Dating advice
A reader wrote me for advice. Why me? I don't know, but this is what he emailed:
"I'm thinking of taking a nice young lady out to dinner on a first date. I don't want it to be too fancy or too formal, more like the laid back atmosphere of the Grove. Café Tu Tu Tango was my favorite spot since it had unique food, decent drinks, and a cool atmosphere, but I have to make a change now that it's closed, what do you think?"
I suggested a couple of places but was wondering what others would say. Any suggestions? He wants to stay in the Grove.
"I'm thinking of taking a nice young lady out to dinner on a first date. I don't want it to be too fancy or too formal, more like the laid back atmosphere of the Grove. Café Tu Tu Tango was my favorite spot since it had unique food, decent drinks, and a cool atmosphere, but I have to make a change now that it's closed, what do you think?"
I suggested a couple of places but was wondering what others would say. Any suggestions? He wants to stay in the Grove.
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 PM
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15 Comments:
The bar area of Ruth's Chris in the Gables has great lounge seating. It's a lot less stuffy than sitting in the regular dining room.
If he wants to stay at in the Grove, I'd say George's. The great thing about George is he will make you look and feel like a regular, even if he's never seen you before.
Hard to talk and hear in George's -not the place for a first date. Great for a third date. Christabelle's for a nice quiet evening, good music; Pisco's is good, Thursday nights are great with Joe Donata, dining room is rather quiet, Al Fresco has a good chef and a quiet room upstairs - and then there is Cefalo's. How about Nikki Beach - a little pricey but nice atmosphere. Another fun place is Paco's on the other side of Pisco's - good food, a lot going on in a small quaint environment. For good food you can't beat Jaguar.
I think George's is tooooo loud and tooooo cold for a first date. I think Greenstreet has MORE atmosphere for a first date!!!!! or even Jaguar
Racked my brains. Nope. There's just no really good place in the Grove for a first date. The one in Grove Isle, Baleen, is good (and expensive) and will make her feel like a million. It is quiet and grown up and you can isolate yourself from the world. It is not noisy, so you can ask her about her and talk to her about her.
The Chart House might be decent.
Taking a first date to a noisy "fun" place is, after you are 25 or so, the kiss of death.
FIRST AND LAST DATE--- SUBWAY ON GRAND
Id say either George's or Jaguar. Both have great food and a fun, busy environment so it wont have that weird "intimate" vibe like some of the other places people have mentioned. You dont want intimate and quiet on a first date unless its late night cocktails. I recommend the Salmon entree or the Mediterranean Vegetables w/ Maine Lobster @ George's (relax, its not pricey) and at Jaguar you cant go wrong with the ceviche sampler and the Shrimp Trio. Depending on the mood post-dinner, head to Green Street for cocktails with a crowd or Panorama for quiet with a killer view. If its a Friday you can hit up Olav's for live music too.
Good luck buddy.
Heres what I do, works everytime.
Wrap up your ankle, tell her you
sprained it. Tell her you can't go out cause of the pain.
Invite her over for dinner, if she can bring it or cook it, all the better!
Don't forget to have a Cane on hand for effect.
Awww, poor baby's gonna feel all better in no time!
Brooklyn done hooked you up!
I'd say it depends on what kind of first impression you would like to make... that said, the quintessential Grove spot is Scotty's Landing. Can't really go wrong as it's the best waterfront dining spot we have. food is passable, but on a first date no one really eats anyway. You'll probably run into people you know which is always pleasant. plus it's non pretentious which may be refreshing.
Scotty's. Hard to beat the floating opera of sights, sounds and random characters over there. gives you something to chat about on a first date.
All depends. If she likes jazz, take her to Piscos on a Thursday evening. Joe Donato and friends do the standards, at reasonable decibles, so you can still talk quietly even if you sit in the bar area. If you want to make it a later night, go right through the restaurant to the other side and listen to flamenco guitar in an authentic Spanish bar atmosphere.
Waterfront is always good. Scotties is a tad too casual and noisy, and no one wants a first date on plastic tables. Better leave that for a follow up Sunday afternoon.
Baleen while beautiful, might be a bit over the top for a first date-- you don't want to be bringing out the big guns from the start. Save this for when the date evolves to a more serious thing.
Charthouse, actually, is an ideal first date place. Get there around 8 pm and you can watch the colorful effects of the sunset over the water over a drink on the terrace. Have dinner inside (they play jazz so you can actually have a conversation (then go for a bayfront stroll as the moon rises.
Lord help me, but I agree with Blind Mind 100%
Scotty's?
Seriously?
Only if you do not want a second date.
Focaccia is cute and not expensive.
Take a first date to Focaccia's and it will be the last. Guaranteed. It's just a coffee place. Why go through the bother of a date if you are not going to try to impress her a bit?
As a single Miami woman who has had her fair share of first dates (both good and bad), I can definitely assure you: Scotty's is WAY too casual to make a good impression! See, we tend to think that this means you are cheap if that's the first date. 2nd or 3rd date? Great! Just shows you know the local hang-outs and aren't pretentious.
Actually, one of my best first dates was to the Conrad Hilton in Brickell. Kind of funny, because I'm not the 'usual' type of woman who goes for that kind of high-class, big-price tag stuff. But my date was smart: invested well in the first date, went on to have a great relationship. Never mind that we didn't ever eat at that place (or that class of place) again!!!
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