I don’t believe there is such a thing as a perfect relationship, but I do think I am lucky to have a pretty great marriage. Mr. Gutierrez and I have been through a LOT in our nine years together. We have our moments like any couple, but he is the literal yin to my yang.
One of the biggest reasons I think we have continue to have a strong marriage is that we prioritize each other and our time together. Sometimes, you have to skip girls night or put on the uncomfortable heels. If you are Mr. Gutierrez, sometimes you need to clean the bathroom or duck out of work early.
For a long time, I thought that taking time out of our schedule and money out of our budget to make date night work was selfish. But once we started scheduling a babysitter regularly, having a few date nights at home, we only grew closer.
It is totally obnoxious, but I still get butterflies when I get dressed up for date night. A little lipstick, spritz of perfume, just take me back to our days before we were parents. And the fact that we live in the city we fell in love with, makes it all the better!
I’ve put together our date night favorite restaurants for you guys, after much request! While these are our favorite places to go when on our own, we have also brought my oldest along to each and every one of them.
Date Night Favorites
There are those places that you go to over and over and over. These are ours.
- Fonda – We usually frequent the location in the East Village, but have also been to the one in Chelsea and both are fantastic. The margarita is on point, and their menu is always incredible.
- Pig Beach – This is more for a fun day date, or those gorgeous summer nights where you need to be outside. It is totally worth the trip to Brooklyn, and it is hands down the best BBQ we have ever had in New York.
- ABC Cocina – There is a reason you need a reservation days ahead to hit up ABC Cocina. It is beyond incredible. Every dish is outstanding, the decor is gorgeous, and it is in my favorite neighborhood.
- L’Artusi – This is a fancy restaurant in disguise. It is completely unpretentious, but the food is on another level. Another one you want to make a reservation for in advance, but it is worth it. Never hurts to grab a seat at the bar, either!
- Sugarfish – Sushi is my favorite thing to go out for, especially when there are no kids in tow. Sugarfish is THE BEST sushi. It isn’t a place where you are going to go get some over the top special roll. This is the real deal. They have a “Trust Me” menu that we always order from as it takes all the work out of sushi. Just an added bonus is that there is no gratuity at Sugarfish. Everything is worked into the pricing.
“Budget” Favorites
Sometimes, you don’t want to spend all of your money on a single meal, and you need to be in and out for under $100 (which can be surprisingly hard in NYC, unless you are eating at Chipotle). These restaurants don’t lack in service, ambiance or decor.
- The Smith – This place is our neighborhood “spot”. We take friends here, do brunch, grab a quick breakfast, and always end up walking over for a last minute date night. The East Village location is by far my favorite, but The Smith at The NoMad hotel is pretty fab, too.
- Red Rooster – Trust me on two things. Red Rooster is worth the trip to Harlem. And you have to order the chicken for two. It is to die for, and you can probably squeeze a bottle of wine in and still make it out for under $100.
- Ippudo – Ramen is my love language, and this is the best the city has to offer. They don’t take reservations, so it can be a bit of a wait. But they will take your number down and text you ten minutes before your table is ready, so you can walk down the block and have a drink at a local pub while you wait! My advice? Go spicy or go home!
- Posto – This little local Italian place is super cute and romantic. Plus, their pizzas are delicious and perfect for date night. We love to share a bottle of wine, an antipasti, and pizza for a quick date mid week.
- Haru – This chain sushi restaurant is an easy way to have delicious sushi without any faff. Totally different from Sugarfish, their special rolls can’t be beat, and their prices are super reasonable. While it is a chain with a few locations, the Wall St spot is gorgeous and the food is delish!
Special Occasions
Sometimes the occasion requires a splurge, you need to celebrate, or you just want to have an extra special meal. These are those restaurants! I hope you are taking notes!
- Serra on the Roof – This is the restaurant on top of Eataly in the Flatiron district. If you want to go for a meal that is fit to impress, won’t disappoint on the food and really wows in ambiance, this is where you need to go. The menu is seasonal, but you can bet that every single dish is going to be better than the next. Definitely make a reservation for this spot or plan to wait for a seat at the bar. It’s worth it and oh so romantic.
- Benjamin’s Steakhouse – If your man loves a good piece of meat, this is where you need to go. Not only are the steaks incredible, everything else will blow you away. Their wine list is longer than Santa’s, and has something for everyone. Don’t skip the wedge salad, Brussels sprouts or dessert here.
- Nobu – There may be a bit of nostalgia making me biased, but I still love Nobu, all these years later. Nobu 57 is one of the most incredible spaces, and they do fish RIGHT. My favorites are the squid “pasta”, rock shrimp and yellowtail sashimi. And always a piece or two of toro.
- Landmarc – While this is a relatively mid priced restaurant for NYC, if you call and make a reservation in advance, asking for a table near the windows alongside Columbus Circle, it makes for an incredibly special meal! The food is delicious, it isn’t too pretentious, but the location feels extra. Bonus if it is good weather and you can head over to Central Park for a romantic, moonlit stroll.
What is your favorite New York City restaurant? Always looking for more recommendations!
