ChikaLicious makes desserts that will give you something to talk about.

Photo courtesy of ChikaLicious
Location: East Village, NYC
ChikaLicious
203 East 10th Street
Tel: (212) 995-9511

If you don't want to get dinner and would rather head straight for dessert, then ChikaLicious is the perfect spot. This tiny dessert place has more bar seating than tables, and that's exactly where you want to be as chefs/owners Don and Chika Tillman happily make you delectable desserts right in front of your face. With a 3-course prix-fixe dessert menu for $12 that includes an amuse bouche, choice of dessert, and petit fours (with wine pairing, $7 additional), it's a great first date for serious fans of sugar. With desserts like Warm Chocolate Tart with Pink Peppercorn Ice Cream and Red Wine Sauce or Poached Pear with Asian Pear Salad and Lemon-Verbena Ice Cream, it's no wonder that there's usually a line out the door to get in, so get there early and bask in the sweet goodness that ChikaLicious has to offer.


Sit at the bar and watch the chefs at Supper cook up close. Photo credit: Myko L.

Location: East Village, NYC
Supper
156 East 2nd Street
Tel: (212) 477-7600

An impressive first date spot with a warm country atmosphere, while being easy on the wallet, is Supper. Dressed in hardwood tables and exposed brick, this Italian eatery has a comfortable and romantic vibe with rustic charm where you can get cozy with one another. If you can, I recommend getting a seat at the bar overlooking the chefs at work as fire rises from their pans high above. Daring and fun to watch, it’s a great conversation starter. While the chefs perform high-risk maneuvers, the food doesn’t suffer one bit. Standout dishes include the “Priest Stranglers” Pasta with Dad’s Sunday marinara sauce topped with fresh soft ricotta di pecora ($12). This is my favorite dish. The half roasted chicken rubbed in wild fennel with rosemary roasted garlic and mashed potatoes ($14.95) is a close second. Whatever you order, you get more than what you pay for.