When It’s Your Turn To Treat

Every so often, you have to suck it up and pay for your man to eat. Er, let's face it.  It's 2011 and most of us make more than our men and thus these types of nights occur more than just 'every so often.'  Accordingly, we've compiled a list of restaurants where you can do the dutch thing and/or foot the whole bill without going for broke:

Luna Park: One of us has serious issues with this restaurant due to a bad ex-boyfriend and an unforgiving memory (this was 5 years ago).  However, the other of us insists Luna be included, and for good reason.  It's super reasonably priced, yummy with good cocktails, and really dark.  So dark, in fact, that you and your sweetie (or man-of-the-moment) can canoodle without a) having to watch others do the same and b) feeling like cheeseball daters.  Plus, they have make-your-own S'mores.

Sugarfish: Anywhere you go for sushi, the bill can add up...especially if the sushi isn't grade G.  Sugarfish, however, has amazing, high-quailty sushi, and the prices are kept pretty reasonable.  We love sushi for a day date because there's just something about it...no?  More subtle than spaghetti and meatballs, sure.  But sexier, too (mainly because you don't need elastic waistbands afterward).

Osteria Mamma: Speaking of spaghetti...nobody does it better than Mamma.  The old Osteria la Buca used to be a favorite date spot of ours back when it was a tiny 5 table room and Mamma was in the kitchen, and so we were thrilled when Osteria Mamma finally opened.  It's not a cheap spot, per se, but you could split an app, a pasta, and an entree (more than enough food) for around $40 total.  They don't have any super cheap bottles of wine, but the ones they have in the $38 range are worth it.  Or, there's always the $12 corkage fee.

Gingergrass:  Gingergrass is low-key but delicious and was named one of Jonathan Gold's '99 Essential Restaurants' in L.A.

Lou: Wine bar + strip mall = enough said.  Though we could maybe add that they have over 30 wines by the glass and the occasional South Texas antelope on the menu.  Nothing says romance like barbecued Bambi.

Dominick's & Little Dom's:  To us these are the perfect dinner spots any time of year.  Affordable, yummy, good people-watching & yet cozy/not sceney.  Effortless.

Bodega and Salute Wine Bars:  Booze is obviously the key ingredient to a good date.  These lovely bars offer a classy way to overindulge, and, as an added bonus, both have great menus as well.

El Caserio:  You know we here at BGG love anything Latin.  This is a cozy, unassuming spot, one from which you'll leave feeling full, a little lazy, and a lot happy.

This is by no means a comprehensive list.  We also love: Pane e Vino, Cube, Cobras & Matadors, Terroni,  Waterloo & City, Figaro, and Bottega Louie.