by Mike Marrero
This column is intended to help couples, whether single or married, to have special date nights that do not break the bank, while still experiencing fantastic evenings with high quality food and drinks. My intention is to provide you with suggestions to help prevent date night monotony.
For our first date night recommendation, your first stop will be Resto Gastro Bistro in the up-and-coming Trinity Groves neighborhood. Resto is west of downtown Dallas across the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge at 3011 Gulden Ln. Valet is complimentary, and there is plenty of self-parking spaces available too.
Upon arriving, we suggest ordering the Crab Cakes and Roasted Artichokes with chipotle-orange butter sauce to share ($12) and two Shishito Margarita’s with Shishito Pepper infused Cazadores Blanco, Lychee Cordial, Agave, and Lime ($9 each).
A savory choice for one of your entrées would be the Chinese Hack Salad featuring soy seared chicken, Asian slaw, sweet chili, wontons, and sesame vinaigrette ($12). I personally am looking forward to trying the Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin with cinnamon-butter sticky rice, and banana tamarind salsa ($22). Reservations are not required but recommended on weekends, so call ahead or visit their website.
After you have had a few laughs, experienced some high quality food and drinks, it’s time to take a walk on the newly opened Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. Burn off a few calories and take that romantic walk with a scenic view of our Dallas skyline.
It will be time for something a little sweet. Hop in the car and take a short five minute drive to Klyde Warren Park just above Woodall Rodgers connecting Downtown and Uptown. There is a restaurant in the park called Savor. Savor has delicious sharable deserts at very reasonable prices. We are suggesting two desserts each, only $12. Dessert suggestions would be the Ice Cream Sandwich with Graham Cracker Cookie and Key Lime Ice Cream and the Fried Pie with Blood Orange, Caramel, and Crème Fraiche Ice Cream.
Klyde Warren Park is another scenic location where you can stroll, or sit together and chat at one of the many benches. Great people watching here.
So there you have it, an evening that included great food and drinks at highly rated establishments, accompanied by some scenic views for $100 including minimum 20% tip and valet. From start to finish, I would estimate this date to last about three hours. Enjoy!
