Date Night Dining - Upper West Side, NYC
Trendy restaurants where romance is always in the air.
Manhattan's Upper West Side neighborhood is rich with tradition and
culture, not to mention some of the finest restaurants in the city. You could literally spend an entire day roaming the Upper West Side's diverse environs and not get bored.
There is all manner of intriguing boutiques and shops in which to amp up your style as well as attractions like Lincoln Center, The American Museum of Natural History and The Hayden Planetarium. And, let's not forget the wide open green spaces of Central Park or Riverside Park, right by the Hudson River.
The legendary Dakota Apartment Building is located at 1 West 72nd street. A classic example of old-school New York Victorian architecture, the Dakota has been home to scores of celebrities over the years with, perhaps, the best known being John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
The Upper West Side also is home to the Beacon Theater. Built in 1929, this fabulous art-deco theater was recently declared to be an official NYC landmark. The luminaries who have graced the stage here include the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama.
When you are planning your next date night, why not book a dinner reservation at one of the neighborhood's wonderful restaurants followed by a show at the Beacon Theater or the Metropolitan Opera House?
Whether you're into rock, pop, or opera; classic French cuisine, or Italian or All-American comfort food, you'll find exactly what you are looking for on the Upper West Side.
So, let's dive right in and see what this ever-evolving neighborhood has to offer.
Indie Food and Wine - Upper West Side
Within walking distance of Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus; The New York City Ballet as well as the Juilliard School, this intimate and inviting establishment
is super popular among students, musicians and those who are attending a show nearby.
Candles on the tables help to create a romantic vibe and the drinks and food are, what else can one say but molto bene!
During the day, Indie offers light fare, some pastries and outrageous coffee. But, when 5 PM hits, the cafe transitions into a hip wine bar, which makes for one fantastic date night.
The chef here works with seasonally available ingredients whenever possible. The kitchen team updates its menu bi-annually for Fall / Winter and Spring / Summer. So, there's always some new temptation to look forward to.
Indie's menu contains a rainbow of Italian flavors from all of Italy's varied regions. But, interestingly enough, you'll also find Greek, Middle Eastern and even Asian influences.
If you are into a different kind of salad, there are a couple of selections that you really should try. The kale bowl contains watermelon, pickled onions and feta cheese, all drizzled with a divine sherry vinaigrette. An eclectic mix, to be sure, can be found in Indie's superb noodle salad. The tasty ingredients include wheat noodles, roasted eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, sweet corn, red onions, spinach and an out-of-this-world soy sesame dressing.
This is the perfect place for devotees of wine. Besides some carefully curated domestic varieties, Indie's sommelier can offer you imported vino from France, South Africa and, of course, Italy.
Pair up a nice glass of wine with their prosciutto and cheese plate, (a veritable cheese cellar of camembert, grana Padano plus olives, honey and fresh bread ), and you'll feel as though you're in foodie heaven.
Other selections range from baked mac and cheese topped with scallions and bread crumbs to eggplant Parmigiano and confit duck leg served with white beans, fennel and arugula.
The cocktails are quite creative here. One sip of the Raspberry Beret with its blend of tequila, raspberry jam, lemon juice and angostura will show you why.
Location and Hours :
144 West 65th Street
New York N.Y. 10023
(212) 875-5256
Hours :
Monday 8 AM to 8 PM
Tuesday-Friday 8 AM to 9 PM
Saturday 9 AM to 9 PM
Sunday 9 AM to 8 PM
Rosa Mexicano - Upper West Side
This beautifully decorated restaurant offers innovative Mexican cuisine amidst a stylish, fun atmosphere. You are guaranteed to feel good and get in the party spirit just by walking in the door.
The creation of culinary maven Josefina Howard, the first Rosa Mexicano was
opened on the UES back in 1984.
A true Renaissance woman, Josefina was a world traveler, entrepreneur, interior designer and, above all, a chef who loved everything about Mexico. Josefina, in fact, was the first chef to introduce Mexican fine dining fare to the New York City restaurant scene.
Her legacy lives on here in the Upper West Side where Rosa Mexicano gives diners an elevated " fiesta" experience.
A major part of the fun is weekly specials such as Margarita Mondays where you can sip this buzzy cocktail for just $5. Be sure to get in on the action each and every Tuesday when customers receive 50% off all tacos.
And the deals just keep on coming with maple chipotle chicken tenders and loaded waffle fries with chorizo, pico de gallo and crema for $ 9 available at the bar.
Additionally, you can partake in a tasting of all of the kitchen's guacamole options for only $25. A ceviche tasting featuring shrimp, salmon and tuna is also on the menu, priced at a mere $24!
Rosa Mexicano is as far from Taco Bell as it gets. This is elevated Mexican food, artfully presented. get that Instagram account ready for some REALLY nice images.
The accompaniments to the succulent roasted half chicken are mole poblano, sauteed spinach, sweet plantains, white rice and corn tortillas.
The pork carnitas are served with habanero-pickled red onions, shaved cabbage, avocado and a tomatillo salsa flight. Do NOT sleep on the Tampiquena. Your grilled certified Angus Beef NY strip steak will be cooked just as you like it. This juicy slab of meat comes with a cheese enchilada, Mexican rice, refried beans, queso fresco and Guacamole.
Dessert here is not to be ignored. Try and leave some room or simply pick a dessert and share it with your sweetheart.
Two excellent selections are the Margarita lime tart, baked in a graham cracker crust and topped with made in-house whipped cream and the churros. Dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, these Churros are sided up with dark chocolate and raspberry-Guajillo dipping sauces.
