My husband and I enjoyed a low-key birthday dinner in this intimate dining room on the upper east side last January. It was magical to look through the floor-to-ceiling windows as snow fell that night. The wine list has a lot of interesting offerings. The menu is well-crafted. Service is professional. Tables along the banquet can be close, but I felt right at home.
How do I qualify a great date restaurant? First, it lets me focus on my date (as opposed to fabulous--or not so fabulous--food, decor, atmosphere, service or celebrity guests). Second, it makes me thankful I have a room at a nearby hotel (The Franklin)
Other winners include:
Nice Matin
Craft
Prune
Hearth
Bouley
P.S. Side-by-side seating is a nice touch, especially on bench seats, if you can swing it.
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