57 best cheap dates in New York City

See the Himalayas in front of a roaring fire
Sitting by a roaring hearth is an excellent way to melt the iciest of hearts: Toast your honey fireside with red wine ($16 for two) and French-onion-soup sandwiches—melted Gruyère on garlic-rubbed country bread with au jus ($28 for two) at Tillman’s (165 W 26th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves; 212-627-8320, tillmansnyc.com). Whisk your lover to the Himalayas, sans frostbite, by trekking nine short blocks to the Rubin Museum of Art (150 W 17th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves; 212-204-5240, rma.org), which waives the cost of admission for its Nepalese, Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese collections from 7 until 10pm on Friday nights. After taking in supersized paintings of Hindu goddesses, regale your mate with tales of the abominable snowman over $5 beers and live jazz at the museum’s K2 lounge.

All-American date: brgr and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
Want to watch your crush open wide without looking like a pervert? Order jaw-stretching, junky burgers topped with American cheese, grilled onions and fried egg ($16 for two) at brgr (287 Seventh Ave between 26thand 27th Sts; 212-488-7500, brgr.us). Sharing chocolate-chip cookies ($3 for three) and blueberry-pomegranate milk shakes ($11 for two) should pass off your oral fixation as an innocent all-American feast. Don’t worry, you won’t be clobbered by giant balloons gone astray at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre’s (307 W 26th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves; 212-366-9176, ucbtheatre.com) improv show, while you guzzle $2 PBRs. Reservations recommended.

New Leaf Café and Fort Tryon’s Heather Garden
Instead of foraging for acorns, wild mushrooms and nonpoisonous berries in Central Park, show off your nature-buff side by booking a table for two at New Leaf Café (1 Margaret Corbin Dr; 212-568-5323, nyrp.org). Housed in a restored ’30s stable, the cottage-like outpost pairs dishes such as eggs carbonara ($40 for two) with leafy views of the surrounding wilds of Fort Tryon Park. On Sunday 4 at 1pm, meander with park chaperones through Fort Tryon’s Heather Garden, a romantically English patch lush with blossoms, heaths and brooms. After your tour, stroll along the 600-foot promenade built into the side of a ridge and, as you gaze out on New Jersey, let your companion know that you’re ready to settle down. Meet at the stone pillars at the Margaret Corbin Circle entrance.

L’Express and Black Duck
Go out for a night of international intrigue with a Parisian meal and a free Bond film. Due to the weak dollar, whisking your amant to Paris might only be possible in a lucid dream, but at Gramercy spot L’Express (249 Park Ave South between 19th and 20th Sts; 212-254-5858, expressnyc.com) you can at least pretend that you’re idling at a Left Bank bistro. Clink glasses of La Fin du Monde beer ($14 for two) and discuss Proust over quiche Lorraine ($16 for two). Continue your night of international intrigue with free Sunday night James Bond flicks at the swanky Black Duck (122 E 28th St between Lexington and Park Aves; 212-204-5240, blackduckny.com). Pay tribute to the lady-killing secret agent with shaken-not-stirred martinis ($20 for two) before asking your mate to choreograph a steamy dance for the opening-credits tune.

Casa Mon Amour and Club Europa
Make it clear that friendship isn’t an option by escorting your favorite hottie to the aptly named Casa Mon Amour (162 Franklin St between Java and Kent Sts, Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 718-349-1529, casamonamour.com), for a cozy tête-à-tête over stick-to-your-ribs Latin grub. Sip glasses of red wine ($10 for two) while letting sweet plantains ($3) and roasted chicken ($16 for two) pleasure your palates. Chocolate cheesecake drenched in dulce de leche ($3) provides a prelude to something that’s just as sweet—a postprandial kiss. Might as well gamble on music if you’re going to risk falling in love. Try your luck on the Friday and Saturday night dance parties at Club Europa (98 Meserole Ave at Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 718-383-5723, europaclub.com). Expect Polish electronica, $3 PBRs and ample use of a smoke machine.

Dog-lovers date: Mexican and drinks
Let your pooch sniff out your date’s compatibility while you pick up takeaway beef taco platters ($14 for two) and Negro Modelo cerveza ($4 for two) at Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery (215 Ave A between 13th and 14th Sts, 212-780-9204). Then nosh at the off–leash dog run in Tompkins Square Park (Ave A between 7th and 10th Sts) —four blocks away—where other creatures in heat should provide inspiration. Consider marking your lover as your turf over Tijuana specials, Tecate beer and tequila shots ($20 for four), at canine-friendly, low–key spot Cherry Tavern (441 E 6th St between First Ave and Ave A, 212-777-1448). If you decide to part ways, leverage your adorable pet’s animal magnetism to gather new digits.

Satsko and Pianos
Elegant 40-seat sake bar Satsko (245 Eldridge St between E Houston and Stanton Sts; 212-358-7773, satsko.com; closed Mon)—an offshoot of the same-named East Village joint—offers a three-course prix fixe ($40 for two) that’s much more palatable than MSG-laden instant ramen. Sink into one of the red brocade banquettes, sip a glass of rice wine and graze on refined Pan-Asian fare such as sirloin steak with wasabi-mashed potatoes. The included dessert of almond, green tea and shiso crème brûlée or homemade lychee ice cream is rich enough to distract from your ozone-thin wallet. Bypass the earplug-requiring indie-rock bands at Pianos (158 Ludlow St between Rivington and Stanton Sts; 212-505-3733, pianosnyc.com)—three streets away—and duck into its quiet upstairs haunt.

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