutton]

You might try Dodger Stadium, especially in the field level box seats. During the later innings of games these days, when the Dodgers are being crushed and the fans have all left to beat traffic, you could enjoy a very quiet stroll through the Dodger Stadium concourse. Of course, if the Dodgers start winning again, this might change, but you shouldn't need to worry too much about that.

[ipsedixit]

You could do this even if the Dodgers start winning ... LA fans never stay past the 7th inning ... win, lose or draw.

[ipsedixit]

Restaurant at the Getty Center.

[nick_r]

Any of the places on Main Street in Santa Monica are perfect for this.

[glutton]

Venice is good for this. If you went to Joe's on Abbot Kinney, then you could walk down Abbot Kinney or, further afield, into the Venice Canals.

[eileen216]

I recnetly had a meal with boyfriend at Sawtelle Kitchen. It's a cute little Japanese/Italian restaurant. The food is pretty good. Price is reasonable. And it's a cozy place with dim light.

After your meal, you and date can walk around Sawtelle Blvd. Or if you prefer a quiter walk, just walk around the residential area next street over. We often park our car in the residential area. After dinner, we enjoy a nice walk to our car.

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Sawtelle Kitchen
2024 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025