By Anna Mefford and Maxine Smith
To kick off this Valentine’s Day season we (Maxine Smith and Anna Mefford) took the liberty of trying many different restaurants around Atlanta and rating their dateablity (how suitable of a date place). We thought it would fitting to continue the tradition we started three years ago.
We graded each place based on price, lighting, food, and atmosphere. Our grading scale was out of 5 and we went to 6 different restaurants.
To start our long restaurant journey we went to the classic Pero’s Pizza just down the street on West Paces. Walking in, we first noticed the perfect mood lighting as it was very dim. Then, after being seated very quickly in our preferred booth, we immediately noticed the supreme atmosphere.
The restaurant was nice and quiet, but not too quiet where others could hear your conversation; the servers were extremely friendly and welcoming; and the booth was very comfortable and an ideal distance apart. So far, the place was looking top-tier.
Now, arguably, the most important category is food. After thoroughly browsing the menu we ordered a Greek salad and a bowl of bolognese pasta to share. The food was delicious and very flavorful with big portions. If there was one critique of the food we would say that we prefer iceberg lettuce rather than mixed greens for the Greek salad, however, still a very superb salad.
It was just a tad pricey for some pasta. Nevertheless, this restaurant is perfect for a Valentine’s date and we would heavily recommend it.
Overall Rating for Pero’s:
Price: 3.5/5
Lighting: 5/5
Food: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
We then ventured to Little Rey, also near West Paces, which was amazing. This restaurant just opened in Buckhead last May, and it is a big hit. So of course, we had to check it out. After we ordered we found a table and sat down.
The atmosphere was nice and all of the servers were friendly. The lighting was just okay. It was a bit too bright as there was a lot of natural light coming through the many windows and they had many overhead lights on (so maybe skip if you are having a bad makeup day).
Our food came, and it was delectable. We got chips and queso before our main meal . Perfection. We both got a Chicken Al Carbón taco, a Little Rey novelty. The price was reasonable. It was $5 for a taco and $4 for the queso with chips, so it wasn’t insanely expensive, but I think it could be a little less for what we got.
Overall rating of Little Rey:
Price: 3/5
Lighting: 2/5
Food: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Our third stop was definitely on the fancier side as we decided to try Blue Ridge Grill conveniently located on West Paces. Going into this (nonromantic) date we had high expectations as the place tends to have a very good reputation. However, we were slightly disappointed.
We got seated very quickly, thanks to the reservation we made in advance, in a booth (great start). The lighting was ideal as it was on the darker side but still visible to read the menu, with the help of a little lamp provided on the table (points for decoration). The atmosphere was just okay as it was a little too mellow for our liking; granted we went on a Tuesday night when many people were not dining in. If privacy is your thing, take your date there on a Tuesday night and stretch out! But if you think you might need some noise to fill in the awkward silences, go on a Saturday night.
However, while we had a great start we faced some issues when looking at the menu. None of the options stood out to us so we both settled for burgers. While they were good burgers, they were nothing special, especially when you factor in the price, which was a lot for two burgers and some Diet Cokes. Honestly, not worth it.
Overall, it was a very nice restaurant and definitely on the fancier side (requiring nice outfits…we both rocked jeans and a sweater). However, the food options, taste, and price really did not sell us for a perfect date restaurant.
Overall rating of Blue Ridge:
Price: 2/5
Lighting: 5/5
Food: 3/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
After all this food, it was time for a long-awaited sweet treat. We thought the new ice cream place near Lenox would be perfect: Handel’s Ice Cream. A queue was out the door when we arrived, which was pretty devastating because we were ravenous for some ice cream.
However, we decided to bear through it for the sake of this article (and because we wanted ice cream). We finally reached the front of the line after a grueling wait. We each got two scoops of the brownie dough on a cone, which we devoured in negative time. Although the line was incredibly long, the ice cream was totally worth the wait. It was better than Menchies!
As for the lighting, it was very bright fluorescent lighting, which wasn’t ideal. The atmosphere was lively- as everyone was excited to be there and eager to eat their ice cream. Our only note is on the service, which was mediocre.
The price was reasonable and was like your average ice cream shop. Overall, we only recommend this ice cream spot to people with a lot of time to spare on their date, as the line was long.
Overall rating for Handel’s:
Price: 4/5
Lighting: 1/5
Food: 5/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
We decided (after looking at our bank accounts) that it was time to try a cheaper restaurant. After a very quick discussion, we both easily agreed on the fast food chain, Cane’s.
However, once the decision was made we failed to realize how far away it was from us. Unless you want to endure a longer drive all the way to Woodstock, we would recommend you find another local fast-food restaurant.
Nevertheless, the drive might have been worth it as the food was simply scrumptious. We both got the chicken finger combo meal and left grinning with satisfaction. The toast and iconic Cane’s sauce were definitely the stars of the show and helped us justify the 45-minute drive.
The lighting and atmosphere were as expected in a fast-food restaurant: bright, loud, and slightly crowded. All of which were not ideal for a Valentine’s Day Date, especially because we had to sit on barstools.
However, the price also helped the place a lot as it was great food for a very cheap price.
Overall, Cane’s is just what you would expect from a fast food restaurant. However, we would strongly recommend it if you want to branch out from the classic Chick-fil-A and go on a fun excursion to Woodstock.
Overall rating for Raising Cane’s:
Price:5/5
Lighting:⅕
Food:⅘
Atmosphere: ⅖
The last place we ventured to during our journey was Taverna, an upscale Italian restaurant in Buckhead. This restaurant was on the nicer side and in the higher price range if that’s what you are looking for. There was a bit of a wait when we got there as it was a Saturday night and the place was busy, which you should keep in mind if you choose to go there. The lighting matched the restaurant’s vibe, dim but not too dark.
When we were seated, we went ahead and ordered our main course. We both got Shirley Temples, which were perfect; the ratio of grenadine to Sprite was the perfect goldilocks. The food took a while to arrive, but when it did, it was gone in a matter of minutes as it was so good.
We both ordered the bolognese pasta. The portions and food quality fit the price, though it was more expensive. The atmosphere was good, and everyone was friendly, although the service was a bit slow. This was a perfect option for a nicer but casual dinner.
Taverna:
Pricing: 4/5
Lighting: 3/5
Food: ⅘
Atmosphere: 3/5
Now, we’re sure you have all been waiting for our final verdict. The winner of all of the restaurants was … Pero’s!
We loved the food, and the “homey” environment, the service was great, the lighting was perfect, and our booth was almost so comfortable that we didn’t want to leave. We both think that Pero’s is a great place to go on a Valentine’s Day date especially since pasta gives romantic date vibes. You could have your lady in the tramp moment there! We came to a conclusive 4.5/5 overall rating and would thoroughly recommend any boyfriends or girlfriends struggling to find a Valentine’s Day date restaurant to go to Peros. It will not disappoint. And hopefully your romance won’t either.
