Komi or Proof. Also Volt in Frederick is a good idea, but sucks if everyone wants to drink...I guess you could hire a driver.

Make a trip to Frederick and try Volt.

1789 would be a good choice. It's getting good reviews these days, and men are required to wear a jacket.
If your wife wants to see DC-type "celebrities", then you might want to go to Cafe Milano. The food is only OK, but it's the closest thing DC has to a political watering hole.

Rasika -- food is great, although I find the vibe more "trendy" than "fancy." Tables are very close together.

CityZen -- great food (ah, the parker house rolls), fancy.

Marcels -- very good, older crowd, quieter. Feels fancy. Live piano.

Komi -- amazing food. Sort of a bare bones look, so the atmosphere isn't as fancy.

Poste -- not fancy, food isn't that special.

Corduroy -- great food, quiet, dim atmosphere, pretty fancy.

Fiola -- similar to Corduroy, although a bit trendier and less quiet.

Blue Duck -- agree with others' assessments. Also don't think the food is that great.

Oval Room -- haven't been in a long time.

Restaurant Eve -- love the food; agree it's not super fancy.

Proof -- really like it, but more trendy than fancy.

J&G -- never been.

Vidalia -- it's been a while, but when I went before, it was fairly fancy. I've always enjoyed the food.

My top picks would be Corduroy, Fiola, CityZen, and Komi (although the latter mostly for the food).

Anonymous wrote:Nora?Komi is great if you're feeling spendy. The food at Vidalia is good though it's not a super-trendy scene.

Anti-recommendation: I've been to Black Salt three times recently, and I have to say that it's overrated. It's noisy and the food just isn't that good.

In 1995, Nora would be a great choice.

It's not terribly romantic, but I echo a previous poster who said Rasika, Rasika, Rasika. Just fantastic food.

Nora?
Komi is great if you're feeling spendy. The food at Vidalia is good though it's not a super-trendy scene.

Anti-recommendation: I've been to Black Salt three times recently, and I have to say that it's overrated. It's noisy and the food just isn't that good.

Restaurant Eve always has yuppie couples with kids in tow there. Definitely not "dressy" or "fancy" in my opinion.

+1 for Restaurant Eve.

The bistro is fine, and easier to get a reservation. The tasting room is OK, but for the high price we were a little "meh" about whether it was worth all that. Good, but not THAT much better than the excellent bistro in the next room.

I also don't find the vibe at Blue Duck all that romantic. It's one big wide open room, with a hard wood floor, unadorned tables, and acres of space between them. Not the sort of cozy booths and banquettes or quiet atmosphere you might want on a date night.

Anonymous wrote:Blue duck is fancy but it is also in a hotel. Hotel restaurants always have their contingent of casually dressed travelers and kids. Great food though. I find Central to be more casual too, it's very noisy. Also good food though. 1789 is quiet and elegant, some find it outdated and stuffy.

This is so true. DH took me to Blue Duck for my birthday, and the restaurant was full of very casually dressed vacationers. I definitely felt overdressed. Food was great though.

Rasika.
Rasika.
Rasika.

Poste