Ok, I am not new to dating in Houston and have been to a lot of the cool places to go to. I have a big date with a girl this weekend that I really want to impress. I am looking for places that everyone thinks are THE up and coming places, or brand new, whatever. We're in our 30s so money is not really an issue. Don't care about area of town, but thinking midtown, downtown, etc.

I know all about places like Mark's, Shade, Gravitas, all the standards... What do you guys think are the new cool places to go to? I am looking for something very romantic.

Thanks.

For what it's worth, I've been to both Gravitas and Shade recently and was pretty disappointed. Both were loud and (imo) overpriced.

I think that for a date place, you can't go wrong with places like Hugos (nice mexican food, good drinks, not super expensive), Ruggles (great food, little noisy, little more expensive), Brennans (excellent food, more tame, more expensive), or Americas/Churrascos (some of my favorite food - americas has a more "hip" atmosphere, both are excellent)... but then I haven't been on a date (with someone other than my wife) in a while.

Just re-read your post. I think all of those restaurants have been around a while. But on a big date, I wouldn't want to try something new and it be a big letdown... just me.

[This message has been edited by Scan Man (edited 1/15/2007 8:30a).]

I like Gravitas a lot and think it's good for what you're looking for. Importantly for your situation, they have a cool, big bar that is seperate from the dining room. So you could have drinks there before or after. Agree on Hugo's...though I don't like the food as much as others. Ruggles is a little past its prime, in my opinion. Amazon is cheesy. Some other good oneses: Catelan (very small bar, though), Ibiza, Raven Grill, Glass Wall...

Amazon is not a good place for a knock 'em dead date.

Out of the dating scene, but I vote Catelan.

To me, Sambuca is still the best resturant and atmosphere in Houston for a table for two dinner with the lady. My wife and I have never come away dissappointed.

Pepino's on Richmond.

I haven't been, but I've heard/read great stuff about Catalan.

Also, might want to try Boom Boom Room for after dinner. It's a wine bar on North Yale, just south of 610. Quiet & smoke-free. Sorta hip & trendy in a retro-lounge sorta way. Great place to chill for awhile.

Skyline Grill downtown.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

Right now, I am leaning towards Da Marco on Westheimer. It looks very romantic.

Has anyone actually been to Glass Wall? Has romantic is it?

I am also considering Spindletop; I have never been there. What do people think of it?

Other places I have considered:

Saffron - moroccan - bit too unknown
Gravitas - seems a little casual
Shade - seems a little casual
Glass Wall - possible?
Spindletop - possible?
Hugo's - been there and it is a good alternative
Raven Grill - been there and it is a nice idea

I hadn't heard of these three:
Catelan
Ibiza
Pepino's

... so I am going to check those out and look into it.

Will let you all know. Feel free to offer up any additional suggestions. Thanks.

I should have stated the negative of Pepino's: the service. It's not so much that it's bad, but it seems to be very European. They're never in a hurry to get you out of there which could work to your advantage on a date as long as you have wine.

I have heard great things about De Marco. It's expensive though. Ibiza is very nice but it can get a little loud. Another place you might look at is Simposio, another very good Italian restaurant.

Catalan is (I think) owned by the Ibiza people. You can find recent reviews on both the Press & Chronicle sites. A google search should find lots of stuff.
It's a trendy Spanish place, lots of interesting foods, supposedly great wine list with not much mark-up on price.

Personally, I find Benji's to be a badass date place. Bossa is cool too. I went to Ibiza recently and it is an awesome restaurant with an awesome wine list. The only drawback to it, is that it is sort of loud in there.

Don't listen to any of these idiots...there are two places for you to go:

Noe in the Omni
Bank at Hotel Icon

also, Quattro at 4 seasons is great

Food at Gravitas sucks...they ran outta chicken when i was there. heard good things about GlassWall. Wanna try Catalan and Sorrentos.

Also, Sambuca is too mainstream. Any of the Michael Cordua restaurants are great, except amazon grille is a lunch spot.

Don't forget about the steakhouses, vic and anthony's, capital grille, flemings.

Arcadoro is good, michaelangelo's, damians.

Thanks for the great suggestions so far, guys. I am going to process through them all tonight. I hadn't heard of Noe, and that one sounds interesting.

You know, one place that I haven't been to in a while that is pretty good is Ousi's Table. It's not new, but it has a very sophisticated, romantic feel to it...



[This message has been edited by texasdanger (edited 1/15/2007 3:20p).]

Rainbow Lodge - moved to La Tour's old place
The Lodge (in place where rainbow lodge use to be)
Strip House
Marks
Tonys
Ibeza

Noe - is this place like Aries (place that used to be on Montrose that closed down)? Aries was a bunch of small little tasting servings and you pay like one big price and they keep bringing you like 10 things. It was pretty cool and that sounds like it might be fun...

Oh... and brennans and damians in midtown.

I find them to be excellent date night restaurants.

http://www.noerestaurant.com/houston/menu.html

danger, you can do that or just order straight. plus you can go to the black swan afterwards.

I'd suggest Bank though because you can go have a drink at Whiskey after dinner, which is a great bar in the hotel.

Good call on Bank, but I don't think it's quite as romantic as some of the others...very good food though.

Let us know how it goes.

Try "17" out. It's a downtown restaurant on the 1st floor of the Alden Hotel. It's small and pretty romantic. The bar there is really cool too. Great place for a date and the food is awesome too. But don't go there expecting to be thrifty because it doesn't come cheap!

http://www.aldenhotels.com/17.php

Anyone been to Skyline Bar & Grill at the top of the Hilton hotel downtown?

yes, great views, average food.

What Dags said.

Can't go wrong with Brennans or Damians or Quattro. Finish it off at Marfrellas.

quote:

---

Finish it off at Marfrellas.

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And he means literally...finish off.

Mafrelas is cool, but the last couple times I've been, seems like I've seen a lot of bull dike lezzies all but dry humping in public...

There is more than dry humping going on at that place... and there always has been.


hth

not a fan of the blue door. i'd suggest whiskey, boom boom room or something like that.

take her back to your house.

agree with that

Believe me, I know. My whole emphasis was the bull dyke lezzies. I would rather not watch them getting kind of frantic.

[This message has been edited by ATM9000 (edited 1/16/2007 11:47a).]

Just wanted to clear my name on this thread... I did NOT say Amazon, I said Americas and Churrascos. Amazon is ok, but not a date place at all...

Took my girlfiend to Spindletop for her birthday this past June. The view and food were great. I have heard some complains about some people feeling uncomfortable because of the constant slow spinning your whole time there, but we didn't have any problems.

gravitas is absolutely terrible. been there 3 times and all 3 times, i had the worst service of almost any dining experience in my life. all my friends have similar stories....plus its loud and you can't hear ****.

stay away from gravitas.