Valentine’s Day has come and gone. By now it’s just a haze of flowers and/or chocolate and/or reminders of singledom. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to start planning a new date around campus. Whether you’re looking for a fun atmosphere or something a little more intimate, these are the spots you don’t want to miss out on.
Have a snazzy night at La Bocca
The No. 1 nearby spot is an easy pick: La Bocca urban pizzeria and wine bar on Mill Avenue, which opened in 2008. If you’re looking for a place that makes you feel like you’re not on Mill but a little couture eatery in Paris, this is the perfect place. La Bocca is known for its lunch specials, dinner reservations and late-night wine tastings, but their fresh and local foods aren’t the only reasons to go. The atmosphere and service is ideal for treating your date. As you walk into the restaurant you’re greeted by gorgeous, old-fashioned paintings. La Bocca has specials every day of the week: Monday is half-price bottles of wine from 6:30 to close; Tuesdays are two-for-one pizzas with a bottle of wine; and Fridays and Saturdays are reverse happy hour, with draft beers and wine from 10 p.m. to close. Their menu features everything from hand-tossed pizzas to delicious sandwiches to flavorful salads – don’t forget to wash it down with their famous white sangria.
699 S. Mill Ave., Suite 115
Try something healthy at Caffe Boa
Similar to La Bocca in some respects, but with its own special charm, the second spot to take your date to is Caffe Boa. Choosing to eat healthy can be a tough decision – especially when you have fast food on every corner in Tempe. But you can’t go wrong when you eat at Caffe Boa. Everything from their house flatbread to their Voodoo Penne is all-natural, local and organic. So if your date is open to trying new things, this is the right fit. While the food might be a little pricier, the setting is quaint and intimate. Caffe Boa has a spacey patio surrounded by trees and adorned with lights, giving it a romantic vibe. A must-try is their famous all-you-can-drink Bellinis and mimosas for Saturday and Sunday brunch.
398 S. Mill Ave.
Plan a Secret Garden picnic with Sacks
When we say plan, we mean it. This garden ain’t so secret these days, and some folks have had this idea in the past. Make space on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and bring along some sandwiches. Sure, maybe bringing your own along is a bit more authentic, but local spot Sacks Art of Sandwicherie (closed Sundays but open Saturdays until 3 p.m.) is just a short hop away from campus, and stocks some of the best sandwiches around town for a reasonable price. Some highlights: The Mona, stacked with nova lox salmon on a baguette, or The Overture, prime beef au jus with sweet onion and horse radish.
For another picnic idea, see our Best of ASU section. (p. 25)
Sacks Art of Sandwicherie
35 E. 9th St.
Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of The Fixx
Maybe some people have stereotyped Mill Avenue as the go-to ASU drinking destination – in other words, only for the young college kids. And, sure, in some ways that hits the mark. But The Fixx coffee bar is starting a new trend. This restaurant welcomes all ages, and is a good mix of low-key and fun for a date night: Grab some coffee there, or gather for one of the free concerts every Saturday, starring local artists. The staff is laid-back and friendly and the coffee is well worth it. If that type of night sounds more up your alley, mix it up with The Fixx.
15 E. 7th St.
Make reservations with friends for Gordon Biersch
If you’re looking for fun dining with a chockablock menu, you’ll find it at Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant. The spot is well-known around town for their California Cobb flatbread and crab-stuffed yellow tail sole – good for a personal date with you and your loved one, and just as good for double and triple-dating. Gordon Biersch can accommodate dinner dates from two to hundreds of people, so whether you’re planning a quiet date or getting a big group together (although maybe not hundreds), Gordon Biersch is worth a shot.
420 S. Mill Ave., Suite 201