General Date-Night Go-Tos

Jamie's Pick: Spotted Pig

Address: 314 West 11th St., New York
Phone: (212) 620-0393

You can walk into this famous New York gastropub any day, at any time, with anybody, and be guaranteed perfection across the board—food, service, scene. It’s busy and fun, but still quiet enough for conversation with your date. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait at the bar. Or, if you put your name down and head somewhere nearby for a drink, they’ll happily call you when your table’s ready. I don’t even eat the famous Roquefort burger and I'm still in love with this place. That should say it all.

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Andrew's Pick: Freemans

Address: 8 Rivington St., New York
Phone: (212) 420-0012

This Lower East Side spot has been in heavy rotation since my wife and I met. A date night go-to should have that emotional connection to your life. Drinks are great here, and the vibe is fun because you can make a whole night of it. Put your name down, go across the street for a beer at Loreley, then head back to eat.

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Chris' Pick: Colonie

Address: 127 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn
Phone: (718) 855-7500

Colonie has a lot of the qualities I like about Perla, but it’s more mellow. You can sit at the bar and face the grill with the chef right in front of you. The food is terrific, and Brooklyn is boyfriend/girlfriend friendly, so go and make a day out of it if you don’t live there.

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Runner-ups:

Apizz

Address: 217 Eldridge St., New York
Phone: (212) 253-9199

Jamie: When I interviewed these guys for this column, Chris called the skate dish one of his favorites in NYC. I went that night to try, and it’s now one of my favorites too.

Lure Fishbar

Address: 142 Mercer St., New York
Phone: (212) 431-7676

Jamie: Like Spotted Pig, Fishbar always makes for a fun, satisfying date night in SoHo.