Where to take my gf for bday / romantic dinner?

[winston]

Looking for some great ideas on where to take my g.f. this weekend. Looking for something good food and good ambience. Sushi be the prime choice but im open to suggestions. And of course I d like to be able to pay the bill without requiring a loan modification to the pay the bill.

[aylowe]

Cliff's Edge in Silver Lake.

[orythedog]

Vibrato Grill Jazz...etc. 2930 Beverly Glen Circle
Bel Air, CA 90077

[Psiweaver]

I would suggest The Little Door on West 3rd can be very romantic. I also like Cobra's and Matador's for the same reason. It really depends on what you really love, if she's a fish fiend and amazing food is romantic then i would suggest providence.

[westsidegal]

altough, i, too, love providence, the op stated that he'd
"like to be able to pay the bill without requiring a loan modification to the pay the bill"

to me, that would take providence out of the running.

[tablefor1]

K-ZO in culver city is intimate, unlikely to break the bank and quite good.
the menu is fusion-y, but you can stick with sushi. be sure to try oyster on half shell with uni and caviar!

whatever you do, avoid gonpachi on la cienega.

[westsidegal]

k-zo is my to-go place for sushi.
pretty restaurant
very good sushi
good price/quality and price/quantity ratios given the deor, the type of food, and the location.

[westsidegal]

reasonably priced very good french food, good service, in a very pretty restaurant,
lilly's on abbot kinney in venice

Lilly's French Cafe & Bar
www.lillysfrenchcafe.com

1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291-3386
[phone]

obviously not sushi
can't think of one sushi bar that i'd consider to be romantic. . .

[Ciao Bob]

Hamasaku is mildly romantic and has good food.
Outside at Koi is romantic but I think the food stinks.
Yatai (Sunset) is romantic, inexpensive and has good food. Not sushi per se, but Tatakis, carpaccios, Spicy Tuna/Crispy rice.

[annapurna7]

Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga is pretty romantic IMO.

[westsidegal]

fwiw,
imho
inn of the seventh ray is one of the most beautiful restaurants around.
unfortunately their food is, at best, so so
and
their service is downright awful

[famdoc]

@westsidegal:

Our recent experience at Inn of the Seventh Ray (what's with the name of this joint? too new agey for me) was very different than yours. We were offered our choice of outdoor or indoor seating. Both indoor and outdoor seating areas are attractive and quiet (save for that Windham Hill-style new age music). Food was fresh, local and well-prepared. We particularly enjoyed the heirloom tomato soup and the wild alaskan halibut (I suppose Alaska is not exactly 'local'). Wine list is extensive but well-organized, fairly priced ( a number of Cali whites and reds priced at $50 or less a bottle). Wine manager is very enthusiastic and helpful. We found service to be quite good. Water and wine glasses were filled regularly and courses served and cleared without delay or rush. For two, our check, with tip, was $140...money we felt well-spent.

-----
Inn of the Seventh Ray
128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd, Topanga, CA 90290

[Ciao Bob]

What part of this massive city?

[ipsedixit]

Good sushi joints and romantic, in my book, go together like Spam and ice cream ... in other words, not very well.

If you're willing to consider non-sushi options, I would highly recommend Saddle Peak Lodge, Ortolan, or Melisse.

[wienermobile]

I second Saddle Peak Lodge.

[Obessed]

I think Ortolan is one of the most romantic dinners I've had in this city.

[ozhead]

Third to SPL -- very romantic, great service, great food. Of course, you have to be able to gaze soulfully into the gf's eyes while avoiding gazing into the eyes of the cape buffalo.

In the same (very) general vicinity, and even more romantic -- particularly on a nice warm evening -- is the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga. The food is not as good as the food at the Saddle Peak Lodge, but (1) romance quotient is higher, and (2) no cape buffalo.