This is old world Italian at its best - low lighting, white tablecloths, impeccable service. It is romantic, the food is fabulous, and you can have intimate conversations OR have fun with people at the next table.
The $3 cover is well worth your while if you’re into smoking hot jazz, pool, Ping-Pong or shuffleboard (all are 9¢ per minute per person), plus foosball and board games like Scrabble and checkers, all a buck each. Quaffing-wise, expect only beer and wine—the hardest thing Fat Cat serves is chess
Sweet or stiff drinks, coffee brunch or dinner, cozy indoor or sunny outdoor seating, and--if worst comes to worst--there's plenty of cabs, buses, and subways nearby to high-tail it if her Bellini turns sour. Possibly the best choice for a nice but low-pressure date.
I can't date a guy who doesn't appreciate a nice cold beer, so I usually take my first dates to Tap room 307 in Gramercy. With 40 drafts and two casks, even if my date sucks, I'll be having fun...!
Take him or her for a walk down under the manhattan/brooklyn overpass (DUMBO!). Point out that Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It," was filmed there. Go to a cool record store Halycon where if you're lucky there's a dj pumping out a blend of rare funk and hip-hop.
Sparks Steak House is pricey, but, before you lead her by hand across the threshold, you can point to the spot of sidewalk just outside the door and say, "Right here, right here is where John Gotti was whacked." Deal sealed.
Caracas Arepa Bar. I am a fan of fun, laid back atmospheres for first dates. Forget the stuffy and uptight places like Gramercy Tavern. Caracas is delicious and will definitely give you and your date something to talk about. Be sure to ask for extra sauce. It is all about the sauce!
Rayuela in the Lower East Side. I actually worked here as a hostess during my short stint in NYC and unbiasedly say that it is one of the best restaurants in NYC. The vibe is fun and sexy with a little edge. The food is Latin Fusion- exotic and delicious, you really cannot go wrong with anything on the Menu. The service is outstanding and I personally witnessed several seemingly successful first dates go down here.