2022 Date Night Restaurant Guide

Named after Italy’s most beautiful Island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the western coast of Italy, Ponza Italian Kitchen & Pizza is deeply rooted in hospitality and bringing people together around the table over great food and drink. A family-owned and operated restaurant since 1980, locals have been enjoying comforting Italian cuisine and the restaurant’s signature pizza over the years when the location was known as Pasta Fair and eventually as John’s Best Pizza. Couples will enjoy this casual and inviting neighborhood restaurant, known for its live ficus tree (weeping fig) growing through the center of the restaurant! For your date night, enjoy sharing appetizers such as seafood stuffed clams, arancini filled with gouda cheese, and fresh seafood salad with olive oil and lemon. The menu also features hearty salads and mouthwatering entrees such as eggplant parmigiana, chicken or veal sautéed with mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce, zuppa di pesce brimming with clams, mussels, shrimp, and calamari with a choice of red or white sauce, jumbo shrimp with a seafood and cracker stuffing, market-fresh fish prepared with tomatoes and kalamata olives, and decadent gnocchi al gorgonzola with broccoli and sausage, or their pizza. Ponza has a lively entertainment schedule with live jazz, R&B, rock, and more. Dance, eat, drink, and enjoy – the perfect date night spot that offers a little bit of everything.

This charming destination is a European-inspired brasserie that serves scratch cuisine focused primarily on the flavors of France and Belgium with a nod to all of the best European cuisines. Bruxelles Brasserie is anchored by locally-renowned European chef Roland Olah. Start with their Small & Share section which includes Burrata, house-made Country Pork & Duck Pate, Steamed Mussels, or classic Nicoise Salad. Menu highlights run the gamut from fresh seasonal salads, chilled seafood, and house-made charcuterie, to popular entrees such as Branzino Filet, Rack of Lamb, Acorn Squash Gnocchi, and a decadent Lobster Mash. Bruxelles’ bright and whimsy décor, high-energy bar, and a clientele that includes local restaurateurs dining there on any given night always makes for a fun experience.  

Rooted in the cuisine of New Mexico and its many cultural influences, RoadRunner New Mexico Kitchen + Bar offers an exciting dining experience and craft cocktail program wrapped in hospitality. Located in the Historic Black Rock District of Bridgeport, RoadRunner is a high-energy neighborhood restaurant and bar at its core, a social gathering place for great food and libations, seasonal specials and events, and live music. Kick things off with the best margaritas in town or one of their fun craft cocktails and pair those with the “Three Amigos” comprised of house-made green chile con queso, salsa verde, guacamole. Stacked green chile chicken enchiladas and the “cowboy wok”, a.k.a. fajitas, are elevated versions of your favorites. Try the surf and turf burrito filled with juicy beef brisket, spicy shrimp, fresh greens, and a de-lish coyote sauce. And nothing screams brunch date more than sharing  RoadRunner’s Hangover Nachos overflowing with house-made crispy fried potatoes, bacon, egg and chorizo hash, fresh pico, salsa verde, jalapeños, and hot drawn cheese. Just sayin’.