Best Place for a First Date

A good date spot needs to be one where you don’t mind being stood up. We’ve had great dates and bad dates at Carroll Street Cafe, but never a bad meal, glass of wine, or seat. It’s cute and cozy and we feel all kinds of go-ahead vibes on some modest PDA. The odds are always in your favor when ordering dessert, usually two, especially if love isn’t in the air. less...

What makes a place great for a first date? Engaging ambiance, strong drinks, and delicious food are clutch, and GAJA’s chill East Atlanta vibe covers all of the above. The raw industrial design scheme marked by concrete floors, elemental wood and stainless steel furnishings, and sparse décor keep the room from feeling too polished or precious. There are stylistic accents, such as vintage Korean film posters and food served on the quintessential Korean trays built to hold a plethora of small side dishes — or banchan. Gaja employs just enough Asian-hipster-foodie quirk to fuel conversation and ultimately foil any first-date awkwardness. Gaja’s playful East-meets-West dishes, such as a rice bowl topped with whatever veggies the kitchen has on hand, cucumber kimchi, and a hamburger patty proudly laced with M.S.G., and the addictive corn cheese (popcorn draped with shredded cheese) are conversation starters in their own right. Wash away any remaining nerves with shots of soju (potent Korean rice liquor) or a refreshing Hite beer imported from Seoul. less...

A first date is all about opportunity: the potential to go one way or another. Will it lead to something more? Or will it fizzle into a night best forgotten? Leon’s Full Service excels in presenting options to fuel a fun night, especially from behind the bar, and those options can also be employed to help one forget should the need arise. Actually, starting at the bar is a great way to get to know your date a little better. Does Belgian beer on tap turn her on? Or is a modern twist on a classic cocktail more her speed? Is he the kind to get all bubbly over a bottle of farmer fizz (champagne from a producer who actually grows their own grapes)? Or is it straight to a sip of single village mezcal? Then there’s the array of eating choices. Want to keep it fun? Stick with the bar snacks or fries with a couple of different dipping sauces (if your date chooses peppercorn gravy, that’s a sure sign he/she understands the importance of substance over appearances). Want to get serious? Go for something like the pan-seared sea scallops with sweet corn, tomato jam, and bits of bacon from nearby Pine Street Market. Or maybe go straight to a salty sweet embrace with the chocolate hazelnut candy bar. Keep in mind, there’s no better way to judge a potential boyfriend/girlfriend than his or her bocce skills while intoxicated, so be sure to carry those drinks we mentioned earlier outside and take advantage of the bocce court before the night is over. less...

On a couch or a table? This is typically more of, say, a third-date question. But if you and your honey venture downtown to Lunacy Black Market on your first date, come prepared with a response. Intimate clusters of sofas, loveseats and armchairs, as well as a smattering of tables, fill the restaurant’s living room-like interior. Chef Paul Luna’s rotating menu of small plates arrives scrawled in Sharpie on torn-up cardboard wine cases. But rather than looking sloppy, it feels personal and charming. Best of all? None of the dishes costs more than $5. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find any of the dozen or so menu items priced more than $3. Neither of you will look like greedy pig faces thanks to the petite portions and tidy presentations of dishes such as short ribs with house-made ricotta, chickpea curry or a charcuterie plate. If things don’t work out, you won’t have spent a load. And if things do work out, you’ll have enough money left over for cocktails at your place. Couch or table? 231 Mitchell St. 404-736-6164. lunacyblackmarket.com. less...

There are enough aphrodisiacs on the menu at CHOCOLATE BAR to drive a hoard of potential lovers mad with lust. Between the oysters, creamy cheeses and multiple decadent chocolate creations (including a few that involve booze), if your date isn’t tearing your clothes off by the end of the evening, there is something seriously wrong with one of you. less...

201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-378-0630 http://www.thechocolatebardecatur.com There are enough aphrodisiacs on the menu at CHOCOLATE BAR to drive a hoard of potential lovers mad with lust. Between the oysters, creamy cheeses and multiple decadent chocolate creations (including a few that involve booze), if your date isn’t tearing your clothes off by the end of the evening, there is something seriously wrong with one of you. less...