"Some date nights call for violins and views. Others call for something humble and slurpy—that's when you go to Nan Zhou in Chinatown and eat some very good spicy beef soup. Each order comes with a salty, funk-heavy broth topped with pickled greens. Split a bowl (they're big) and then order a stir-fry dish to supplement. The restaurant only accepts cash, but there's an ATM out front. For a two-part date idea: get soup here and then go directly next door for dumplings at Dim Sum Garden." - candis mclean, alison kessler