I read all the review but I cant seem to find what I need.... please help.... I am looking for a very romantic (dark wood, candle light but not too dark), good food, excellent service, for a date with the woman of my dreams. I will be staying at the Four Seasons, but do not want modern, or too foofy french. Atmosphere is important. Considering Daniel, Gramercy, River Cafe, Craft, but none seem to fit. Please give me some suggestions...... Thanks !!

One if by Land, Two if by Sea...

Two more great ideas: Philip Marie - or The Place

One if by Land, Two if by Sea.

We read about One if By Land.... but wasnt sure about the atmosphere.....it seems to get mixed reviews..... and first hand experiences ??? and ideas if we want Italian????

Thanks !!

One if By Land, Two if by Sea on Varyk Street is incredible, with a great piano player, beautiful atmosphere, working fireplace(in the winter)and gorgeous, real flower arrangements!

For romantic italian try scalini fedeli - i would say il mulino, ot il giglio for italian, but youll be too full to be at all romantic!

a very sexy steakhouse in tribeca is Dylan prime, tons of ambiance, great wine selection and service.

With the description of what you are looking for, here's another vote for One If By Land. My husband took me there for my birthday a couple of years ago and the food, ambiance, and service were all impeccable w/o being "foo-foo."

Thanks for all the ideas... my date wants to wear her long black slinky dress... is that too formal for 1 if by land (or any of the others?)? and I assume I will wear a suit? Is that appropriate dress or too formal? Thanks again, Jim

Erminia - extremely romantic, fire -lit, cozy Italian on the Upper East Side with very good food - 250 East 83rd St. (between 2nd & 3rd). Like your dream restaurant in Italy.

One If By Land is on Barrow Street off 7th Ave. Very pretty room, uneven food.

River Cafe has spectacular views and food - a "big deal" place, not intimate or cozy - a different type of romance.

Cafe des Artistes - romance as defined by those over 50 or so . . . but still very charming.

A new place, Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar - very hip, funky romance. Very hot right now -a tiny place.

Here are some great choices if price is not an option.
Daniel,Ateilier in Ritz Carlton on CPS,Per Se,Erminia,The Terrace,Arabelle,
Chanterelle,March,Danube,Four Seasons,
First three choices Daniel Atielier,Per Se would be first but it is not easy o get a reservation.

Jim, the proposed attire for you and your date are just fine.

cindymal..have you actually been to Chanterelle?. I was interested in going there after reading rave reviews in guide books etc but the only reviews of the place from people who have been there were from three separate people who gave negative reports. Can you or anyone else advise both myself and jimndebbie?

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Le Bernadin. We were there this past weekend, and it was wonderful.

I have not been to Chanterelle but I loved Atelier.it was wonderful and the atmosphere is great.Daniel is also very upscale with great food and atmosphere.Also Per Se is amazing but it is hard to get a reservation.I would try to get in if they have a last minutereservstion.My first chice is Atelier.It has everything you are asking for.Second chice Daniel.
Enjoy and make sur you make your reservations soon.

Loved the food and ambiance of One if Bay Land, TIBS. Upstairs had dark red walls and candles. We took a look at the downstairs when we were leaving, and it looked a lot nicer, so I would recommend the mainfloor if you go. And hope that you don't site next to loud people like we did. And DO try the beef wellington! Also, River Cafe was really romantic. It's a marriage proposal/big day kind of place. So you might get her expecting a surprise as soon as she walk in there!

I never understand the attraction of One If By Land. The food hasn't been good here for awhile.

What about trying to get a reservation at Thomas Keller's new restaurant, Per Se? The view would be very romantic.

I just thought I should chime in here. On the "long black dress" issue, if it's ankle length, like a gown, while she can certainly wear it to any one of these places, you should know it would not be the "norm" in terms of what others would wear. This is the sort of dress worn to a black tie affair. If she's a confident sort who doesn't care what others are wearing, she's fine. If she's really the woman of your dreams, you might consider "matching" her outfit with a tux. Certainly at minimum a good looking suit and tie.

As to restaurant, no one has mentioned the Rainbow Room. I haven't been recently, but it's quintessential NY with dancing & unbelievable views. It's only open on certain weekends though. Look for info on Cipriani.com

For Italian, consider L'Impero (limpero.com) It's newish & has gotten rave reviews. I also agree with Scalini Fedeli but it's all the way downtown in Tribeca. Erminia is another great choice, but IMO, the dress may be a bit much for this place since it's in a more residential location. A nice dress, yes.

Another idea is March (marchrestaurant.com), not too far from your hotel in a townhouse setting.

I haven't been to One if by Land recently enough to weigh in on the controversy. The ambiance is certainly there. The food probably does not match up to the other options.

zagat's is one of the best restauarant guides you can use in any city worldwide. They began in NYC and do that book better than any other. My suggestion is that you counter anything you find on here with a look up in that zagat guide.

Often people remember a restaurant from a vacation fonder than a regular evening out. Is someone going to judge where they went for their honeymoon in the same light they would on that one evening they got the baby sitter to sit? I think so, a lot more pressure to remember the honeymoon fondly.

Also hard to know if people have the same ideas of quality on a forum like this. Check out Zagat's. I take those guides everywhere and find them an invaluable source. Just measure them against what you find here because of course there are valuable suggestions here too.