Whether you’re planning a first date or taking your significant other out of town, finding the right restaurant for the occasion can be a daunting task. The sheer number of newly opened restaurants in NYC on any given night can make your head spin. What’s more, separating the mediocre from the delicious is an endeavor best left to the professionals (or single folks), as playing gastric-roulette with your date is probably not going to make a great impression. Fortunately for you, we’ve done our homework and picked the very best of the bunch—the rest is up to you.

See also: [NYC Date Ideas: Where To Take Your Date This Weekend, Part 1] [NYC Date Ideas: Where To Take Your Date This Weekend, Part 2] [The Most Coveted Tables in Town: NYC Restaurant Week 2013]