Recession-Friendly Romance
Updated: July 15, 2009
The economic downturn isn't an excuse to slack on the romantic front. There are plenty of inexpensive, date-friendly restaurants in New York where you and your thinning wallet can woo someone without having to worry about spending too much money on food and booze. At these six spots, the lovey-dovey aura is turned up high, but the bill stays low.
Cheap Dates
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Danal
Read Reviews59 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003 (map)
Quaint charm reigns supreme at this Union Square area Mediterranean resto. Seated in a booth amidst sunflower wallpapering, throw rugs, chandeliers and copper pots, you'll want to get affectionate with your sweetheart. Share a cheese plate ($12) before starting in on a hearty dish like the Moroccan chicken ($19) served with olives over basmati rice. And if you'd rather get frisky with your mate over brunch, order a round of $6 mimosas and split a stack of chocolate chip pancakes, which are served with caramelized bananas and sauteed apples for $12.
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Fiore
Read Reviews284 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (map)
Nothing ruins a romantic dinner like rude service, and the less you pay for dinner, the more likely you are to receive it. Not so at this rustic Italian spot in Williamsburg where design elements like an embossed ceiling, thick wooden tables and a checkerboard floor reinforce the warm, welcomed feeling you receive at the door. Your wallet need not fear, as entrees range in price from $9 to $15. Also, several wines listed at less than $30 a bottle allow you and your guest to get seriously tipsy at a reasonable price--unless of course you factor in the cost of drinking away your inhibitions and revealing too much, too quickly.
Lavagna
Read Reviews545 E 5th St, New York, NY 10009 (map)
This understated Alphabet City eatery epitomizes casual romantic dining. A large wood-burning oven dominates one side of the trattoria, setting the mood for a fiery, two-person candlelit meal. Though the regular prices are not at all outrageous (appetizers are all $10 and under, while entrees like grilled whole fish and pan seared monkfish average $17), the best bargain is the $29 three-course prix fixe dinner, offered every Sunday from 5pm to 7pm.
Max Restaurant
Read Reviews51 Ave B, New York, NY 10009 (map)
Dating options for the frugal aren't ubiquitous, but this East Village Italian resto is simple and warm, and while the food is delicious, the prices aren’t overly intimidating (though credit card reliant debtors should beware that it's cash only). The grandma-chic décor theme resonates inside and in the back garden, and the small wooden tables and a chalkboard menu of specials that hang from exposed brick walls make the place feel homey. Reservations are only available for parties of six or more, but the wait is never unbearably long, and dishes like Mom's Meatloaf ($13.95) and an assortment of homemade pastas send the message that you’re a tender, family-oriented person.
Mermaid Inn
Read Reviews568 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024 (map)
Fish isn't the typical poor man's meal (unless he's catching it himself), but both the menu and the ambiance are satisfyingly simple at this Upper West Side seafood spot, the younger sister of the East Village original. Whether you sit in the dimly lit dining room or in the fenced-in back garden, the environs are right for bonding over uncomplicated yet sophisticated dishes that don't cost a fortune. Half a dozen littleneck clams ($8) and other raw bar items make solid starters, and entrees like the whole roasted fish ($22) are always fresh as can be.
Tartine
Read Reviews253 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014 (map)
Despite its prime location on a coveted West Village block, this lighthouse-themed French bistro is anything but pretentious. The food is reminiscent of a typical Parisian cafe, with dishes like grilled saucisson (large dry-filled sausage, $8.95) and desserts like tarte tatin a la mode (upside down apple tart, $6). Adding to the authentically French (and, by association, romantic) vibe is the staff, made up of waiters with appealingly thick French accents. The BYOB policy is helpful in keeping the tab low.
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