good date restaurant in nyc

[Hofman777]

Looking for a good date restaurant in NYC...would prefer midtown east or somewhere in the village/flatiron/chelsea/gramercy. Have been to The Place before and it was perfect...any suggestions?

Thanks!

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The Place
310 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014

[jaba]

check out Meme in the west village.

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Meme
581 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

[Hofman777]

That could work. Does anyone have any other ideas? maybe one in midtown east?

[Sneakeater]

Apparently Masa.

[Hofman777]

That's a little out of my price range...

[Sneakeater]

I realize. I was talking about [url=http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8205...].

[Simon]

hi...some more specifics might be good:

-- First date?...second date?...what kind of vibe?...
-- budget w/ tax and tip?
-- any cuisine preferences?

[Hofman777]

Budget is about what I spent at the place (about $100 before tip) but would prefer a little less if possible but that level is okay.

It's a second date and no real cuisine preference that I know of but would prefer to play it safe since I don't know that much about her cuisine preferences.

[Simon]

a few ideas: Malatesta, Rouge et Blanc, Cercle Rouge...if you want to play it less safe cuisine-wise, Kin Shop.

Another thing to consider is mixing it up a bit, based on where you went on the first date: for example if the first date was dinner at a table in a restaurant, then consider going to a wonderful place yet eating at the bar (e.g. Scarpetta), or getting tapas somewhere like Tia Pol...i'd avoid a repeat of the same style/setting/cuisine...personally i like adding fun unpredictability to the progression: a combo of upscale bar dining, sushi, wine bars, tapas, and inexpensive Chow-ish places w/ authentic food that wouldn't be traditionally thought of as date places...

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Malatesta
649 Washington St, New York, NY 10014

Tia Pol
205 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Cercle Rouge
241 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10013

Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014

Kin Shop
469 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Rouge et Blanc
48 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[Hofman777]

Those are good ideas...do you know of any place in midtown east? My date and I both like wine so maybe a wine bar?

Thanks!

[Simon]

in Midtown East, i usually only eat Japanese food...there is a dark little bar in the back of the French restaurant Jubilee in Midtown East: Jubilee is too older-married-couples in vibe for a second date, but the bar might be a fun stop or even a place to get dessert, on this date or a futture date...

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Jubilee
347 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022

[princeofpork]

Just opened Terrior on 3rd and 32. There is also Vino 33 on 3rd and 33rd. Nice and romantic. Both wine bars.

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Vino 313
201 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016

Terroir
439 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

[Hofman777]

Vino 313 isn't a bad idea but Terroir seems to just have sandwiches/small stuff and wine.

I have never been to a wine bar but figured it would also have real "entree" esque food as well. I don't want to look cheap or anything by going to a restaurant where the food is paninis/pizza.

[princeofpork]

You wont look cheap if you order a nice bottle of wine and a nice Charcuttire platter.
You could also go over to Cask as it has a tonn of beer and wine with a wide variety of food as well. Dimly lit makes it a nice date place.

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Cask
167 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016

[uwsister]

If Japanese food is OK - I think it's pretty safe these days - you might consider Sakagura. A variety of small plates to share (only few contain raw fish) great selection of sake, good desserts, and I find the atmosphere date-appropriate. Cozy, intimate. I would've certainly liked it in my single days if my date took me there.

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Sakagura
211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017

[adido]

This is what I think could be date worthy in midtown on the east side. I'm not saying any of these are blow your mind amazing or cutting edge but are what is good in the area.

