Our Favorite Restaurants for Date Night

While we gals at Family Friendly Cincinnati love to find fun things to do with our families around town, we also treasure our date nights with our spouses.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day next week we have a list of our favorite places around town for a delicious date night dinner.  Please leave us a comment telling us about your favorite date night destination!

Michelle’s Favorite Date Night Destination ~ Argentine Bean

I have 3 kids.  When my husband and I have a chance to go out to dinner by ourselves, I can guarantee you that we will do our best to go somewhere with as few children as possible.  The fewer the better.  In fact, zero is best.  If we could go into negative numbers with this, I would.  Anyway, where do we go?  Right now our favorite place is Argentine Bean in Crestview Hills Town Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
It is quiet!  Except for the lovely live guitar music that is sometimes played on a weekend night.  The food is wonderful and unique and never repititious because they mix up their menu periodically.  The restaurant is small and cozy.  You can sit at a small table or on a couch.  The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
All of this makes for a fantastic date night atmosphere.  My husband and I love going here for a quiet, romantic evening.  The first time we went I was so enamored with the place that I stuck the cork from our wine bottle in my purse and told him that I would always keep it to remind me of our date.  And, here it is!   I hope you will try it and enjoy it as much as us!

When not blogging for Family Friendly Cincinnati, you can find Michelle writing at her personal blog, http://imlivingthegoodlife.blogspot.com/

Phyllis’ Favorite Date Night Destination ~ York Street Cafe

While I don’t go to York Street Cafe often, every time I have been has been a delightful experience.   Most recently I took my husband and didn’t realize he had not been before.  He was pleased with the atmosphere -plenty of distractions, food -delicious and service -impeccable.  So the atmosphere is fun, eclectic and just downright interesting.  My husband noticed right away it used to be a Pharmacy, apparently up until 1960s; more on the history here.  The menu is diverse and the food is delicious.  Right away my husband was distracted by the desserts which were proudly displayed; I remembered how good the Mediterranean Board was, in fact they have several “conversation boards” to choose from, but decided to try something new: the Grilled Salmon named in City Beat’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate in Cincinnati” and was cooked perfectly according to “the critic” and my husband got the beef barley soup and said it was delicious.  While we did not partake, they offered a bottle of wine for $1 with the purchase of two entrees on Tuesday night.  The service was welcoming in fact I was a little taken back in a good way at the warm welcome we received when we arrived and as we departed.  The server was equally warm, gracious and informative.  This one I need to remember more often.  Great place to share great conversation over a glass of wine, desert, tea or a meal.

When not blogging for Family Friendly Cincinnati, you can find Phyllis writing at her personal blog, http://cincyhealthcoach.com/

 Erin’s Favorite Date Night Destination ~ Nada

Kristin’s Favorite Date Night Destination ~ The Cricket Lounge

My husband and I got a special treat last year when we dined at the famous Palace Restaurant in the Cincinnatian Hotel for dinner. This is fine dining at its best.  While our dinner was amazing and the service was over the top excellent (I was so not used to someone scraping off my bread crumbs with a knife into a pretty dish), I’d really rather talk about The Palace Restaurant’s sister, The Cricket Lounge. I love visiting The Cricket Lounge especially during happy hour.  They have happy hour every day of the week from 4-7pm with some great deals.  If you are heading downtown for a night out, I’d highly recommend stopping her for a cocktail first.  Or if you just want to enjoy a nice bite to eat, a cozy atmosphere with some delicious menu items then head on down.  In my opinion they have the BEST burger in Greater Cincinnati.  During “happier hour”, this bombshell of a burger is only $5 and it’s prepared by in the same kitchen as the famous Palace Restaurant.  You can also get a martini ($5), an import beer ($3). domestic beer ($2.50) and 1/2 off their house wines by the glass.  On the weekends, they will have live jazz playing in the background and during the week you may hear some nice piano music.  My parents first introduced us to this gem and I’m so glad they did.  It’s always on my list of “go to” places in Cincinnati if anyone asks me for a recommendation.

When not blogging for Family Friendly Cincinnati, you can find Kristin writing on her personal blog, MasonMetu (from me to you).

Karen’s Favorite Date Night Destination ~ Azad India

When Katie first asked for a review of a restaurant perfect for a date night,my first thought was (panic! date night? what ISthat?). The panic was from the judgement I feel because my husband and I just don’t do many date nights.  I don’t know why, really, we are each other’s best friend, so we always have lots to share with each other,we just don’t get out by ourselves very often. I used to get hung up about it, but honestly, even before kids, we just didn’t go out much. After the initial panic from the request subsided, I then moved on to my choice. When/if, hubs and I get away without the kids, we normally go for something a little bit spicier and a little more yummy to us than the local pizza joint (not that there’s anything wrong with pizza).

Katie’s Favorite Date Night Destination ~ Senate

When my husband I get out by ourselves for dinner (which can be a rare occurrence with four munchkins) we like to find new restaurants around town to try out.  We love to eat at restaurants that are locally owned.  It was hard to pick just one place to write about, but lately our favorite has been Senate.  We loved their eclectic menu, wide variety of beers, and the fact that you can watch the hustle bustle of the kitchen from your table.  Don’t let the fact that they are known for their hotdogs fool you into thinking this is not a nice place to eat.  These are not just ordinary hotdogs, they are gourmet wonders.  The chefs at Senate come up with the most interesting combination of ingredients for their gourmet dogs.  Senate is also know for it’s burger (delicious!), and of course their poutine (I could eat this every day).  Michael loved their lobster blt.  Everything I have tasted there has been mouthwateringly delectable.   Senate is located at 1212 Vine Street, Cincinnati.  A word of warning, Senate is a very popular dining destination, and it’s a small restaurant.  We’ve always had the best luck getting seated right away by getting there early in the evening.  If you arrive later in the evening you might have to wait, but not to worry, they have a bar where you can wait.  If you have time after dinner head over to Japp’s for a drink made by the marvelous Molly Wellmann, or a few blocks away is the Pendleton Arts Center which you can read about here.

Heather’s Favorite Date Night Destination ~ Nectar

What are your Valentine’s plans this year?

**This date night post was originally written in February 2012, updated February 2013