The Resy Guide to Planning a Perfect Date Night in D.C.

FOR A TRENDY DATE NIGHT …

Everything in Blagden Alley is a scene, and this is especially true of Amazonia which is new to the city. This Peruvian venue is sleek and modern with great food and drinks. Pair your patacones and ceviche with one of the dozens of piscos (Peru’s famous brandy made from local grapes) on the menu.

This new spot from Rose Previte and Mike Schuster is all the rage, and your date is bound to be impressed with your knowledge of what’s exciting in the city if you take them here. The cuisine is Middle Eastern, with small sharing plates including dips, spreads, sauces, kebabs and more. The wine list focuses on wines from Lebanon, and the cocktail menu includes a za’atini, a martini made with za’atar-infused gin.

It’s modern, loud, and crowded; the perfect place to see and be seen. The food is spectacular, with a huge variety of antipasti and pasta dishes, and the venue serves the best espresso martini in town with Belvedere vodka, amaro, and a shot of espresso.

FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION …

As D.C.’s most famous Indian restaurant, with its opulent décor and intimate booths for two,  Rasika West End is the ultimate date night spot. Order multiple dishes to share to sample the most flavorful Indian food in town; all the curries are decadent and dreamy, and you can never go wrong with their world-famous palak chaat, garlic naan, or biryani, which is traditionally baked under a bread crust.

The views alone at this northern Virginia restaurant–lush gardens, koi ponds, and waterfalls, all visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows–are reason enough to visit this upscale date night spot, but the tasting menu also happens to be one of the best in the area. Changed regularly, envision dishes like oyster gratinee, butternut squash ravolini with black truffles, a cheese course, and almond gelato on the seasonal menu.

Call (703) 270-1500 for more info.

It’s cozy, romantic, and French-themed; perfect for a special evening. Share dishes like beausoleil oysters, black truffle gougeres, caviar, or a cheese board. Enjoy the food with sparkling wine at a comfy table for two, and linger over a glass of dessert wine and caramel bread pudding.

FOR WHEN YOU LOVE A WINE LOVER …

There is loud music and a lot of bar stools, but it’s the wine that makes this spot the dream venue for a date night for anyone who loves wine. With monthly wine themes, and an extensive (26 page!) wine list featuring options by the glass and the bottle from all over the world, there is no wino who won’t be impressed.

St. Vincent offers cozy indoor couch seating, high-top tables, and a charming wine garden for outdoor seating, so you have your pick of the vibe you are looking for. The wine list is long and varied, and cocktails are available in case you need a break from the wine. Don’t skip the cheese plate to pair with your wine.

As the menu at Bottles says, “every great adventure starts with a sip.” This sweet spot, with loads of bubbly available for a great date night, is centered around a captivating garden, but indoor seating is available as well in case of inclement weather. Insider tip: Impress an environmentally friendly date by coming here; the wine list has all bottles marked with tags like “biodynamic,” “organic,” and “sustainable wine production” depending on their origins.

FOR WHEN CHOCOLATE CALLS …

Comfort food is the name of the game at Crazy Aunt Helen’s. Creamy artichoke dip, homestyle mac n cheese, sammies and fries — whatever makes you think of home, you’ll find here. Dessert is no exception: A slice of granny’s chocolate cake, a la mode with whipped cream, is just the right ingredient for a cozy date night. Pair it with a luscious and creamy milkshake – one shake, two straws.

With a French theme and cacao in the name, you know the desserts at Bistro Cacao have to be a dream. This magical bistro has all the makings of a perfect date night: tasty French fare; French wine; and desserts like the moelleux au chocolat, better known as a molten chocolate cake. Topped with raspberry coulis and vanilla ice cream, this dessert will have you and your date in chocolate heaven.

Chocolate lover or not, no one will be able to resist the Nutella cannolis at Caruso’s Grocery. This old-world Italian restaurant is great for a date in general; you will love their classic Italian décor, cheesy garlic bread and heady pastas. But save room for these cannolis, which feature a crunchy shell, stuffed with a decadent chocolate-hazelnut filling, and dipped in chocolate chips and roasted hazelnuts.

Call (202) 661 0148 for more info.

FOR A FIRST-DATE NIGHT …

To keep things delicious and upscale but still casual, Fainting Goat is your spot. Kick off with an order of their famous goat cheese fondue with grilled bread, and a fun cocktail like the hopscotch, made with scotch, applejack, apple pie syrup, and caramel foam. Then, move on to one of their bar pies, which range from classic to specialty. If the date is still going well, wrap things up with a plate of their cheesecake bites.

Drinks are the highlight here; treat yourself to concoctions like the amaro mule with cara cara orange and ginger beer, or the seite seis, with tequila, rose and raspberry. The food menu includes a raw bar with items like New England oysters, as well as heartier treats like Manifest’s famous sourdough bread with La Tur butter.

What’s fun about this spot is that it is casual, comfortable, and a deep dive into cheese. In addition to extravagant cheese boards, complete with their famous pimento cheese, the venue serves grilled cheese sandwiches, gouda, asiago and cacio de roma mac n cheese, and other cheesy dishes like baked brie. Choose a bottle of wine or craft beer from their wine shop to enjoy with your food.

BECAUSE BRUNCH IS THE BEST DATE …

Kick off your brunch at Opal with an espresso martini and apple cider donut. From there, move on to seasonal toasts and breakfast sandwiches. For those with a sweet tooth, the PB&J pancakes, are stuffed with jelly and topped with peanut butter cream and smoked maple syrup. End your brunch with another espresso martini—there’s a non-alcoholic variety, too—and apple cider donut.

For a delicious and super flavorful brunch, head to Pappe. Grab a seat for you and your date in one of their comfy booths, and sample classic dishes from all over India, like eggs kejriwal, which is an Indian version of egg-and-cheese toast with green chilies and cilantro, or chole bahtura, a chickpea curry served with fluffy fried bread. Brunch thalis are also available, both for carnivores and vegetarians who can’t just choose one dish.

Not all dates are meant to take place in the evening. Treat your date (and yourself!) to brunch at Blue Duck Tavern, which features the famous BDT omelet, with mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese, and the fluffiest pancakes you will ever have. Be sure to order one of their sorbet mimosas. Pastry chef Colleen Murphy whips up seasonal sorbets all year round, and at brunch you can have a glass of crémant with a scoop of that day’s flavors for the coolest mimosa in town.

Call 202-419-6755 for more info.