Essex

"Essex is a cocktail bar that doubles as an exciting place to share a weeknight meal. If you’re going for the bare minimum with this person, disguise the event as “grabbing a drink,” and if things are going well, order some snacks. Regardless of what you drink or eat, it’s so dark in here that your friend won’t see you rolling your eyes at their lame anecdotes from whatever extravagant vacation they took last month. And the burger is so big that they might not tell any to begin with. Essex is full of silver linings." - aimee rizzo

"Essex is a dark and romantic little spot that you visit when you’re serious about cocktails, and you want the person you’re with to know it. The drinks here have ingredients you might not have at home, like Becherovka or artichoke liqueur. If you're hungry, there’s also the option to get some delicious wood-fired vegetables and call it a night." - Aimee Rizzo

"This moody cocktail bar in Ballard is dark enough to hide the fact that your teeth might need whitening, but not so dark that you run the risk of poking your date in the eye when you try to run your fingers through their hair. The romantic setting is perfect for drinking sparkling Campari drinks on tap and splitting the burger with some charred vegetables. But if burgers aren’t your thing and pizza’s the only key to your heart, Essex could work before or after dinner at Delancey, the classy pizzeria next door." - aimee rizzo

"Essex is a dimly-lit spot to keep in mind for a breakup. You can discuss as adults why things aren’t working without having to get a clear view of your ex’s crying. Plus, a few of their refreshing cocktails are on tap if you need a drink quickly after it’s all over." - Aimee Rizzo

"Essex is from the same team behind Delancey, one of our favorite spots for charred pizzas, and we love their burger, because it’s proof that if you cook a mound of beef like you would a pizza, it’s going to be great. It’s seared in a wood-fired oven as if it were a Neapolitan pie. The result is outrageously good, especially topped with two secret sauces: an orange one that tastes like pepperoni, and a white one that tastes like caesar salad dressing. Pair it with one of their delicious cocktails and gaze into the eyes of your date - if you can (it’s pretty dark in there)." - Aimee Rizzo