Where to take your date: The most romantic restaurants in Bloomington

Dining becomes an entirely different ball game when the person sitting across from you is a love interest. From first dates to fourth anniversaries, date night is a fundamental piece of the romantic equation.

For first dates, restaurant selection is crucial. As an IU student, you have a plethora of options. Never take a gal to a restaurant with less personality than she has. Now that Applebee’s and Pizza Hut are off limits, you’re invited to explore Bloomington’s distinct dining culture.

High-end restaurants like Restaurant Tallent and Uptown Café pair exquisite menus with comfortable ambiance and make an impression on your significant other. Women love, and frankly deserve, to be treated well. You’ll have to drop a pretty penny at restaurants like these, especially if you’re buying drinks, but it’s well worth it.

If you’re feeling adventurous, I recommend what I’ll call ‘appeteasing.’ Going from restaurant to restaurant and ordering the dish they’re most famous for is a damn good time. Dishes like Irish Lion’s Blarney Puffballs and Trojan Horse’s saganaki can make even the rainiest dates memorable. Closing the date with a cocktail at Scholar’s Inn Gourmet Café and Wine Bar or a beer at Tap Room is also encouraged.

Ethnic restaurants are great for date night as well. Restaurants like Esan Thai and Turquaz Café are rarely crowded and offer authentic tastes of new food cultures. The absence of television minimizes distraction, and keeping your phone pocketed ensures stimulating conversation, even if it’s only about how amazing your entrée is.
 
If you’re bold enough to cook for your date, the ladies at Goods for Cooks will help you outfit your kitchen. Even an under-cooked chicken breast is sure to let the lovely lady on your couch know how much you care. Finding time to cook a meal from scratch is unlikely unless you’re taking 12 credit hours, so I’d stick to eating out.

In case you lose interest in your date before you ask for the check, it’s a good idea to do a background check on the restaurant and at least enjoy your meal. If your companion is as wonderful as your meal was, there’s plenty more to taste.

Here are some restaurants and dishes I’d recommend for your next date:

Irish Lion — Order the Blarney Puffballs, Oysters Rockefeller, or Coddle.
Restaurant Tallent — Order the Paw Paw Bread French Toast (Dessert).
Scholar’s Inn Gourmet Café & Wine Bar — Order the Filet Mignon, or Southern Style Benedict (Brunch).
Esan Thai — Order the Pad Kra Tiam, or Kang Ped Khai.
Feast –Great for coffee and dessert lovers.