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1. Ambiance: Does the restaurant have character? Does it have a fun and friendly vibe? So many restaurants we venture out to are stuffy and stale. The better the ambiance, the more relaxed one can feel, which helps enduce positive interaction and conversation.
While it's no Azteca, Coriander Restaurant has charm of its own. Upon entering, you are overwhelmed with that south-of-the-border vibe (see #1 above!).
The menu is chocked full of traditional Mexican offerings.
Anyone would guess that Boom Noodle is the wiser choice when looking to take someone for a quick lunch date.
Anyway, I suggested Boom. We’d been there before and both really enjoyed it, and we were both in the mood for some yummy Vietnamese comfort food. We arrived and waited a few minutes before we were greeted. The place was near-empty, so we weren’t sure why we weren’t attended to quicker.
I knew we were both craving noodles, so suggested Ballet just down the street. They serve almost an identical menu as Boom, for almost half the price. Sure, the ambiance isn’t as chic, but the food is BETTER and the service exceptional.
Ballet Oriental Cuisine
Rock Box is a Japanese style karaoke club - aka "karaoke box." They have a full bar and 12 private rooms that you and your sweetie (or a group of your friends!) can reserve to eat, drink and sing. Boxes vary in size and are suitable for 1-2 (kissy kissy!) up to 15+ people.
Now, these aren’t normal candles. These are those electric candles that you have to blow (very hard, mind you) on a sensor on the top of each of the 3 in order for them to turn on. There has to be some force behind the blow, too... So there’s no way a slight breeze could have turned them on.
And, if you're wanting something a little less theater, but still embodies all the fun of downtown during the holiday season, be sure to hit up Winterfest at Seattle Center (for ice skating, carousel rides, and more!), or the Carousel and Santa at Westlake Center. 
He didn’t arrive until 6.30. That’s right. TWO HOURS in traffic to get me.
We did make it to the film, though, just in time for previews.
Staple and Fancy: No brainer this one.
Any venture Ethan Stowell puts his name to has date night success written all over it. The food, service, beer, wine, coffee, ambiance--everything about his restaurants scream winner, and I’ll go on record for all of them. The latest arrow in his quiver of restaurants Staple and Fancy, I recon, is his best yet.
First and foremost, it is crystal clear Stollie loves his tucker (food), and by "love" I don’t mean in a pre-subway Jarred kind of love.
The bloke is passionate about what he does and you can taste this passion in every dish.
Thinking about this further I don’t think I haven’t loved everything I’ve eaten at any of his restaurants.
Unique to the Staple though is the actively-encouraged chef's family style selection. They (and I for that matter) highly recommend handing the menu back to server and having the chef decide what‘s for dinner.
Firstly: you’ll get the try things you wouldn’t usually eat. Mandy tried pork belly for the first time.
(Speaking of which, is a now a close second on my all time best ever foods list.) Ask for it specifically.
Secondly: its great value. I know, I know $45 bucks per head sounds a bit rich but for the value you receive, it’s a bargain. The food is really is exceptional.
(click photos above for tons of food images!)
Lastly and most importantly: it’s supremely intimate.
What’s more intimate than sharing food with someone? And lads you know, once the intimate train starts rolling, who knows where it’ll end up (wink wink nudge nudge). Back it up with a Ballard pub crawl and you’re a sure thing!
Anyways, first or 50th date, this is a winner. Book yourself a date there today.
Cheers,
Brett
Staple and Fancy
4739 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 789-1200
Romance: 4 - sharing food = love!
Cool Ambiance/Interior: 5 - GREAT old building. GREAT view into the inner-workings of the kitchens. COOL bathrooms, even though they are far away.
All Around Service: 3 - our gal was decent, nothing to write home about. Not certain service is their specialty.
Cost: $$$$ = entrees from $22+ (Fixed price menu $45, but other options are around the $15-$25 range!)
Would we recommend it? 5: Yes! And can we come with you?
October 1, 2009:
Noodle Ranch and Shorty's
It categorically draws a different crowd compared to other Seattle burrows. Check out my Big Picture post for a definition on "wankers"!
I got to know it well when I first moved here on a night the lads and I invented called “Suicide Wednesday”. I highly recommend this for people new to the area. Basically it involved going out on the lash on Wednesday nights ultimately with one person "committing suicide" by not turning up to work the next day. Bloody ripper of a night! Anyways, we’d always kick off in this area.
For my meal, I enjoyed the lemongrass chicken ($9) and Mandy had the Vermicelli noodles with chicken ($9). Both fresh, flavorful and filling. Back that up with a couple of great beers on tap and you’ll enjoy a 5 star meal all round.
[Vermicelli Noodles/Lemongrass Chicken]
Lastly I want to give a shout out to my good mate Will who suggested this datenight. Ask for him at the Noodle Ranch and he’ll look after you.
Cheers, Brett
**Shorty's is cash only, so be sure to bring some! They have a change machine, too, so you can snag quarters to play all night long!
...Before heading out to eat dinner!
We started to talk about the Bodies exhibit and how we thought it was strange that all the bodies were all clearly of Chinese descent. This of COURSE made Brett want to research it instantly, so he whipped out Wikipedia on his iPhone.
Brett seriously couldn't shake the feeling. Until, of course our mussels arrived.
We left full and satisfied, and headed home after an interesting evening.
going to be okay with this. (What? i love to celebrate! Anything, really… Does that make me a bad person??)
So, this means we will most likely have a Portland Version of our Date Night to present to you next week! Yay! But i can't promise, because i still don't know what we're getting up to. Brett's keeping it ALL a surprise for me! DOUBLE YAY!
And also, i know, we're terrible, we still owe you all our Cheesecake Factory/Gameworks post, which is coming STAT, i promise! Just lots to tell on that one (and Brett's writing it, which means he puts EXTRA time and thought into it. It's cute, really, so we all need to stop complaining and let him do his thing.)
With that, i bring you this week's version of SPLURGE vs. STEAL!
This Sunday, we play the Bears. Tip Kick off 1pm. Tickets run you anywhere from $50 to over a hundred. And if you add some lunch at Elysian Fields (which i recommend you do! Get the Oasis Hummus Plate, $8, YUM!) plus a couple of rounds, that'll cost you an extra $50. But it's so worth it. Football games are so fun!
Go Hawks! and Go Seattle Fall!
Dude! Do the Puyallup! I'm so bummed I'm missing The Fair this year, it's always SO much fun! And this is the FINAL weekend for you to hit it up, so be sure you do.
Where: 110 9th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA 98371
When: through Sept. 27, 2009
Fri & Sat: 10 am - 11 pm, Sun 10 am- 10 pm
The Fair is one of the best places you can take a date. It's laid back, there are a ton of conversation starters, and there's so much to do and see – from pig races, pie eating contests, concerts, monster truck, rodeos, rides, exhibits, and animals (PLUS! the chance to meet some of the guys from the Deadliest Catch!), you and your sweetie are sure to have a good time! The weather this weekend is supposed to be PERFECT, too! Lucky you!
Check out their website for more information, including the events schedule! And trust us, it's worth the drive to Puyallup, just be sure to make a day of it!
Also of note, the Seattle Decibel Festival is happening this weekend, which looks interesting! Thought I'd give it a mention.
Happy dating!
xo,
B&M
