Submitted by abdul_bino t3_127mcks in newjersey
*****Thank you everyone for replies. All really good suggestions but me and my date decide we are going to Ramen Nagomi. Seem like the most casual spot that fits both are personalities.
Will update you on how it goes l.
Ria mar. Can't go wrong.
IMO Campozino & Portuguese Fisherman are much better. Also Campozino has great staff that really keep an eye out for their customers, which is great for a first date.
Bluewater was very good the last time i went a few years back. Amazing!
Same! Although my last visit was pre-pandemic so 🤷🏽. They may have also changed owners but I don’t know that for certain, although it has changed hands several times over the years and never dipped in quality.
My parents are still in the area and say it is still great but they are far from reliable in the space of food recs
I like gusto grill. N-Thai is great. Our mall is small and rather lame, but it has a movie theatre.
Omg I haven’t been to N-Thai in years but now I’m craving it! Great atmosphere too!
Pinos in Highland Park has live music over the weekend. Nightlife in New Brunswick isnt what it used to be but they have tons of good restaurants and great place for plays. Also has a geology museum and zimmerali art museum both of which are free.
If it was me I would do early date, goto both museums then eat somewhere downtown on of off george st, maybe bar hop a bit on george st and goto pinos later on to see music if you’re still energetic at that point.
Also Rutgers gardens is a great date spot but maybe not the best place for first date cause parts of it are somewhat secluded, though not all.
I personally don't get the appeal of pinos it's pricey for the area and not that great inside.
Its the only venue in the area that consistently has good live music, they allow dogs, have video games, and do all sorts of cool shit regularly. If you’re not a music fan I’d understand thou.
music, dogs and video games sounds awesome
Check it out, they close by midnight but its a chill spot.
I get you. I've gone for trivia night before but otherwise I prefer to go by the shore if I can.
Shores where i go during the summer but when its cold out its a close easy option for people that live around here.
The appeal is that tons of people can walk to it, and they basically have a musician or event every single night of the week. You can also bring in your own food (Except pizza since they serve that now), and HP has some pretty good restaurants to choose from.
Ramen nagomi
We actually both really like this place we wanted to go. Is it usually busy on weekends?
I would recommend making a reservation if possible if it is a weekend day but during the week should be fine. I'm pretty sure they have a seating app they use to show wait times.
Mmmmmmm bao buns. Screw the ramen. Just give me this buns. But that’s New Brunswick.
Kpot Korean bbq or Rai Rai ramen
Love that you’re planning for your date! Hope it goes well 😊
The best activity to do here is leave tbh. Just grab some food and head to New Brunswick or Highland Park.
Is there a lot more to do in New Brunswick then East Brunswick
Definitely. Between restaurants, bars, and events, you can’t go wrong.
East Brunswick itself has restaurants and stuff but not really any nice walkable date areas, things are spread out…if you wanted to do like movies or bowling there they have those things. But New Brunswick has an actual downtown with lots of good bars and restaurants, outdoor seating areas, they also have a comedy club, some places may have live music…George st area is good for dates I think. Highland Park would be pretty good too, but they have less places to choose from than NB.
Portuguese Fisherman in South River was my go to place when I lived in the area. Haven’t been in years but it was a great place to bring a date.
Portuguese fisherman >>> ria mar when it comes to food
100%
I like both places but you can’t beat Ria Mar’s sangria
I agree, thats how they get you lol i like their private event food better for some reason
Gusto Grill on 18 isn't a terrible date spot. Not much else to do in EB other than bars and restaurants though. New Brunswick has better options like Destination Dogs and Batch Bin Barrel.
Gusto closed
No they didn't, where'd you hear that?
I went to eat dinner there a month ago, that’s the old stuff yer face right?
Yeah, and they're still posting on IG as of 4 hours ago lol. Yesterday they posted about hiring.
Hmm, interesting. Guess they’re still open.
No shit. Try giving yourself 10 seconds to look before just stating something like it's a fact.
Shut the fuck up. I was wrong. I went there they were closed.
So you went once when they were closed, and now they're permanently closed? Fucking idiot. Like I said, if you're going to say something with so much certainty, you could save yourself from looking like an idiot by taking literally 10 seconds to look. Something tells me you're more used to looking like an idiot though.
I went there at 4-5p on a sat and they were closed, parking lot all fucked up. I admitted I was wrong and your insulting me? Is this what you do to make you feel good about yourself?
It's a slow Friday. You have a point though, their parking lot really is a fucking disaster.
We clearly live within 15 minutes of each other, could be neighbors…will never know. You’re why people have a negative opinion of NJ.
