Seftel: Top 10 cheap but tasty first-date restaurants
First dates can be difficult, an investment in time, emotion and money. Will you find something to talk about?
While getting to know each other, you can always make conversation about how good the food is at these 10 inexpensive spots.
1. Postino Arcadia WineCafe
This lively place features boutique wines by the glass and high-quality eats, including panini filled with prosciutto and Brie or chicken and mozzarella, as well as best-in-town bruschetta, especially the one topped with prosciutto, figs and mascarpone cheese.
Details: 3939 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix. 602-852-3939. Also: Postino Central, 5144 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-274-5144. Postino East, 302 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, 480-632-6363. Postino Annex, 615. S. College Ave., Tempe. 480-927-1111, postinowinecafe.com.
2. Cornish Pasty Co.
Tell her the pasties here — pronounced "PASS-tees" — are actually hefty stuffed pastry pouches that originated in England, filled with everything from the traditional steak and mushrooms to the fanciful chicken tikka masala with yogurt-mint sauce. Good European beers on tap, too.
Details: 960 W. University Drive, Tempe. 480-894-6261. Also, 1941 W. Guadalupe Road, Mesa. 480-838-3586. And, 3800 N. Goldwater Road, Scottsdale. 480-945-1220, cornishpastyco.com.
3. Forno Fabbri
Stefano Fabbri, the man behind next-door Pomo Pizzeria, helps you get acquainted over luscious Italian cheeses and meats, as well as small plates of Sicilian rice balls, spinach gratin and eggplant parmigiana. The all-Italian wine list also works its magic.
Details: The Shops at Gainey Village, 8977 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-907-5202, fornofabbri.com.
4. Fry Bread House
It's impossible not to have a good time devouring this made-from-scratch Native American treat, hand-stretched just like it is on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. Get it topped with beef stew, or go all-out with dessert fry bread lined with chocolate and butter.
Details: 1003 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-351-2345. Also, Fry Bread House East, 1916 W. Baseline Road, Mesa. 602-351-2345.
5. La Piazza Phx
Don't want to wait two awkward hours at Pizzeria Bianco? Instead, get right down to eating and exchanging life stories at this top-notch spot. Excellent pasta and the town's best calzone, too. Hitting it off? Stay for the ricotta cheesecake.
Details: 1 N. First St., Phoenix. 602-795-7116, lapiazzaphx.com. Also, La Piazza Al Forno, 5803 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 623-847-3301, lapiazzaalforno.com.
6. Restaurant Atoyac Estilo Oaxaca
South-of-the-border issues can be a sticky first-date discussion topic. But whatever your views on the subject, opinion is unanimous on these best-in-town tacos, especially the great fish taco. Oaxaca's version of pizza, called tlayuda — a large toasted tortilla heaped with toppings — will also get your relationship off to a quick start.
Details: 1830 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. 602-246-1111.
7. Goldie's Sports Cafe
Perhaps you can bond around televised sports. If not, you can always bond around the first-rate pub grub, which includes superb marinated, rosemary-scented grilled tenderloin focaccia, as well as burgers, pizzas, calzones, pastas, ribs and fajitas.
Details: 10135 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale. 480-451-6269, goldiessportscafe.net.
8. Cafe Lalibela
No forks. No spoons. Instead, the two of you can get primal, scooping up zesty Ethiopian stews with injera, the spongy national bread. (Gluten-free injera is also available.) Choose from fragrant lamb, beef or chicken dishes, or go vegetarian with lentils, green beans, cabbage and collard greens.
Details: 849 W. University Drive, Tempe. 480-829-1939, cafelalibela.com.
9. Sweet Republic
What can be sweeter than a first-date ice-cream social? Sweet Republic's owners used to be investment bankers, before they discovered the meaning of life in artisanal premium ice cream. If you aren't hitting it off after scooping into the amazing salted-butter caramel, your evening has no future.
Details: 9160 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-248-6979. Also, 6054 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-535-5990, sweetrepublic.com.
10. Great Wall
You can learn a lot about people from their reaction to dim sum. Does she recoil from chicken feet? Does he scoff at egg rolls? But no one can have any second thoughts about the terrific dumplings, silky cheung fun noodles, barbecued pork and clams in black-bean sauce. Get here early on weekends to avoid a long wait.
Details: 3446 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-973-1112.