This has addictive qualities, and should be avoided by recovering sandwich abusers. Going upscale and modern with dinner entrees brought us to pleasant but less lofty territory. Sweet corn risotto was a successful use of the crunchiness of fresh maize to amplify the residual crunch of properly cooked risotto. The wine list is mostly inexpensive and well-selected, though it can be expensive by the glass. There is a nice selection of dessert spirits.
Desserts are commendably inexpensive but correspondingly underdeveloped.
In particular, the kitchen leans hard on its homemade ice creams, but the ones I tasted were underflavored. The service promotes good feelings by balancing friendliness and non-intrusion. I would recommend Union Square Bistro for early dates, if there were not the danger of meeting someone you know, combining tables, sharing tastes, talking loudly, and perhaps diffusing some of that crucial atmosphere. Bistros are like that, or maybe your dates are like that, and this will suit your crowd ideally. All rights reserved.