200 FOOD & DRINK BEST FIRST DATE SPOT PALMA 903 N. SECOND ST. 602-580-0000 PALMASTATEOFMIND.COM Phoenix ain’t L.A. — thank Baby Jesus — but occasionally some L.A.-grade vibes can spruce up your week, especially if you’re wooing a stranger. The next time you’re kicking the tires on a new boo, reserve a table at Palma for the breezy, jungly, these- people-look-vaguely-famous atmosphere of an L.A. patio bar at a fraction of the cost. First dates as a rule should be cheap-to-free and, ideally, flexible. Palma’s happy hour lets you splurge without sweating the bill. Sushi rolls and beers start at $5, chips and guac are $7, an espresso martini is a why-not $10. The suave servers, the upbeat music and the general sociability of the scene will convince you two that the evening is full of possibility. Head to Phase II by closing your (modest) tab and stepping onto Second Street, where about a dozen other sources of fun are at hand. Maybe there will be a second date. And if there isn’t, there are plenty of other fish in the sea. And one of them will, guaran- teed, also be up for a first date at Palma. i i i BEST DATE NIGHT SPOT RESTAURANT PROGRESS 702 W. MONTECITO AVE. 602-441-0553 PROGRESSPHX.COM Walking into the compact Melrose District restaurant from chef TJ Culp, you find an intimate ambiance. Most tables seat only a pair or two couples. Plants potted around the bar and transom windows breathe life into the crisp space that’s wrapped in white subway tile and lime-washed brick. After sunset, candles and soft-glowing pendant lights set the mood inside, while Edison bulbs criss-cross the ficus-lined patio. Culp’s seasonally driven French bistro obliges romance seekers who want to impress their dates without having to break away from their conversation to study a menu. Just ask your server to leave it to the kitchen for a splurgy five-course dinner with optional wine pairing. From the dining room, you’ll see Culp and his team move with deft preci- sion in the open kitchen and bar. That dance delivers stunning salads, playful croquettes and artfully handmade pasta. Hoping, at the end, for a little sugar? Culp’s wife and pastry chef Crystal (née Kass) flexes her French techniques and command of Southwestern flavors in memorable desserts. BEST SOLO DATE NIGHT SPOT MINNOW 4501 N. 32ND ST. 602-932-2858 EATMINNOW.COM Minnow’s existence is the only reason we were able to get through an 800-page novel in just a few weeks. An outing to the trendy, fast-casual matcha and sushi spot from chef Bernie Kantak’s restaurant group, In Good Spirits Hospitality, can also be a sit-down, longtime affair if you try hard enough. Take yourself out on a solo date, nestle into a patio table with a sesame matcha and shed a few tears at the human dramas of war and/or peace. When the agony is too much, get a rotating cocktail for $12. Specialty sushi rolls find a middle ground between classic and experimental with offerings like the Saguaro, with spicy salmon and nopales, or the Blan- quita topped with yellowtail, salsa verde and green onion. Seating is abundant. There have been occasions in which we’ve arrived early, ordered a bagel and matcha for breakfast, then stayed long enough to order a sushi roll for lunch. Guests order at a self-serve kiosk, so no judgment here. i i i BEST SPECIAL-OCCASION RESTAURANT CHRISTOPHER’S 2501 E. TELAWA TRAIL 602-522-2344 WRIGLEYMANSION.COM/C144 What is there to say about Christopher’s that the James Beard Awards, the Michelin Guide and every food critic in town hasn’t already said? Christopher Gross’s acclaimed restau- rant sits high on a hill inside the Wrigley Mansion and even higher in the hearts of Valley diners. When an occasion like a promo- tion or anniversary demands a meal to remember, Christopher’s is always the right move. You can play it moderately financially safe with the restaurant’s classics menu, a three-course prix-fixe meal with options drawn from Gross’s long history of cooking in the Valley. Or go for the gusto with the ultra- luxe tasting menu, a parade of gastronomic delights that, with add-ons, can put you into the four-figure-range for dinner. But even sitting at the chef’s counter and ordering off the casual and less costly petits plates menu gets you award-winning food, stellar service and stunning city views. Really, anytime you eat at Christopher’s, it’s a celebration.
