Best date night restaurants downtown?

[frafflesass]

Recently moved to NYC and having a pretty good (yet sometimes frustrating) time finding interesting "date night" restaurants. We go out once a week, and tend to lean more towards Farm-to-table, New American, French, rustic Italian, and seafood spots. Clearly all the top-tier places are obvious (EMP, Per Se), but what are some other key spots. Really enjoyed Gramercy Tavern, L'Artusi, and Prima, Saxon+Parole was okay. Totally underwhelmed by Locanda Verde and Balthazar.

Bonus points for places will exceptionally executed cocktail menus.

[bartholomeu]

I found Hudson Clearwater pretty great. Their cocktails weren't bad either.
And perhaps Pata Negra if you like wine and tapas?

[LeahBaila]

Second Hudson Clearwater. Adding:
Bobo
Marc Forgione

[kathryn]

Mas Farmhouse if you liked Gramercy Tavern.

Dell'anima if you liked L'Artusi.

I think Public is better than Saxon and Parole, give that a shot.

The restaurants with the best cocktail programs are probably:
Empellon Cocina
Peels
Momofuku Ssam Bar
Fatty Cue
The NoMad
Ma Peche
Freemans
Maialino
The Breslin
Fedora

[Sneakeater]

With Freemans, you have to know your date.

The room and the entire experience are great. The food is close to horrible.

[sugartoof]

Peels is a notch better, and their cocktails are similar.

You can't let the bartenders go of course from their set drink menu, but you can avoid the Freeman's food entirely. I wouldn't suggest this at brunch, when it's best to avoid the crowds at both places.

[BLover33]

agree with Kathryn~Mas Farmhouse great farm-table option. Del Anima delicious especially the octopus . Mailalino great. Freemans.
Would also add:
Rustic Italian - Apizz
BLT Fish - seafood
Standard Grill always yummy and fun
Marc Forgione
Kittichai - thai food
Minetta Tavern

[Sneakeater]

I'm not saying this to be argumentative. I'm really wondering.

Because I date in a suspect demographic, I've found myself eating at Standard Grill many times since it opened.

I don't understand why people praise it.

Sure, it's better (even much better) than you'd expect a restaurant with such a guaranteed and presumably undiscerning crowd to be.

But is it good, relative to other places that charge the same prices but aren't in the Standard Hotel in MePa? I personally don't think so. I wouldn't pay that money for that food, ordinarily.

What am I missing?

[sgordon]

"suspect demographic" - love it...

[thegforceny]

My best dates this year: The NoMad, ACME, Perla

[Sneakeater]

As I keep saying, although I have never to my knowledge been on a date with thegforceny, my dating experiences are very similar to hers.

I'd add Minetta Tavern and Rouge et Blanc.

[kathryn]

How are the cocktails at Perla? They're decent at Joseph Leonard, much better at Fedora, and basically nonexistent at Jeffrey's (no liquor license?).

[Sneakeater]

Decent to good. Not excellent.