Confused about where to take your gig, girlfriend/boyfriend, lover, sex-slave or wherever you are in your relationship? Here is a simple guide to the romantic dinner ordeal. Simply ask yourself, how long have we been dating?
Two Weeks
New relationship. All of a sudden, your young relationship is facing the toughest dining choice of the year. It’s a fraught decision. You’re setting the patterns for future events. Drop B10,000 on dinner and the object of your affection may assume that’s just your Thursday night routine. Head for Chok Dee Dim Sum, and it’s the last Thursday night you’ll spend together. You’ve got to strike just the right balance, all the while dusting off your “edgy, sensitive, interesting” persona. You need a cozy, mid-market restaurant with heavy reinforcements of alcohol, just in case you fail to find that golden common ground.
• Romantic garden? A Garden, 64 Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-2604992.
• Indian flair? Indus, 71 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-4900.
• Cabana dining? Aldo’s, 6/F The Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, 187 Sathorn Tai Rd., 02-676-6969.
• Straight to the point? Bed Supperclub, 26 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537.
Three Months
You’re starting to relax into the relationship. You’ve played the passion card, and will continue to. But it’s time to add another skill to the dec—practicality. This is the romantic dinner, and it’s where you get to show off your discriminating taste and ability to sniff out hidden gems. It’s easy to find a good meal when price is not a consideration. Can you do it and save money at the same time? These romantic options are heavy on ambience, easy on finance.
• A great view? The Deck, G/F Arun Residence, 36-38 Maharaj Rd.
• Shocking pink decor? Reflections, 21 Phahon Yothin Soi 7, 02-270-3341.
• Riverside charm? Buri Tara, 762/2 Rama 3 Rd., 02-682-9457.
One Year
A crucial junction. This dinner comes with serious questions: Where is this relationship headed? Are you ready to buckle down, and spend many more romantic dinners together? Is this the 52nd mismatched week? Go for “Kuaytiew Khoo Rak” (Lover’s Noodles), and ask to borrow money to pay the B25x2 bill. Say all those fancy trappings aren’t important to you; being near her/him is enough. Secretly make a real reservation at a restaurant. If, at the fake noodles proposition, your partner didn’t slap you before marching away, it’s true love. Head to the glitz and glamour to celebrate your true love victory. If the test didn’t go over so well, then, uh, maybe this just wasn’t the one for you anyway.
• French gastronomie? Le Beaulieu, Sofitel Residence, 50 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-204-2004.
• Sky high? Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar, 61/F Banyan Tree, 21/100 Sathorn Tai Rd., 02-679-1200.
• Classy Italian? Zanotti, 1/F Saladaeng Colonnade Condominium, 21/1 Soi Sala Daeng Silom Rd., 02-636-0002.
Five Years
Be honest. Even after five years in the best relationship, neither of you is looking as good as you did when you met. You’ve spent most of the past 1,826 days in each other’s company. You can see their face with your eyes closed, and can pick up the whispers of the other’s voice across the Siam Square BTS station. There’s not much left to look at that is going to be flattered by bright, flourescent lighting—you need someplace dark. Food isn’t the primary concern; softening the wrinkles of five years is.
• River view? Prime, Millenium Hilton Bangkok, 123 Charoen Nakhon Rd., 02-442-2000.
• 1930’s Shanghai? China House, The Oriental Bangkok, 48 Oriental Ave., 02-659-9000
• Boran boran? Ruen Mallika, 189 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-663-3211.
• Good ol’ school steak? Neil’s Tavern, 58/4 Soi Ruam Rudi Pleon Chit Rd., 02-256-6874.
