Need a good date restaurant

[Brooke1223]

I am looking for a restaurant/tapas bar/etc. with good food and a relaxed atmosphere. A place where you could take a date, and spend the evening talking without being hurried out.

I am open to different types of food. Ideally the place would be on the westside.

Your advice would be very appreciated!!

[Louisiana Mouth]

soooo, where did you end up, what'd you have and HOW'D IT GO?!

[schrutefarms]

I would go for Fig in the Fairmony Miramar Hotel off Wilshire and Ocean (or 2nd, I forget). They do a GREAT happy hour with everything half off from 5-6, it's all small plates, very cute around the pool, and I'll bet you could get in and out for WAY under your budget (providing that you go at happy hour). Oh, and the foods great!!

[foodiemahoodie]

Assuming it's not a first date, and you're doing well - Melisse. Get a booth, carte blanche, wine pairings (with some additional champs) and this will be a memorable date. I did this with an old girlfriend and we fell in love for the third time.

[Phurstluv]

Um, under $100?? At Melisse?? Not likely......

[westsidegal]

melisse would NOT fit Brooke's criterion of: "I would like to keep everything to under $100. Ideally we could eat dinner and each have a glass of wine for that amount."

[foodiemahoodie]

Ah...I missed that post.

[Louisiana Mouth]

You might want to consider Lukshon in Culver City in the Helms Bakery. It's lovely and you could get table outside which is covered I find so comfortable for a date night - replete with sparkly lights and at 5:30 you should have no problem getting in but call. The food is amazing and you can easily share several dishes - I recommend the duck popiah, the sausage stuffed squid, the chicken pops and a noodle dish. I think it'll meet your price point or just above it. Worth it if he is! Good luck! PS - you can always walk down to Father's Office after dinner for a drink and change of venue.

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Lukshon
3239 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90034

[Brooke1223]

I would like to keep everything to under $100. Ideally we could eat dinner and each have a glass of wine for that amount.

Oh, and we are going out tonight at 5:30.

I was dying to try Upstairs 2, but they are closed tonight. Some of the other restaurants are too expensive for the date, but I will definitely be trying them out soon.

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Upstairs 2
2311 Cotner Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[J.L.]

Cafe Angelino
near Robertson & 3rd.
310-246-1177

Get their pizze funghe (mushroom flatbread pizza), and a glass of pinot grigio.

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Cafe Angelino
8735 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[wienermobile]

The 3rd floor patio over looking the 3rd street promenade at Zengo.

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Zengo
395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[New Trial]

I like GHG's suggestion of Wilshire. Fraiche, Tasting Kitchen and Upstairs 2 also work well for dates.

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Upstairs 2
2311 Cotner Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Fraiche Santa Monica
312 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291

[goodhealthgourmet]

ooh, Tasting Kitchen is a great idea!

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Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291

[Phurstluv]

LOVE Tasting Kitchen, though on a busy Saturday, it can get loud, and I doubt they would want you taking the table all night, it is a bit small, esp if yours was an early reservation.

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Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291

[New Trial]

I have taken dates there and have never been rushed or made to feel unwelcome if we lingered.

[Phurstluv]

Oh, that's good to know.

[westsidegal]

please give us a clue about price level.

to me, the lounge area at cafe del rey in the marina would do the trick.
they offer a bar menu or you could order anything that you want from the regular menu.
their food is better than good.
good wine-by-the=glass list.
they also have a full liquor license and capable bartenders.
quiet enough to hear each other.
pretty room with a fireplace.

[goodhealthgourmet]

night of the week might make a difference in terms of atmosphere or feeling pressured to vacate your seats.

- West at Hotel Angeleno could be nice.
- Primitivo on Abbot Kinney, but only if you can score a table on the patio because it gets deafeningly loud inside.
- Hostaria del Piccolo in SM is getting good CH reviews but i don't know what the noise level is like.
- The Misfit, but that's also new & i haven't been there yet.
- Upper West? Bin 73? Wilshire?

i know there have to be other great spots in West LA but i'm blanking...i think i've been out of the dating game AND living in the Marina for too long ;)

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Wilshire Restaurant
2454 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Hotel Angeleno
170 N Church Ln, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Primitivo
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291

Upper West
3321 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Hostaria del Piccolo
606 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[westsidegal]

unless West has changed their menu, there is no way it could come in at Brooke1223's budget. when i was there 2 years ago, most drinks were over $10 before tax and tip (i.e. about $13 after tax and tip).
at a budget of $50/pp all in, can't see how West would work.

Hosteria del Piccolo charges about $16 for a SMALL bowl of pasta. . . .

[Phurstluv]

Did she mention a budget?

Never mind, I see it.

[goodhealthgourmet]

yeah, she didn't mention it until long after i posted those ideas :)

[maudies5]

The Brentwood is a good date restaurant. Be sure to request a booth. The food is good, although, overpriced. Not fussy food and a pretty eclectic menu. You could sit all evening and just have cocktails,appetizers and dessert.

[BSW6490]

The Brentwood is particularly good if your date is unattractive as it is by far the darkest room in the City.

[J.L.]

If that's the case, is there an eatery with a large enough window in the bathroom to crawl out of?