Usually when most young people go on dates they go to a movie, followed by whatever food joint is closest and least expensive which sometimes led to disaster. It need not be that way. If you want to skip the movie and upgrade the dinner selection, here are a few reasonably priced restaurants to consider.
The Lime Light Restaurant:
The Lime Light Restaurant is located on the Corner of Shaw and Palm, across from the Fig Garden Village. This restaurant is perfect to take a date when you are looking to have something very romantic and quiet. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very clean and elegant, yet homely enough that you feel comfortable.
The Lime Light offers a variety of seating options; you may choose to be located inside the restaurant with its rustic old world Italian look or you may opt to be seated in the outdoor patio. With a full time bartender, the bar at the Lime Light is stocked with everything that a beverage connoisseur would desire, and the drinks at The Lime Light will not disappoint.
This restaurant has a wide variety of menu items to choose from; the appetizer menu has items like a seafood cocktail, clam strips, prawns, and a prawn martini with prices ranging from $5.95 to around $14.75. The lunch entrée menu offers numerous choices, from steaks to chicken, to a delicious fresh Tilapia dish, all of these items range from $14.95- 24.95.
The dinner menu is astonishing and has anything that someone would look for when it comes to fine dining. The appetizers range from cocktail to a large choice of delectable salads. The entrée menu is packed with delicious items like a sliced New York Steak, different varieties of seafood, and Chicken served in a variety of ways, as well as sandwiches. The prices on the dinner menu start at around $18.95 and can range up to $46.95.
Overall, the service is excellent, with the staff at The Lime Light always willing to be helpful with suggestions, as well as being very attentive in ensuring that the customers’ dining experience is fantastic.
Dai Bai Dang:
Dai Bai Dang is a casual and open air oriental dining atmosphere. It is located in the Riverpark Shopping Center in front of Edwards Cinema. This restaurant is characterized by its trendy atmosphere, its casual feel, and the elegance and comfort that customers feel when they are dining either inside, right by the kitchen or outside on the patio.
The atmosphere is one that someone would take their date on if they were looking for something “different,” or a dinner that would leave them talking for hours on end. The sights and sounds at this restaurant are enough to make diners want to come back again. The menu items are even better than the atmosphere. This restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
The appetizer items include Lobster Tempura, Sesame Shrimp, Pork Dumplings, and Shanghai Pot Stickers. All of the items on the appetizer menu range from $5.50 to $13.00 and are worth every penny. If customers don’t like the whole appetizer scene, they should go straight to the soup and salad menu which has plenty to offer.
The salad menu has delectable choices like the Peanut Chicken Salad and the Wok Seared Ahi Salad with prices ranging from $7.95 to $14.00. Dai Bai Dang also has an extensive seafood menu featuring a Black-Pepper Crushed Ahi, a Spicy Lobster, and some Seafood Pan Fried Noodles. The seafood is priced reasonably at $14.95 to about $17.00. The dishes are also large enough that customers will definitely have enough to take home.
The service at Dai Bai Dang is excellent, and the staff is fantastic at making sure that customers enjoy their dining experience. Overall, this venue is perfect to take a date to just try “something new and unique.”
Livingstones:
Livingstones Restaurant and Pub referred to as “stones” by the locals, presents a unique dining experience in Fresno. Nestled in the quaint and artistic Tower District, this is a venue to take a date when you are looking for a fun hang out spot with the locals and want to immerse yourself in some local culture and talent.
With live bands and an open mic night, Livingstones is a trendy and well-hidden treasure in Fresno. The venue is open for lunch, dinner, and drinks daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Located in the Tower District, it is just a few minutes from Fresno City College and worth the drive from anywhere.
The items on the menu are just as unique as the rustic and tavern looking style that customers will enjoy. The entrees feature pasta dishes like a Pesto Pasta dish, Fettuccine Florentine, and Gourmet Pasta. The seafood selection offers stuffed shrimp, Calamari steak, and California shrimp. The steak selection at this restaurant is also impressive, including Calamari Steak, Filet Mignon, New York Steak, and a Black and Blue Fillet. Prices for entrée items range from $12 to $20.
One of the things that make Livingstones popular among its regulars and first time visitors is the extensive drink selection and the talented individuals that prepare the drinks behind the bar. With almost every type of alcohol this side of the Mississippi, the bartenders whip up unique and delicious cocktails, no matter your taste in beverages.
The service at Livingstones is also something to be admired, and even on a busy weekend night when the house is packed, the staff is always attentive and always leaves the customers with a smile and a feeling that they were served well.
Famous Dave’s:
Famous Dave’s, located in the Riverpark Shopping Center, is a great place to take a date if you are both looking to satisfy a meaty craving and don’t mind seeing each other with barbeque sauce all over your faces. The atmosphere at Famous Dave’s is family oriented and ties into an old-western steakhouse type of vibe. The music ranges anywhere from old-school rock and roll to today’s country music. This restaurant is extremely popular with locals, especially with regulars, so arriving without a reservation would not be recommended.
Famous Dave’s is open for lunch and dinner. The dishes that are served at this restaurant are primarily chicken, pork, beef, and ribs. The restaurant is famous for its ribs and the variety of sauces that can be slapped on them or that you can use to dip them in.
To get things started, the appetizer menu is loaded with items that are sure to stifle your appetite until the main dish comes out. Appetizers at Famous Dave’s range from Dave’s Sampler Platter which gives customers a little taste of everything, and a sampler of Chicken Wings with a choice of the wide variety of different sauces that they offer. Prices on appetizer items range from $8.99 to $15.99
The entrée items at Famous Dave’s will leave you full, satisfied, and mortified that you actually ate that much. A staple entrée item is the XXL Ribs A.K.A . “The Big Slab,” which is an entire slab of ribs with caramelized BBQ sauce. Also on the entrée menu is the Georgia Chopped Pork, Barbeque Chicken, and the Barbeque Chicken Sandwich.
All of these items come accompanied by a choice of sides and delicious cornbread. Prices on the entrée menu range from $9.49 to around $24.00 for the larger items. The service, as well as the atmosphere, is enjoyable and memorable, and the perfect place to take a date if you are looking for “a good ole’ country time.”
So you want a change from the usual movie and fast-food date, visit one of the great venues where a date can become memorable. What entertainment you can find after eating is up to you.
