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Eat Beat: First Dates

People who are in long-term relationships tend to forget about their singled past. One of the things I remember, and miss, from my single days is the cultural eccentricities of singledom.

Take Valentine's Day, for example. As the coupled-off enjoy five-course prix fixe meals in Richmond's hottest restaurants, the singles celebrate something they call "Singles Awareness Day."

It's an empowering concept, for women to celebrate their independence and embrace the fact that they don't have a love interest on the horizon. But I have a theory on why there's a lack of love pre-V.Day, based on another single-life eccentricity. It's because men freeze up at the prospect of starting a new relationship with Valentine's Day looming. Instead of navigating the awkwardness of buying trinkets for a new love, they hold off their pursuit of romance till after Feb. 14.

But since Valentine's Day has officially passed, it means there's about to be a spree of first dates in Richmond (based on my own theories and unscientific research). So for those of you planning a first date, or even if you're a couple looking for a date night, I have some tips for selecting just the right first date restaurant.

The first date restaurant shouldn't be your favorite corner watering hole, nor should it be one of the priciest spots in town. Despite speculation to the contrary, most women are as uncomfortable as their dates at the prospect of paying $50 for an entrée. Something reasonably-priced, with entrees around $20 or less, is ideal.

Keeping the cuisine relatively simple is also important. Exotic, ethnic restaurants are some of my personal favorites, but you don't want your first date with someone to be the same day he/she discovers a severe food allergy. And no one wants to be confronted with a menu of unpronounceable entrees when they're trying to impress someone.

Finally, try to steer clear of restaurants with excessively long waits. For reasons I've never fully understood, every chain restaurant in Richmond has wait times that can be as long as two hours on weekends. There are also a few independently-owned places, especially the new hyper-trendy ones, where people are waiting for hours to get a table. Standing awkwardly outside a restaurant waiting for a buzzer to ring is a sure way to kill the romance, so try to pick a place where the wait time is minimal.

So with that criteria in mind I've come up with a list of 10 of my favorite first date spots. But these are just a few, so take a look at the list and, if you have some better options, add it to the comment section below. Remember, first daters need all the help they can get.

Avenue 805 : Avenue 805 is probably best known for its Cheap Date Nights, but a little-known secret is that you can get an affordable meal there any day of the week. Its menu of pastas, salads and entrees, like chicken cacciatore, grilled pork loin and seared salmon, is almost entirely under $20. Add to that a romantic Fan setting and affordable wine list and you've got a terrific first date spot. 805 N. Davis Ave., 804-353-2505

Avalon Restaurant & Bar: With its new menu selection of tapas or entrees (all of which are under $20) Avalon is a great spot to test out new love. You can go the traditional route of one entrée each or get a little creative and share some tapas. Either way, Avalon's mahogany booths, low-lit sconces and chandeliers make it a very romantic setting. 2619 W. Main St., 804-353-9709



Café Gutenberg: As I reported in this week's "Dish" column, Café Gutenberg isn't going to be around much longer. Still, it's a great place for a first date. This Shockoe Bottom restaurant has an eclectic, rustic interior that makes it seem like a diamond in the rough. The food is fabulous and affordable and the wine list is stellar. What more could you ask for? There's also plenty to do in the Bottom should you and your date not want to call it a night after dinner. 700 E. Main St., 804-497-5000

Caliente: This Museum District spot is a cute, out of the way place that makes for a great first date. Just be warned, with entrée like the jerk plate and pasta jambalaya, it's a little spicy. But it's a fun, affordable first date restaurant. 2922 Park Ave. 804-340-2920

Comfort: If you want to impress your date with your knowledge of Richmond and its dining scene then this is the place to go. Sure, the downtown location around Comfort has grown considerably in the last few years, but it's still a little off the beaten path. Its menu of gourmet, down-home cooking sparked a trend in Richmond dining scene, with good reason. It's delicious. Just make sure you avoid it, for first dates, on First Fridays. You'll never get a table. 200 W. Broad St., 804-780-0004



Edo's Squid: Edo's is the place to take any date who loves food. This Fan hideaway, tucked above a Stuffy's Subs on Virginia Commonwealth University's campus, is from the masterminds of Mamma'Zu but it's a softer, friendlier version. Hands down, Edo's has some of the best Italian in the city. Its entire pasta menu is incredibly affordable and its specials and entrees give you and your date an opportunity to try something new. Just fair warning, you sit pretty close to your neighbors at Edo's and it does tend to get crowded. 411 N. Harrison St., 804-864-5488



The Metro Grill: Some much-needed press recently thrust Metro back in the spotlight, but this cozy Fan restaurant tends to get lost in the Robinson Street crowd. Its eclectic new American menu is affordable … with a little bit of a spicy kick. But, best of all, the high-back booths give you plenty of privacy, making your romantic dinner-for-two seem like an exclusive VIP event. 301 N. Robinson St., 804-353-4453



Strawberry Street Café : Strawberry Street's expansive dining room and laid-back atmosphere makes it a great spot for your first date. The menu covers every budget and every taste, from sandwiches and salads to seafood, steak and pasta. Plus, it has one of the largest affordable wine lists in town. 421 N. Strawberry St., 804-353-6860



Trak's: This intimate Greek and Italian West End spot offers a quaint, inviting setting and fabulous food. With delicious down-home cooking (the Mediterranean way) such as chicken parmigiana, gyros and spanakopita, you or your date might discover a passion for a new favorite food. Factor in Trak's friendly, family-like atmosphere and you'll be so comfortable that you'll forget you're on a first date. 9115 Quioccasin Road, 804-740-1700



The White Dog: The White Dog is one of the most over-looked restaurants in Richmond. It's quaint, inviting, affordable and delicious. But we tend to forget about it. Which is one of the reasons it makes such a great first date spots: you're sure to get a table and it's likely your date has never been. The intimate interior and out-of-the-way feel of this Fan spot will also add to the romantic vibe of the night. And isn't that the point? 2329 W. Main St., 804-340-1975