Cherylynn N.
Yelp
4.5 STARS
The First Date.
Many people have asked me for suggestions on where they should bring a first date. You want to impress the girl (or guy) without looking like Mr. Desperado who hasn't gotten laid in a century by forgoing your rent with foo-foo tasting menus. But, you don't want to be that guy who gives off the cheapass vibe by suggesting to grab a banh mi in the TL and share a pee-stained curb and a 40 with the hobo you're sitting next to. The latter actually happened to me. *Sigh* Damn you, Match.com.
You want a place in the middle of the cost spectrum and that's intimate yet low-key. A place that you can hold a conversation without feeling like have to shout so nearly deaf, Mrs. Simpson (Saved by the Bell) can hear you.
Equally important is a place with good food and drinks. Nothing quite gets a date going as booze right? Remember to always follow Patti Stanger's rule of a two drink max or you may end up like Mr. NSS and I; we have no recollection of our first date other than the hangover we both had the next day. No bueno.
Walking into 20 Spot, I immediately knew this would be THE perfect first date spot. Formerly a record store, 20 Spot has been transformed to small restaurant and wine bar with a contemporary vintage rock ambiance. There's just four 2-top tables, a communal table, and counter seats so do come early to snag a seat as it's a walk-in restaurant: http://bit.ly/1as0tzQ. You can also chill on one of their leather sofas and they even have a vintage rocking chair. Candles and soothing soul music really set the mood if you know what I mean. *Wink wink*
Their New American menu is small and changes daily. There's less than 10 items on the menu excluding their cheese offerings and dessert. We sampled about half the menu and I have to say, I was very impressed (there were some slight misses though) because they don't have a real kitchen other than several appliances like an immersion circulator, a toaster oven and an induction burner.
We started off with the Oysters ($3 each) which are a must order: http://bit.ly/1cYy5tr. They were like taking a bite of the fresh ocean breeze. Next, came the Hamachi ($15) served sashimi style: http://bit.ly/174WKYC. Although fresh, I felt some the combo of the leeks, preserved lemon, grapes, espelette overpowered the delicacy of the fish. But this is coming from someone who likes to eat her nigiri with just a dab of wasabi and soy.
If you like smoked salmon, you must order their Deviled Eggs ($10) if it's available on the menu: http://bit.ly/1ioEzSn. It was deliciously creamy with a nice pop of saltiness from the cured salmon and roe. And because it's crab season, we couldn't miss the Spiced Potted Dungeness Crab ($18) served with warm toast points: http://bit.ly/1cYo4MQ. It was chockfull of freshly sweet crab meat with just a hint of creaminess from the crème fraiche and zip from the meyer lemon.
Nothing sticks to your ribs like a hunk of braised meat and that's what we thought the Farro & Short Ribs ($18) would be but it was more like a porridge: http://bit.ly/1aVGNHk. It was still delicious especially with the decadent soft boiled egg with an oozing yolk and generous shaving of pecorino but I wish there was more short ribs.
We ended dinner with the surprisingly and insanely divine Vanilla Panna Cotta ($7): http://bit.ly/1cYp97u. It was a tad stiff but once it hits your tongue, the silkiness was sublime. I adored all the vanilla bean flavor and soon found myself with an empty jar. *Sad pouty lip*
In honor of hump day, I had two glasses of wine which the ladies at 20 Spot recommended; both were great. One offered me a tasting of Spanish wine to go with the faro and short ribs fish which was spectacular. I'm a total wine noob so I won't get into the nitty gritty details other than it gave me a good buzz. Two thumbs up from me.
20 Spot may be in hipsterville but there's not a bit of 'tude here. Service was wonderful. The ladies who waited on us were warm, attentive, and knew their sh*t. If I could take them to every restaurant I eat at, I would.
As for parking, if the parking gods aren't kind to you, there's a garage 2 blocks away on 21st and Bartlett.
Mr. NSS and I are well past our first date but 20 Spot made me feel like we were on a first date again...minus the WtfHappenedLastNight hangover.