My wife and I are going to NYC for a long weekend in Dec. (first time in 10 years away alone!) I wanted to take her to a quaint, romantic restaurant in the city, dressing up and all. Can anyone help with some suggestions?

Price range?

rivercafe.com is probably the most popular special occasion romantic place but I wouldn't call it "quaint." It's got a fabulous view of the NYC skyline and very good food and service.

For something more intimate, have a look at Blue Hill for American or Lumi for Italian.

You have hundreds if not thousands of "romantic" restaurant options in Manhattan.

What neighborhood?

What price range?

Agree on River Cafe for something special - but I wouldn't call it quaint, although I think the views make it romantic. And the food very good and prices reasonable for what it is (I think the prix fixe dinner is still only about $100 per person.)

Agree you need to give us a price range and types of cuisine.

romantic? nyc? i believe you are looking for "one if by land." on barrow street.

La Grenouille

http://www.la-grenouille.com/

Our favorite romantic spot is still Cafe des Artistes -

www.cafenyc.com

if you go on the website, look at the murals/paintings and read the story - it is a small, warm and inviting place, and never has disappointed us.

I believe the food at one if by land" has been going downhill for years - although it is a pretty setting.

La Grenouille has excellent food and is very pretty - but not sure I would call it romantic - more formal than cosy.

Cafe des Artistes, I think is pretty and romantic - but we haven;t been in more than 2 years - so can no longer vouch for the food. May be fine - I just don;t know.

The food here is excellent (although the present chef is due to depart soon) and I thought that the back room (velvet curtains, brick walls) was romantic:

http://www.allenanddelancey.net/

I'm pretty open regarding price range

Erminia on East 83rd often gets the nod as "most romantic". It is a small place with lovely table settings, rather dark atmosphere with real candlelight and flowers, and tuxedoed waiters. It's upscale Italian. We wore our usual dress shirts and nice slacks and actually for one of the first times felt underdressed in NYC (for a place that didn't require jackets). I think we were the only two men in the place without coat and tie -- quite unusual.

www.erminiaristorante.com/

Some great ideas - taking notes for our nyc visits -

um_1988 - everyone has different opinions of 'romantic/special' nights - have you looked at any of those mentioned and can give us an idea if those setting and decor appeal to you or if you are looking for somthing else?

Sweeping views - how about Asiati Restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental in NYC? Maybe all those twinkling lights and views along with great food would do it:
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork/dining/asiate/

or the Carlyle with drinks at Bemelman's -

http://www.thecarlyle.com/dine1.cfm

As mentioned, I am partial to Cafe des Artistes, but that is also sentimental for me in many ways - special dinners when my Dad took me to the city, and then my husband, and special occasions with our children too - so I think of it as romantic, but also it's just a special place for us in that regard too -

I would consider it 'quaint' against Asiati , but just thought I'd throw a few others in the mix