Riverside Lunch

You don’t have to drop $50+ every time you go on a date with your significant other. High school students can’t afford to be emptying half of our bank account week after week. Riverside is the perfect contrast to a fancy, expensive dinner. It has the perfect atmosphere for a casual date. Pleasant workers, great food, all while giving the perfect sense of Charlottesville. To top it off, you’ll both be guaranteed to leave happier than you came in after eating arguably the best burgers in Central Virginia.

Now and Zen

It’s a wrap. Feeling a little classier than a burger joint? Check out Now and Zen. This upbeat sushi restaurant is a perfect place for a nice first date. It gives you an excuse to dress nicely, impress your date, not look like a slob while you down greasy burgers off of Styrofoam plates, and the name of the restaurant is a great ice breaker. The sushi quantities aren’t great and the price is steep. Modern furniture encapsulates the restaurant yet the casually pleasant waiters ensure the feel is not too ostentatious. The sushi is simply divine and cheaper than their opposing restaurant–Ten.

Brazo’s Tacos

Looking for great outdoor seating with your perfect date? Then Brazo’s is the place for you. Located at the IX art park in downtown Charlottesville; Brazos arguably has the best tacos in Charlottesville. They also have great outdoor seating options with twinkly lights to set the Valentines night` if the weather permits. They have a great menu with lots of interesting combinations and much better chips and guac than Chipotle, with an option for queso as well, and of course classic salsa. With large portion sizes for relatively cheap prices Brazo’s offers great value, around $4 for three tacos, that is hard to pass up.

Violet Crown

Want a classic dinner and movie but don’t have the time or funds to go to seperate places? Then the Violet Crown is the best spot for your Valentine’s Day date. This is one of two places in the area where you can get a meal and watch a movie at the same time. The Violet Crown is much better than its counterpart The Alamo because of their smaller, more personal theaters, with a much better atmosphere for a quality movie.

Smoked

If you are looking for some good grubbin and some good barbecue, take your honey over to Smoked just in downtown Crozet. The dim lights in the restaurant set the mood, making for a romantic valentines day dinner. For you guys, this might not be your ideal spot, the price isn’t outrageous but unless you got mad stacks you will be diving deep into your bank account. The pro is that it is some of the best food I have had from a local joint. The con is that it is far away and a tad pricey. At the end of the day, it is all worth it to make your date happy with a good, nice, and romantic meal. Here’s one tip if you do plan on trying out Smoked, try the cornbred, it is the best cornbread I have ever had and it tastes like candy. 🙂

The Poe House

This might be all of yours favorite choice if you are looking at some financial troubles. People really appreciate when you take them out for a nice romantic meal and pay for them, but they will appreciate you making them a candlelit home cooked meal a lot more. It shows that you have skills in the kitchen and shows off the more mature sexy side of you. I would suggest something simple because not all of you are Rachel Ray, so let’s stick to the basics, but keep it romantic as well, nothing messy or greasy, something eloquent and fancy. Valentines day only comes once a year and you could be saving yourself a good 50 bucks by staying in and putting your cooking skills to the test.