Any affordable places where you can dress up?
The girl I'm dating wants to dress up classy for tonight, but I can't find a place to take her that isn't really expensive. I'm a college student so $50 or less for dinner would be ideal. She isn't a big fan of seafood. Pretty much anywhere in the Greater Los Angeles area I think would be fine as long as its about a 30 minute drive from Glendale.Are there any restaurants where we wouldn't be out of place being dressed up but still keep it affordable? ($10-15 per entree would be ideal, maybe a little more if necessary.)
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If you want to dress up, just do it, and don't worry about being out of place. People will just assume you're going somewhere fancy afterwards.
LA is pretty casual in general -- there are very few places where jacket and tie are required, and also very few places where you'd be out of place in blue jeans and a button down shirt with no tie. But I don't think you'll get too many weird looks if you dress up.
Also, if you go dutch, maybe you can increase your budget (especially since she's the one who wants to go somewhere fancy).
What about going somewhere lowbrow for dinner and then going somewhere fancy for drinks afterwards?
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I gave up all hope about 12 years ago...we went to Patina (on Melrose), and a there was a couple next to us...the guy was wearing a baseball cap and sleeveless workout shirt (like a basketball shirt, but more material)...he also, not surprisingly, sat on the wall side, facing out (call me old fashioned, but in my book the woman always sits against the wall).
It was so disheartening that I almost never go to any "fine dining" restaurants in LA anymore - it really spoils the mood!
I'm not expecting people to wear tuxes, or even ties when dining out, but make some kind of effort. Probably an uphill battle, though. I was a guest at Brentwood CC for their annual hanukah party last month...they have a fairly standard cc dress code (not hats indoors, no cargo pants/shorts, tucked in shirts, no jeans)...many of the men were wearing jeans, sneakers and untucked dress shirts (the uniform of the LA man)...I was really surprised that the club didn't say anything.
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Check out Far Niente.
http://www.farnienteristorante.net/me...The entrees are out of your price range but the pasta dishes are ok. If you go ask for the cheese when you sit down.
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I have not been myself, but based on everything I've read Dal Rae sounds like it would be a fun place to get dressed up. Taylor's too, but that might be a bit more than you want to spend.
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How about the Smoke House in Burbank? It's an old school steak house that isn't too expensive, and they have great music on Friday nights. The last time we ate there on a Friday, the lead singer of the band said he used to open for Sinatra.
http://www.smokehouse1946.com/smokeho...
P.S. I think the food at the Smoke House is much better than Taix.
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Thanks for all the suggestions. I will probably end up going to Taix restaurant, but I will keep the other places in mind for future dates.
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You do have a pretty tall order Gspar, but I do have a couple places in mind (3 actually). Top of the list for value is Luca's in Toluca Lake, particularly if you arrive before 7. Any pasta dish, salad and a glass of house wine for $14.50. A later time for dinner will cost more of course but still very affordable. It's a very cute little place, low lit in the evening and you should feel quite comfortable dressed up. Next I'm thinking of a very pretty South American restaurant on Silver Lake Blvd. called El Caserio that should fit your budget nicely. I've always enjoyed the food there as well. Lastly, and a bit (but not much) pricier is the hip and happening (for Highland Park at least) Maximiliano's on York. You won't feel in the least out of place putting on the dog dress-wise there. And M.'s pork and chicken entrees are super, and good value as well. Have a great date.
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re: bechamelmacho
I did not know of Luca's and yow! That before 7pm special looks amazing!
Any of the pasta's you especially rec?
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Head down to Taix, an easy hop on the 2 freeway from Glendale. Get the Roast Chicken with pommes frites for $14, and $4 gets you a salad on the side and their great clam chowder.
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re: whatsfordinner
And keep Dominick's Sunday supper in mind for the future.
Three courses, good stuff, for $15 and discounted bottles of beer or wine. A really fun place.
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How about AOC? Two small plates apiece and a shared dessert would get you out the door for about $60, I'd say. Wine and tip rapidly ups the ante...
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re: silence9
westsidegal
Jan 12, 2013 10:37 AM
two small plates and a shared dessert at AOC would have me starving at the end of the meal.
also, the publicity/show business crowd that feels that designer jeans is what you wear to everything except an opening or a charity event seemed to dominate the scene there a couple of years ago.
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This is definitely a challenge. Would it be acceptable to go to a classy restaurant that allows for casual dress? I've done that in the past; dressed up with my date to go to a restaurant that doesn't necessarily require formal, but fits with it. I'm thinking specifically of Taix. You can dinner there for sub-$50 and enjoy live music and a subdued and quirky ambiance. Cafe Beaufolais in Eagle Rock is another such option, though they might be a little pricier. For your instance, the drawback of either place is that you very well might see someone at the next table in shorts and flip-flops.
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re: lastofthepirates
Will Owen
Jan 11, 2013 03:57 PM
Cafe Beaujolais is pricier, and considerably more rowdy, at least the last two times we've gone there. Tables of people screaming to each other, and spotty service. The food has gone downhill, too.
We like Taix, and the food is definitely both reasonably priced and quite good, as old-fashioned French goes. La Vie is another favorite, and we always dress up a bit for it, although we're often surrounded by folks in sweats and jeans. But this is SoCal, kids …
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DineLA, find a place with $35 dinners and it'll be $70 + tax/tip. There's a few $25 options in there but I took a quick look and I think "dressy" would be overstating it...
Probably as good as it's going to get...
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re: estone888
I think Carousel is a fine idea. An older crowd in general, but not geriatric (nothing wrong with either of those things, just stating). Unique experience in LA. Though, I will say that the dressing up at Carousel seems a bit to do with cultural norms, but it certainly classes the place up.
Note: it can be loud.
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Try Barones in the valley....there is usually music and dancing as well. Swiss Chef is another option but a little pricier. The chef comes out and sings!
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