Location and Hours :
61 Columbus Avenue
New York N.Y. 10023
(212) 977-7700
Hours :
Sunday-Wednesday 11:30 AM to 10 PM
Thursday 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Friday-Saturday 11:30 AM to 11 PM
Lincoln Ristorante - Upper West Side
This restaurant is a real show-stopper if ever there was one. If you are on a first date, Lincoln Ristorante will make one heck of an impression on your partner for the evening. Should you be dining with long-time love, then rest assured the flame will definitely be rekindled amidst these breathtaking surroundings.
Located right next to Lincoln Center's majestic reflecting pool and exquisite Henry Moore sculpture; Lincoln Ristorante is housed inside a stunning glass-walled pavilion that just so happens to have a grass lawn roof! Not to mention some fantastic panoramic views. At night, when Lincoln Center is aglow with light, it doesn't get any better than this.
And the food, you'll be happy to know, is more than a match for the gorgeous surroundings.
The dinner menu contains a great deal of variety. The restaurant supports local farms and purveyors together with weekly visits to the neighborhood's Tucker Square Greenmarket. The kitchen honors the Italian culinary tradition of making pasta, grissini and focaccia from scratch. One of the fun things here is that the restaurant's centerpiece is an open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs at work.
Whet your appetite with a plate of braised veal meatballs dusted with pecorino Toscano and sided up with heirloom polenta.
Then, it's on to a seductive pasta course such as the conchiglie fra Diavolo featuring luscious Maine lobster, San Marzano tomatoes and breadcrumbs. You will savor every bite of the thick but surprisingly light pappardelle pasta in a pork sausage ragu.
No one would argue, though, that the absolute must-have is the tajarin
al Tartufo Bianco, an enthralling dish that is composed of house-made pasta, white truffle butter, Parmigiano and freshly shaved truffles.
Aside from pasta, the chef offers a lovely branzino, perfectly grilled, with broccoli rabe pesto and broccolini. The brasato di Manzo is smoked short rib on a bed of farro together with braised kale and a sprinkling of hazelnuts.
The to-die-for desserts are the work of master culinary magician and pastry chef Richard Capizzi, a proud graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.
What to choose, you ask? Well, you can't go wrong with anything. But, the grilled lemon olive cake with macerated strawberries and vanilla bean gelato is a great place to start. You will simply adore the bacio which consists of milk chocolate crema, devil's food cake, a hazelnut cookie and hazelnut gelato.
By the way, if you're interested and we know that you are; chef Capizzi turns out a scrumptious trio di gelato and sorbet ( Sicilian pistachio, dark chocolate and strawberry).
Location and Hours :
142 West 65th Street
New York N.Y. 10023
(212) 359-6500
Hours :
Sunday-Monday Closed
Tuesday-Saturday 4 PM to 9 PM
The Ribbon - Upper West Side
Weekdays can be ultra busy for most New Yorkers with work, errands and countless other demands on their time. Weekends, though, are, we fervently hope, devoted to some me-time as well as reconnecting with friends and those we love.
Too tired to do date night after a long day at the office? Well, if brunch is your thing, you have come to the right place. The Ribbon, located on the ground floor of the Franconia Apartments, has, quite possibly, the best brunch in town.
Share something sweet with your sweetheart and indulge with their brioche French toast platter or blueberry pancakes. On the more savory side, there's a hot chicken and cheddar-chive stack of flapjacks to consider.
One of the standout dishes here is the fabulous baked eggs. These are eggs like you've never had before. Two perfectly poached eggs are surrounded by tomatoes, eggplant, artichokes, white beans and goat cheese. Delicious!
You should also check out the prime rib poutine. Fried eggs, beef chunks, French fries and sauteed onions are smothered in cheddar gravy.
Cocktail choices include The Ribbon's famous Bloody Mary to which you can, for a modest charge, add bacon, shrimp, or pickled peppers.
Another enticing elixir is Strawberry Fields Forever, which is made with Ford's gin, strawberry puree, lemon juice and cava. The sensational Mr. Pimms cocktail consists of Hendrick's Gin, Pimms, St. Germain, lemon juice and mint syrup.
The building that The ribbon occupies was constructed in 1925 by noted New York developer Louis Laraelson. Christened The Fairfield, it has quite an interesting history, to say the least. Designed in the neo-Renaissance style, The Fairfield functioned for a while as an apartment hotel; perhaps the precursor to the Air B & B model that we are familiar with.
One of the owners and long-time residents was none other than Arnold Rothstein, a gangster who, reportedly, ran one of the largest bootlegging operations in America during the roaring twenties. The Fairfield also housed a radio station WPCH.
The space where The Ribbon is was once Hisae's, a very popular Asian-Continental restaurant back in the eighties. Other eateries followed including Sambuca until in 2015, The Ribbon took over the premises.
The dinner menu emphasizes American fare. However, they do have dishes like vegetable risotto and escargot.
Among the kitchen's most popular offerings are a spit-roasted half-Amish chicken, grilled rack of lamb with an eggplant-tomato confit and smoked brisket accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and anything but bland seasoned carrots.
Desserts are not to be missed. Highlights include the sticky toffee pudding and chocolate chip bread pudding topped with hot fudge and vanilla ice cream.
Location and Hours :
20 West 72nd Street
New York N.Y. 10023
(212) 787-5656
Hours :
Monday-Tuesday 4 PM to 10 PM
Wednesday 11:30 AM to 10 PM
Thursday-Saturday 11:30 AM to 11 PM
Sunday 11:30 AM to 10 PM
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