Delectable date spots, scrumptious food
Nancy Lan
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Features
Love is in the air, and so are the wonderful aromas floating into the streets from the hundreds of restaurants that will serve couples this Valentine's Day.
If you have a last minute date Feb. 14, or if you may have just left your restaurant picking to the last minute, don't sweat it - there's still time to dazzle your date. And the best part is, romance doesn't have to come at a price; you can still eat well in an intimate setting without emptying your wallet. Or, if you want to treat yourself and your date, see a spot that's worth the money.
If anything, you should be nervous about your date, not seeing the bill at the end of dinner…
Yakitori Boy 213 N. 11th St.; Philadelphia, Pa.; (215) 923-8088
Walking into Yakitori Boy, the first thing I saw when walking into the first set of doors was a standard sushi bar - and I thought to myself, "OK, nothing special."
Then I walked in the second set of doors to the dining room.
The restaurant was adorned with large, overhead box lights, and at the end of the dining area were a few private rooms, including a "lover's nook," hidden in the corner by iridescent white drapes. The dim lighting, paired with the Asian accented curtains and candlelit tables, created a very Zen and romantic mood.
The restaurant, though BYOB, lacks nothing in drink service. Our servers were prompt, friendly and polite, and they did not, as some restaurants do, bring a corkscrew, make us pop open our own bottles, and drink them from water glasses (take it from me, that kind of experience is sure to start your Valentine's Day date off on the wrong foot, especially if you don't know the ins and outs of corking). Instead, a waiter took our wine, and came back with an open bottle and an ice bucket in hand. Furthermore, he actually paid attention to the wine - since my friend and I brought sparkling wine (see above for a recommendation), our waiter came back with two champagne flutes instead of regular white wine glasses. Now that's the way to do it.
If you have a last minute date Feb. 14, or if you may have just left your restaurant picking to the last minute, don't sweat it - there's still time to dazzle your date. And the best part is, romance doesn't have to come at a price; you can still eat well in an intimate setting without emptying your wallet. Or, if you want to treat yourself and your date, see a spot that's worth the money.
If anything, you should be nervous about your date, not seeing the bill at the end of dinner…
Yakitori Boy 213 N. 11th St.; Philadelphia, Pa.; (215) 923-8088
Walking into Yakitori Boy, the first thing I saw when walking into the first set of doors was a standard sushi bar - and I thought to myself, "OK, nothing special."
Then I walked in the second set of doors to the dining room.
The restaurant was adorned with large, overhead box lights, and at the end of the dining area were a few private rooms, including a "lover's nook," hidden in the corner by iridescent white drapes. The dim lighting, paired with the Asian accented curtains and candlelit tables, created a very Zen and romantic mood.
The restaurant, though BYOB, lacks nothing in drink service. Our servers were prompt, friendly and polite, and they did not, as some restaurants do, bring a corkscrew, make us pop open our own bottles, and drink them from water glasses (take it from me, that kind of experience is sure to start your Valentine's Day date off on the wrong foot, especially if you don't know the ins and outs of corking). Instead, a waiter took our wine, and came back with an open bottle and an ice bucket in hand. Furthermore, he actually paid attention to the wine - since my friend and I brought sparkling wine (see above for a recommendation), our waiter came back with two champagne flutes instead of regular white wine glasses. Now that's the way to do it.
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