Help me choose which Valentine's restaurant to pick

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
02/12/2014 at 18:46 • Filed to: None

I procrastinated in making a reservation for Valentine's Day. I pulled up OpenTable today and was like OHHHHHHHH CRAP . I totally underestimated the demand for Valentine's Day reservations. I called around and managed to get my grubby little fingers on 2 possibilities. Here's an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale for your trouble.

Option #1 - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - it's a little Italian joint with a wood-fired oven run by an actual Italian guy. I can have a table for 2 at 8:15 pm. They have a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for $70/person (or $100/person with wine pairing). I love my gf but by the time I go get flowers, chocolate, blah blah blah that's kinda a lot ya know?

Option #2 - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - a sorta modern American chefy type place that I've been to 1 time and it was completely dead in there. Kind of a weird location. I got a 6:45 pm table and I just checked OpenTable and it's now full up so no danger of being in an empty place. They have a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with half price bottles of wine, and are also serving their !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

I need enough time to get out of my office, go pick up flowers, and then pick up my gf and make it to the restaurant. 6:45 could be doable but I'd be rushing some. But the other place is going to be a lot more expensive, and we might need a snack or something to not starve before an 8:15 table, but who wants to eat a snack before going to a 6-course meal that costs $70/person (or $100 with wine)?

EDIT: I just texted the gf asking if she wants to have input on the place or if she wants to be surprised. She said to surprise her. Which kinda makes me want to lean toward the cheaper place.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (26)

Manuél Ferrari > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 18:49

You gotta give us info on your current financial situation before we vote.

Is cash flow an issue right now?

ddavidn > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 18:50

I'm a fan of not going bankrupt on V-day. Otherwise I would've chosen Italian.

I'm making my wife buy dinner on Friday. Ha!

Textured Soy Protein > Manuél Ferrari
02/12/2014 at 18:53

Financial situation is that while I could afford the fancier place if need be, I don't exactly go out spending $200+ on a restaurant often, if ever. If I can get a dinner for 2 with drinks and tip for $100 all-in that's more in my comfort zone.

So yeah, more expensive place is $200+ tip, less expensive place is like half that.

Textured Soy Protein > ddavidn
02/12/2014 at 18:54

Yeah my biggest concern with the cheaper place was that it would be dead. But judging from no more tables being available there on OpenTable, it should have a decent sized crowd.

ddavidn > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 18:58

Yup. I think you're good to go.

Manuél Ferrari > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 18:58

Given that info, and the fact that you love your gf, I voted for the Italian place with the later reservation.

Later is better than too early on a Friday night. Early dinners are for old people. Not that sexy on V-Day.

And rushing to make the early dinner will be stressful. You don't want to be stressed. You want to have a good time and want your gf to have a good time.

Plus I completely botched things with the girl I'm dating and probably won't be going out with her on Friday. So I'm erring on the side of caution with you so you don't have any issues. Do what you think she will like the best. My guess is that she'll like the later and nicer dinner better.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 19:00

White Castle

http://www.whitecastle.com/promotions/Val…

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > Manuél Ferrari
02/12/2014 at 19:05

I agree on not wanting to rush around like an idiot trying to make the 6:45. I just know my gf and know that she A) gets ornery when she's hungry so would definitely need a snack before the 8:15 reservation and B) on a healthy eating kick so would never finish a 6-course dinner, especially after the obligatory snack.

Which has me still leaning toward the cheaper place, and I can turn it into a "7:00" reservation by calling ahead and saying I'm running a little late for my 6:45 table.

ttyymmnn > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 19:07

Go for what you can afford, and buy one of their more expensive dinners. Spend the money you saved on a nice little gift or some flowers.

Manuél Ferrari > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 19:11

ah that would be a waste if she didn't finish the 6-course dinner

if i'm paying for 6 courses i want both people to finish them!

DollaMoneyAve > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 19:13

Dude, ran into the same problem this last night. I figured I'd be good making reservations three days in advance. I was wrong. Looks like we're going to Logan's Roadhouse...

DasWauto > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 19:16

Stay in, cook amazing dinner, candles, ..., ????, profit?

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 19:17

Can you cook? Better to surprise with a good home-cooked meal than get a less than ideal reservation. Especially if it's obvious you've left it a little late.

If neither of those things are relevant, I like the idea of the chefy place, although it's her you're trying to impress, not me. What would she find more entertaining, all else being the same. Modern chefy American or wood-fired Italian place?

Brian, The Life of > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 19:29

Going out to dinner on Valentine's day is like going out drinking on New Years eve.

It's fucking anateur hour out there and you have a better time on any other night.

Textured Soy Protein > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
02/12/2014 at 19:56

I can cook, and do it a lot, so for big occasions we tend to go out.

Textured Soy Protein > Brian, The Life of
02/12/2014 at 19:57

You have a point. If I didn't have to be in Chicago on Sunday morning for my grandma's 90th bday brunch, we would probably go out for "Valentine's" dinner on Saturday instead.

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 20:00

That chefy place looks like it has some damn good food. It gets my vote!

Brian, The Life of > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 20:00

I've been married for 20 years. To the same woman. You know how many times I've taken her out on Valentines day? Exactly none times.

Every year I go to Baskin Robbins and by her an entire tub of Love Potion 31, the February-only flavor they do each year that happens to be her favorite ice cream on the planet. I get more action out of this tradition ...

Textured Soy Protein > DasWauto
02/12/2014 at 20:03

I cook for her all the time though, so for us me cooking isn't quite a special occasion. I should stop cooking so much and just fall back on it for special occasions haha.

FelixScout > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 20:08

I said the chefy place but I'm going to caveat things a bit as well. Earlier is OK since you'll avoid the later rush and then maybe go out to a nice craft beer bar/wine bar, which ever preference, to top the evening off. Those tend to fill up after dinner so you will have an edge in both situations. Also is it possible to take off 15 min early or advance prep so much all you have to do is shower and change?

Now if that doesn't work for you is there a third option to take? Forequarter? Sardine? Nostrano? Or any of the other options on this list ?

I just took my wife out for her birthday yesterday and we ended up splitting it between a medium grade fish joint, she being understanding of my cash flow, and a sour beer fest. So if this formula works for you in all respects it may be worth a shot.

DasWauto > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 20:12

Ah, dilema. The restaurant choice is an either or for me though Chefy may be interesting.

How about making food that you can take somewhere and eating it it someplace interesting or special to you? Picnic style if it's either not too cold/wintery or indoors.

Textured Soy Protein > FelixScout
02/12/2014 at 20:25

I called and/or checked online at probably 20 restaurants including most of the places you mentioned, and nothing. These were the only 2. Actually Nostrano put me on their wait list then called to offer me a table at 9 but that's just too late for dinner.

Textured Soy Protein > DasWauto
02/12/2014 at 20:27

Ehhh that's more effort than I really feel like making on a Friday after work.

DasWauto > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 20:40

Fair enough. I would probably make some excellent deli sandwiches by preparing/gathering everything but the bread on thursday and picking up some bread and pretzels from a baker on Friday morning.

/may or may not be considering this for myself now.

FelixScout > Textured Soy Protein
02/12/2014 at 22:16

Well good luck then and any choice you make at this time will be good.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Textured Soy Protein
02/13/2014 at 21:24

Honestly, I don't like either choice once I looked at the menus. But then again I can't stand seafood.

Anyway, I'd go with the cheaper place, because the Italian place doesn't seem like you get a whole lot worth your money.