She Said:
When picking a good Date Night spot, there are several things one must consider - whether it's a First Date, or a 4,211th Date:
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.
2. Food: The food should be good. Bottom line.
3. Service: If the service sucks, you're left feeling bitter. Nothing ruins a Date Night like bad service.
4. BONUS: Activity/playful hook. Whether part of the meal/restauraunt (think dinner theatre), or built into the theme of the restaurant (crayons and place mats), it's always a plus when there's that little something extra that makes the night memorable.
Lucky for us, we found a local place that embodies [almost] all of the above! Coriander Mexican Restaurant, located in the heart of Bournemouth Town Center.
When Brett and I moved to the UK from the US, one of our expat friends warned us that there was a shortage of true Mexican restaurants in Great Britain. Now, there are countless Spanish restaurants, but Spanish is NOTHING like Mexican.
TRUST. ME.
So, when Brett and I saw that we were living a mile away from an authentic Mexican dive, we were PUMPED!
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!).
Sombreros hanging from the walls and from the gaudy chandeliers - up for grabs to wear whilst dining (see #4 above!).
Brightly painted walls and artwork stimulate the senses, while the staff greets you with open arms as you walk through the door (see #3 above!). The place is always packed, so reservations are highly recommended.
Upon being seated, you are given a bowl of crayons and a blank place mat, and are promptly encouraged to impress your date with your artistic talents (again, #4 above!). Brett and I are terrible artists, so we typically end up playing "guess what I'm drawing" the whole time. And we almost always lose.
The menu is chocked full of traditional Mexican offerings.
The only thing missing is a taco salad, but I'm not complaining. While there is quite a selection, the food isn't amazing. HEY, you can't win 'em all.
So, 3/4 of the above bullets ain't bad. Coriander is a lively and fun date spot, where you're sure to have a great time, plenty of laughs, and hey - a tequila shot never hurt anyone!
Hasta luego!
xo
Mandy
When picking a good Date Night spot, there are several things one must consider - whether it's a First Date, or a 4,211th Date:
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.2. Food: The food should be good. Bottom line.
3. Service: If the service sucks, you're left feeling bitter. Nothing ruins a Date Night like bad service.
4. BONUS: Activity/playful hook. Whether part of the meal/restauraunt (think dinner theatre), or built into the theme of the restaurant (crayons and place mats), it's always a plus when there's that little something extra that makes the night memorable.
Lucky for us, we found a local place that embodies [almost] all of the above! Coriander Mexican Restaurant, located in the heart of Bournemouth Town Center.
When Brett and I moved to the UK from the US, one of our expat friends warned us that there was a shortage of true Mexican restaurants in Great Britain. Now, there are countless Spanish restaurants, but Spanish is NOTHING like Mexican.
TRUST. ME.
So, when Brett and I saw that we were living a mile away from an authentic Mexican dive, we were PUMPED!
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!).Sombreros hanging from the walls and from the gaudy chandeliers - up for grabs to wear whilst dining (see #4 above!).
Brightly painted walls and artwork stimulate the senses, while the staff greets you with open arms as you walk through the door (see #3 above!). The place is always packed, so reservations are highly recommended.
Upon being seated, you are given a bowl of crayons and a blank place mat, and are promptly encouraged to impress your date with your artistic talents (again, #4 above!). Brett and I are terrible artists, so we typically end up playing "guess what I'm drawing" the whole time. And we almost always lose.
The menu is chocked full of traditional Mexican offerings.The only thing missing is a taco salad, but I'm not complaining. While there is quite a selection, the food isn't amazing. HEY, you can't win 'em all.
So, 3/4 of the above bullets ain't bad. Coriander is a lively and fun date spot, where you're sure to have a great time, plenty of laughs, and hey - a tequila shot never hurt anyone!
Hasta luego!
xo
Mandy
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