Everybody’s Valentine’s Day dream is to go on the perfect date with their significant other. The ideal date for most is romantic and intimate. Some go the traditional route and go out for a nice dinner. Others think a little outside the box. And some have absolutely no idea what to do. For those of you who need some last-minute inspiration, the Argus is here, with suggestions for date destinations, including the usual and unusual.

Amici Italian Restaurant

280 Main St.
(860) 346-0075
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Amici serves excellent Italian food in an intimate atmosphere. As an added bonus, the prices are reasonable. The menu allows for a lot of creativity and substitutions. You can mix and match pastas with sauces, or ask for two different sauces mixed together, to create your own dish. In good weather, you can sit at the tables outside, on the sidewalk. “A seat by the window would be good for a date,” said Matt Brownstein ’07. “They have outside seating, which is nice when its warm.” Not only will you enjoy good food, but you can also make fun of lonely single people walking by!

Forbidden City

335 Main St.
(860) 343-8288
Hours: Weekdays 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Weekends 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.

This upscale restaurant is the perfect place for a sophisticated dinner (read: you’ll need to shell out some bucks). The décor is very chic, consisting of a lot of dark wood and white tablecloths. The lighting, provided by elegant hanging lamps, is perfect: not too bright and not too dim. Forbidden City serves various types of Asian cuisine, from the customary Chinese to more exotic Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese. Prices are a little high, which is why Forbidden City may not usually see many Wesleyan students.

Thai Gardens

300 Plaza Middlesex Main St.
(860) 346-3322
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Thai Gardens has jumped on the trendy Thai food bandwagon with cheap, delicious dishes and fast service. The atmosphere is intimate, with lots of cute booths and tables for two. Favorite dishes include the classic pad Thai and pad see ew. Students rave about the Thai iced tea, which comes free with a WesID. However, many warn that the unfamiliar, often spicy cuisine could be risky for a date. Think Ben Stiller in Along Came Polly. Since a lot of people are not accustomed to Thai food, they could order something not to their liking, which could cause embarrassment. “If both people loved Thai food, then it wouldn’t be a problem,” said Skye LoGuidice ’09.

Javapalooza

330 Main St.
(860) 346-5282
Hours: Monday open until 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday—Thursday open until 9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday open until 11 p.m.; Sunday open until 6 p.m.

Offering excellent coffee and sandwiches, this is the perfect place to head to if you want a more casual atmosphere, where you can relax and talk. “I like the way you can play chess if you want to,” said Fiona Lundy ’08. “The people who work there have some spark. There’s other stuff going on, so it’s not necessarily like awkward silence.” “It’s very hip and young,” said Isabelle Lew ’09. There is live music on weekend nights.

Praline’s Ice Cream

170 Main St.
(860) 347-2663
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Praline’s serves delicious homemade ice cream, in tons of flavors, and offers many assorted toppings. The only problem is the atmosphere, which is cheap and sterile. Take your ice cream to go.

Cold Stone Creamery

280 Main St.
Riverview Center Plaza
(860) 347-2653
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

This famous national chain is a welcome addition to downtown. They serve their legendary ice cream in a much nicer environment than Praline’s. Students warn that portions are large, and could almost be meals in themselves, so be careful ordering. Otherwise, Cold Stone would be the ideal place to stop after a date to grab some tasty dessert.