First-date restaurant suggestions?

Norman R. wrote in message news: ...
> On Fri, 04 Jun 1999 17:45:22 -0700, chip wells and jenny mcfarlane
> Someone wrote:
> > Mars is a fun first date restaurant, mostly because it has a funky
> > atmosphere to talk about. [...]
>
>   Care to comment more on Mars?  I have ridden by several times, but
> I could not really tell what to make of it.

Great place.  Asian fusion cuisine; fun, relaxed atmosphere.  One of those places I always feel bad about forgetting.  ;-)  Think Castle Hill with an Asian twist.

NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 06 Jun 1999 17:10:53 GMT
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I'll throw in a couple of pennies.  Mars is decorated theme-style, with red walls and such (Red Planet, and all that).  Dishes are also named with a Mars theme (I've only been once or twice, so I don't remember any).  Food is basically reminiscent of a Chili's or Friday's chain, but eatter and more imaginative, with more vegetarian options. All in all, I'd say it's worth a try, but I'm sure it's not for everyone (somewhat oppressive inside to me).

Keith

Norman R. wrote:
>On Fri, 04 Jun 1999 17:45:22 -0700, chip wells and jenny mcfarlane
>Someone wrote:
>> Mars is a fun first date restaurant, mostly because it has a funky
>> atmosphere to talk about. [...]
>
>  Care to comment more on Mars?  I have ridden by several times, but
>I could not really tell what to make of it.
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
>[email removed]                                           soli deo gloria

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Don J. wrote:
> Anyone have any recommendations for a good first-date restaurant? I'm
> looking for something that meets the following criteria:
>
> - nice atmosphere: cozy, reasonably quiet, not pretentious [...]
> - moderate price (not so cheap as to say "You're not worthy of a real date"

  OK, easy enough.

> but not so expensive as to say "I expect something after
spending this > much")

  I don't think there is such a restaurant in Austin.  |-) Unless
  the price of "I expect something" has gone down considerably
  since the days when I had any interests in dating.
  |-)

> - reservations taken (not as important as the other criteria)
> Places I've tried that are representative of this would include East Side Cafe,
> Fonda San Miguel, Granite Cafe, and Madam Nadalini's. I'm looking for
> someplace new. Any ideas?

  I like:

  o  Paggi House (Riverside just off Lamar, behind a Taco
  Cabana!):  GREAT food, beautiful setting (an old house), cool
  bathrooms (stone outhouse |-)

  o  Ditto Si Bon, though I prefer Paggi House's food (and I hope
  they fixed the leaky ceiling by the entryway!);

  o  Green Pasture(s):  lovely setting (old house on beautiful
  grounds, huge & spacious dining areas), though the food is only
  good, not great;

  o  Hudson On The Bend:  very good food; specializes in game
  (boar, pheasant, buffalo, venison, ostrich, gazelle, kangaroo,
  etc.);  nice atmosphere (old house w/ outdoor weather-proof
  dining area)

  The above four places are quite toney and tend to have an
  older, (seemingly) moneyed crowd, so if you're allergic to
  yuppies, you may be OK.  Also check out:

  o  Jean Pierre's Upstairs:  haven't been there in a while, but
  it's pretty good & reasonably priced; nice & dark & cozy &
  quiet dining room;  they have (had?) an alcove w/ a table for
  two!  If you can swing a reservation for that table, it'd make
  for a GREAT date dinner setting (and in the men's room, you get
  to pee on a bottle of Dom Perignon on ice (well, *I* thought it
  was cool |-))

  o  Castle Hill Cafe:  GREAT food, but the dining room is always
  crowded at "date" times, the wait tends to be long, and it's
  quite noisy

  o  Louie's 106:  Mediterranean fares, pretty good, especially
  the tapas (good deals!);  get your yuppie inoculation first |-)

  I would say DEFINITELY stay away from:

  o  Chez Nous:  over-priced ordinary French country cooking in a
  cramped setting

  o  Carmello's:  WAY overpriced sh*tty "Italian" fares in a
  tacky quasi-tasteful environ

  Someone wrote:
> Anyone have any recommendations for a good first-date restaurant? I'm
> looking for something that meets the following criteria:
>
> - nice atmosphere: cozy, reasonably quiet, not pretentious but not
> greasy-spoon either
> - moderate price (not so cheap as to say "You're not worthy of a real
> date" but not so expensive as to say "I expect something after
> spending this much")
> - good food and good service
> - a date-friendly menu (not too exotic or too messy, with enough
> variety to cover all the bases)
> - reservations taken (not as important as the other criteria)
>
> Places I've tried that are representative of this would include East
> Side Cafe, Fonda San Miguel, Granite Cafe, and Madam Nadalini's. I'm
> looking for someplace new. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
Café Josie 322-9226 Great romantic spot for couples and excellent food.

Korea House 2700 W. Anderson Ln.458-2477 Great mandoo (dumplings), mandoo guk, bulgogi BBQ

Mars 1610 San Antonio St.472-3901 Good food with Asian flare but I can't remember what the pricing is like.

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