The Best Restaurants for a First Date on the Lower East Side in New York

Two people fit better than a crowd at 8282, where the Korean menu of anju and banju comes with few tables for three or more. The bar is a good place to sit with a gochujang margarita. We'd go for the dakgalbi kimchi-bap, gochujang-marinated chicken with cheesy rice in a crock, and the L.A. Iberico pork galbi, which is very tender.

White subway tile and dark wood give the Corner Bar dining room a clean look that mixes modern and timeless touches. The dinner menu has a raw bar, duck foie gras, steak and pasta. We'd order the trout crudo, then finish with the soft serve sorbet. It is a good pick when you want date night to feel like a special occasion.

Dhamaka, inside Essex Market, serves regional Indian cooking with bold flavors, the kind of food usually found in homes and at roadside stalls. The large, color-blocked dining room is not an intimate one, so it suits a date that centers on the food. We recommend the paneer methi and the chena poda.

Each hand roll at Douska goes from the chef straight into your hand, so it stays crisp. The rolls are simple, mostly fish, rice and nori, and six of them leave you comfortably full. Splitting a round of hand rolls over a simple meal makes it a natural date night choice for two.

Forsythia is an Italian restaurant on the Lower East Side with bar seating, which makes it a good choice when you'd rather sit beside each other than across a table. It also suits casual dinners, solo dining and date nights. We'd start with the starters, sharing about three between the two of you.

Ha's Snack Bar is an intimate wine bar on the Lower East Side, with a cozy, laid-back atmosphere that's perfect for a first date. The eclectic wine list and ever-changing chalkboard menu give you plenty to explore together, from creative toasts to snails served in rich tamarind butter. The dining room is quiet enough for conversation, while the bar has a more social feel, making it a great spot to meet someone new over a glass of wine.

Only three tables fit in Le French Diner, a tiny French spot where French hip hop may play while the wine flows. The dishes consistently turn out better than you'd expect. Start with the small chickpea-flour crepes, then move on to the steak tartare. The tiny room works for date nights and for drinks with a light bite.

Saigon Social is a trendy Vietnamese restaurant where tables are still gettable. It suits a casual dinner and a date night alike. The menu rotates, so repeat visits bring new dishes beyond the old favorites. Start with the crunchy, spicy pig ears. If you order one dish, we'd make it the bún chả, with very tender meat and rice that soaks up the richness.

Eight stools are all you get at Taikun Sushi, an omakase counter on the Lower East Side. The counter setup gets people talking to each other across it, which gives the night a social feel that works well for two. It is a strong pick for a first date or a special occasion.

Pizzaiolos work behind glass at Una Pizza Napoletana, a Neapolitan pizzeria on the Lower East Side with a spare but comfortable room. A jazzy soundtrack with a James Bond feel plays, and watching the pizza makers at work gives the two of you something to share. We'd start with the margherita, a plain pie with a crust that puffs at the edges.