The Smith, 2nd ave and 51st st (east village off shoot, hip and lively)
Bateau Ivre, 51st st and 2nd ave (french wine bar, dark and bistro-y)
Bar and Books, 1st ave and 50th st (I think) (not sure if they serve food, off the beaten path and quiet)
Dos Caminos, 50th and 3rd (i think) (BR guest restaurant group place)
Chin Chin, 49th and 3rd (upscale chinese)
The National, Lex and 50th (decent hotel resto)
Inoteca, 3rd ave in the 30s

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Dos Caminos
825 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10022

Chin Chin
216 E 49th St, New York, NY 10017

Le Bateau Ivre
230 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022

Beekman Bar and Books
889 1st Ave, New York, NY 10022

'inoteca
323 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

The National
557 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

The Smith
956 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022

[Hofman777]

Maybe I should have mentioned this earlier but I eat fish but not meat and she is the opposite so a tapas place doesn't quite work as does a place where we would get a charcuterie platter. If possible I'd like a place that's a little further north than those suggested (maybe a place in the high 40s or 50s or low 60s?). We may go to Rockefeller center afterwards so the proximity would be helpful...

Thank you!

[adido]

This new info is very helpful, thanks. You’ll have to look at the menus to figure out preference by food choice.

Fig and Olive on 52nd and 5th
Bar room at The Modern (bar at the moma)
Le Petite Maison (lower level of beautiful town house on 54th st)
Ma Peche 56th and 5th (aka momfuku midtown)

Yelp and goolge both have "restaurant nearby" features if that will help you narrow it down by how close to rock center you want to be. Also the closer to rock center the more expensive the places or the wider the cost gap of food choices (low end fast places vs expensive dining.)

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The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

Fig & Olive
10 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10021

Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

La Petite Maison
13 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019

[foodwhisperer]

Acqua or is it Aqua grill is not bad for a date. Then again depends on price, what kind of food, atmosphere. On the upper east side, Atlantic Grill must be the most popular first date restaurant around.

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Aquagrill
210 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Atlantic Grill
1341 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10021

[coasts]

People hate on it, but I still like it - The Food Hall at The Plaza. First of all, there's nothing wrong with starting a date at the Plaza. walk through like you own the place. Second, the Food Hall is lively and there's plenty to see and talk about. The wine list is affordable and approachable, as is the food menu. You can grab macarons from Payard on the way out and eat them on your walk. In fact, you could make a thing of it and stop for more macarons at Bouchon and Maison du Chocolate, both near Rock.

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La Maison du Chocolat
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020

Plaza Food Hall
1 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019

Bouchon Bakery
1 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

[Simon]

Strong disagree (i wouldnt even consider going to the Food Hall at Harrods in London on a date, and the Plaza Food is like trashy cramped version of Harrods). But to each their own. I suppose it could be fun in a kitschy moment, but the layout is pretty uncomfortable even for that

[Hofman777]

I'd rather not do a food hall. Does anyone else have any suggestions about places in Midtown East?

[coasts]

why? what does food hall mean to you? you don't have to bus your own tray or anything. you say "a food hall" like there are others in New York. i don't know of any other place similar to the hall at the Plaza.

[StevenCinNYC]

I like the Food Hall. The chef at the Pizza station is nice, and I always talk with him. The food is good, and it's a fun approach.

I would also add The Breslin.

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The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

Plaza Food Hall
1 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019

[uwsister]

Yeah, I would have to say no - when you're already boyfriend and girlfriend, okay, but for a first or second date? I'd be pretty disappointed if a guy took me to the food hall at the Plaza.

[coasts]

agreed, but given OPs requirements I thought it fit.

wine bar with entrees - check
upper 50s/60s - check
serves fish and beef - check
wide variety of options - check
under 100 for two with wine - check

i stand by the suggestion. regardless, OP must have had this date by now. so, where'dya go??

[RussianGirl]

Cello - 53rd between 2nd and 3rd. Great date place - small, intimate wine bar with good food. And meat/cheese plates. Report back.

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Cello Wine Bar
229 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022

[Hofman777]

I went out on my date last night. We wound up going to Le Bateau Ivre. The food was pretty good (I had the arctic char) and they had a really big wine selection which was a plus. I would definitely go back. The only negative was that it was a little loud at times. Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

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Le Bateau Ivre
230 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022