I used to live in EB, but I'm a bit further south now. ;)
I went there last month it did not close
Fisherman/Campozinho/Ria Mar in South River. Good Portuguese food, nice atmosphere.
If you want a smaller meal, Rai Rai is pretty good for ramen, China Poblana has good Mexican food, Jersey Shore BBQ is good for BBQ. Those 3 aren't really for dates, unless you really enjoy that type of food.
Dunno what vibe you're going for, but a nice walk in Johnson Park or Donaldson Park in Highland Park pre-dinner and then drive over to Destination Dogs in New Brunswick. I always like a good icebreaker in a first/second date by a little 'messy' eating (just don't eat like a slob!). There's always Ramen Nagomi if you like a good ramen. In New Brunswick, you'll have a nice selection of post-dinner drinks if it should strike you.
Oooh I do love some walks but I think it’s going raining tomorrow around the area. But definitely will try those parks for sure thanks
White rose system 🍔
Orchard Park if you like super fanct
Bicentennial Park in East Brunswick is a nice spot to walk around and explore!
Take shrooms or acid and then go to the movies watch something visually stimulating then walk in the park for the night
The only answer really
Gusto Grill is a nice spot bc they have good drinks and a variety of food depending on your level of hunger and your diet.
Just in Old Bridge is a nice experience too, though it is located behind a gas station which could give an odd impression.
You won’t be fat from New Brunswick which has a nice variety of restaurants. If you like Ethiopian food, Dashen is a solid spot. You can walk up and down George Street and there are some bars and other restaurants that you can check out.
New Brunswick is probably a better place. Lots of restaurants and bars, all walkable. There is also a comedy club on Church Street, Stress Factory.
I see people saying New Brunswick over East Brunswick, but it also depends how n the crowed you are looking for. East Brunswick is more professional and older crowd mixed in, New Brunswick you will get a professional and younger crowd mixed in.
Fresco (Steak and Seafood) and Rice Factory (Thai) are good restaurants at the edge of East Brunswick.
In New Brunswick you will want to be around George St for example he non-college crowd, Easton Ave is more college crowd focused.
In East Brunswick it will be all paid for things like a bar or a park that closes at sundown. In New Brunswick you can walk around campus like Voorhees mall and Old Queens (next to each other and close to both Easton ave and George st. There is Stress Factory (comedy club) but that needs tickets in advance and has a two item per person requirement. There is also an escape room too.
Hope this helps, good luck on your date, if you give more info on what you are looking for in activities afterwards people will speak up more.
Forgot about Frescos that’s a good spot
Frescos for dinner 🤤
You're so brave- traveling all the way to East Brunswick and all. A little outside of your wheelhouse, isn't it? Hope you get lucky! Best, Kooky C
Oh yeah I actually from Columbus and she from Liden so we decide to meet in the Middle East Brunswick was the closest
Kpot on 18 it’s in the plaza with shoprite or even aroogas on 18 south in East Brunswick
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Salt is New Brunswick is our fave date spot. Best oysters I’ve ever had
Great idea :-)
🤮🤮🤮 What are you looking to spend? If the sky is the limit I would venture to Cafe Luna $$$$on route 9 10 minutes from mall. There is also Cucina Nuevo. $$$close by really good and BYOB. Pine Tavern has been my go to recently more moderately priced good quality Food and drinks. I would make a reservation and try to make it early. Raman Nagami is a great place I like the burnt Onion. off the charts still trying to figure out how they make those eggs. Very crowded small place. Old Man Rafferties was a pleasant surprise the other night the Burgers were good and beer was great. Good luck.
Hookah
I’m not going on a date, but I’d love to check out the recommended restaurants. Foodie @ heart.
The Frog and the Peach. It's in New Brunswick.
The Denny's on 18 has been there for years. Solid Option.
I always saw. What age group and what’s is your price range. Casual or fine dining. So many places in the area. But I saw earlier the Ramen. Super casual and fun.
Fresca’s in milltown . Fine dining
East Hana sushi or Mancini pizza
Orchard park in east Brunswick is so good
If you’re up for a short drive I would go to Princeton, they have some great bars/restaurants you can bounce around. Agricola is my personal favorite. Closer to east brunswick is Salt Creek Grill that’s a nice date spot too but nothing else around.
Gusto Grill and Aroogas. Edison Diner is really good too. There used to be this really good Italian place called the tomato factory but it’s been closed for years
Nothing East Brunswick sucks lol
eskihomer t1_jeeq3ys wrote
Haven’t been in years but Bluewater Seafood on 18 was always one of our faves
Also Ria Mar in South River was a great Portuguese spot. Excellent paella