Date night restaurants

[coyotealli1]

Any suggestions for a good date restaurant (relatively inexpensive - around $$-$$$) with a nice bar and ambience in the following areas:

San Fernando Valley
Calabasas
Thousand Oaks
West Hollywood
Sant Monica

Thanks!

[sarahbeths]

Madame Chou Chou in santa monica, must sit on the patio. Very romantic little bistro.
La Botte in Santa Monica
Blu Jam Cafe in West Hollywood is brunch place that now serves dinner. Not super romantic, but kinda romantic in a low key way. The food is really good and the prices are very reasonable. The berry cobbler I had last week was killer.

Angelini Osteria in WeHo area.

Xiomara in Hollywood.

No better date than good food!

[foodiemahoodie]

Tar & Roses in Santa Monica.
Small plates, lot of choices, lot of wines poured by the glass. Get a buzz, feel indulged. Spark conversation.

I've been there on two (first) dates - and both went quite well.

Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica is also a good choice.

[sablouwho]

Um, I go out for "Date night" quite a bit. I am not sure if you are the guy who is planning the date, or the gal who is trying to steer her man in the right direction (I myself am the latter :). As westsidegal said in her own post, if you could give more info on what kind of date this is, that would be helpful.

For example--is this a first date/blind date/online date? Second date? Or is the "date night" with someone you've been seeing for a while? Additional info would help us give you a more customized recommendation. :)

[sablouwho]

Never been there to eat (have only toured the space and got their insance bacon carmel corn popcorn to go) but may the "back patio" at Tar and Roses? It's a very nice space back there (I am considering it for a private event). It looks to be more romantic/intimate than the front part of the restaurant.

I've heard good things about the food--can't wait to go myself.

[PeterCC]

OP, if you're considering Tar & Roses, definitely make a res. We tried to do a walk-in (walk-up?) and were turned away because they were full. And this was a Monday at like 5:30 PM or something.

[westsidegal]

are we talking first date or are we talking about a date with someone with whom you are already comfortable?

are we talking about a meal that is part of a "larger" evening (i.e. play, movie, etc) or are we talking about the dinner table being the main location of the date?

what dollar amount do you consider to be "relatively inexpensive?"
are you including tax, tip, and beverages in that dollar amount?

[andytseng]

Haven't been, but the cocktail team behind Bow & Truss in North Hollywood is pretty well regarded. No idea how the food is, but I'd give it a shot if I had to go somewhere in the valley.

[PeterCC]

What does $$-$$$ translate to, $30/pp to $60pp?

West Hollywood or thereabouts: Hatfield's
Santa Monica or thereabouts: FIG (50% off) between 5 PM and 6 PM, Blue Stove (in Nordstroms, seriously), Tokyo Kalbi
In Between SM and WeHo: Red Medicine in BH

Will add more as I think of them.

[Servorg]

As good as the food is at Blue Stove, (and I like it) I would not consider it a date night venue. The problem is that a lot of tired shoppers with tired, hungry and cranky kids are in there in droves during the evening. And that makes for a decidedly "unromantic" ambiance in my opinion.

[PeterCC]

Well, I've only been at lunch, and it was quiet and intimate. It was that environment that I was recommending. If you're correct, then I withdraw my rec for that place.

[latindancer]

<Blue Stove (in Nordstrom, seriously)>

Seriously? It's been a long, long while since I've dated but Nordstrom? To take a date?
No.

[PeterCC]

I don't see it as any different than recommending a place that happens to be in a mall or shopping plaza. There are great places that aren't standalone buildings, so I wouldn't not consider it just because it happens to be a restaurant within a store, but if it is crowded with tired shoppers with hungry/cranky kids, as Servorg said above, then, no, it wouldn't be a great place for a date.

[latindancer]

It has always been 'crowded with tired shoppers with hungry/cranky kids' when I've been....with a line to get in.
The food's good and the restaurant is fine but it's just a place where unpredictability is a factor. Regardless of where it's at.

[Servorg]

The line to get in is there. But I have to give them credit for honoring our reservation without any wait at all. The biggest problem I had (added to the cranky tired children and overwhelmed parents) was the absolute traffic gridlock around there on a Saturday night. That was not fun. Good thing I always allow plenty of extra time to get to where I'm going or we would have been late by more than a little bit.

[westsidegal]

if you go to Fig, know that anything you order after the 6pm witching hour will be regular price.
also, know that starting about 5:45 everyone in the place will be trying to get their remaining orders placed before the witching hour and it may be difficult to get your server's attention.

[PeterCC]

Not that anyone should expect to get the discount outside the 5PM to 6 PM hour, but we've been given the discount on desserts we've ordered after 6 PM. Probably wouldn't work for ordering more entrees, but for a potential loss of $6-$12 dollars (assuming two or three desserts in the $6-$8 price range) when we've already ordered a ton of food, it's a great way to generate more good will.

[westsidegal]

may not be restaurant policy, so i wouldn't count on it.
that said, i've not had a problem getting all my orders in before 5:45.

[sablouwho]

Last time I was there I unfortunately DID have a problem getting our final order in...the waiter we had was slammed and we barely saw him. Fortunately another server who came by said she's honor the lower price.

This isn't said to discourage anyone from going to FIG, but rather to let you know that you are really at the mercy of how busy they are/how many tables your particular waiter has, etc.

My advice: watch the clock and be assertive if need be.

[linus]

wow, has dining at fig turned into the next olympic sport?

[PeterCC]

Since we've always been seated after 5:30 PM the several times we've been to FIG, we just order everything at once, except dessert. Sometimes not all the food has arrived by 6 PM, and we feel kinda ... cheap ... asking for the dessert menu before our main courses, so we don't.

But when we have ordered dessert after 6 PM, they've still honored it. As both westsidegal and I have said, don't expect it, but it seems like they have some leeway.

[sablouwho]

LOL--at least as far as FIG @ 5 is concerned, I would say that the answer can sometimes (unfortunately) be yes. Last time I was there at this time the service was exceedingly slow. Fortunately the great eats were still good, though.

[westsidegal]

linus:
there is absolutely no "sport" to it if you get a reservation and start ordering after six.
you will pay their very reasonable regular prices at that time.
you will also, still get the benefit of the three hours of free validated parking they offer patrons.

[linus]

sounds like the competition ends at six then. damn that scalper who sold me the tickets...

i've been to fig. i didn't go because of the parking.

[westsidegal]

as long as i've been going there, fig has always validated for three hours of parking.
of course, i tip in addition. . . .