“Date Night” in North Austin

Austin offers so many options for dates that it can be overwhelming to choose. Keeping date night within your neighborhood can eliminate driving across town, potentially missing reservations, or getting caught in a traffic jam. North Austin, encompassing Milwood to Steiner Ranch, has date night options that range from deeply romantic to energetic and fun. Below are a few to help make date night planning easy:

Dinner

Siena

Siena is one of Austin’s favorite restaurants for authentic Tuscan and Italian cuisine, featuring seasonal antipasti, fresh sauces, homemade pasta, and a wide selection of organically raised meat, fish, and fowl. With simple, high-quality ingredients, Siena’s traditional menu has options for a variety of lifestyle choices and uses locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. The food is complemented by an award-winning wine cellar with over 250 varieties of Italian wine served in rustic, elegant surroundings. Siena is located in the Austin hill country, close to Lake Austin alongside 2222.

Nagoya

Nagoya Steak & Sushi is a fusion of a Japanese sushi bar and Hibachi grill. The chefs at Nagoya combine the most premium grades of meat with the freshest ingredients in all the dishes. Guests can choose to dine at the Sushi bar, experience a lively meal at the Hibachi grill where chefs cook the food tableside, or have close conversations at the Martini Bar, a full bar with over 30 martinis, sakes, and extensive wine selections.

The Melting Pot

Offering gourmet fondue, The Melting Pot provides a casually elegant, intimate atmosphere. The four-course experience begins with a cheese fondue prepared tableside, followed by a fresh salad that can be enjoyed while the entrée pot filled with flavored broths or oil heats. Diners can simmer a variety of fresh meats, seafood, and vegetables while enjoying a relaxed dining experience. All entrees are accompanied by an array of dipping sauces to add to the flavor combinations. Chocolate fondue is the grand finale, served with a selection of decadent dippers. The Melting Pot also features a great wine list, specialty cocktails, and martinis.

Dessert

Lick It Bite It Or Both

Lick It Bite It Or Both is a new kid on the Austin cupcake block, established in 2010. Offering premium ice cream and gourmet cupcakes separately, or together, the tasty shop presents a new twist on the old favorite, “cake and ice cream.” Ice cream can be bought with a cupcake sitting right on top, both of which are mixed and baked on site from scratch. This locally owned business is quickly becoming an Austin favorite, and located close to The Domain, it’s the perfect top-off for a fun North Austin date night.

Cupprimo

A long standing popular cupcake spot, Cupprimo boasts the title of the Austin Chronicle Best of 2011′s Award for their No-Fire S’more. Every day, Cupprimo bakes all of their cupcakes fresh from scratch. They go great with a hot cup of coffee or frothy cappuccino.

The Steeping Room

For a lighter ending to date night, The Steeping Room offers a fresh, healthy menu of seasonal treats inspired by the teas they serve and their originating cultures. The menu has something for everyone: natural meats and dairy, cage-free eggs, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The Steeping Room is committed to serving natural and organic teas and foods whenever possible, avoiding artificial ingredients and flavorings. Dessert options include seasonal fruit galettes, tea cake, crème brulee, caramel cakes, cupcakes, and more.

Fun

Main Event

The Main Event center, located alongside Hwy 183, has fun for anyone through bowling, billiards, mini golf, an arcade, a climbing wall, a bar, and laser tag. Black light bowling features lasers, fog, and music for a special nighttime experience. Main Event’s 9,000 square foot Rock Climbing Arena has a challenge waiting for couples of any physical stature. The 28-foot towers may seem daunting, but the thrill of reaching the summits overrides any initial hesitation. The Glow Golf course is a unique challenge; the glow-in-the-dark, fluorescent drenched, multi-dimensional miniature golf course is part putt-putt, part science fiction, and 100% fun.

Alamo Drafthouse

The Alamo Drafthouse offers a new twist on a traditional movie date. Cold beer or fine wine served to your seat, hot movies, and delicious snacks and meals brought to you during the film make an Alamo movie experience a one stop shop for an all-inclusive date. Entertainment Weekly voted it the #1 theater in America, and Wired.com named it the Coolest Movie Theater in the World. For extra fun, the theatre also offers special showings of older movies in the form of Quote-Alongs, HeckleVision, and themed movie events.

Dave & Busters

For anyone who loved Chuck E. Cheese or Discovery Zone as a kid, Dave & Buster’s offers an adult version of arcade fun for grown-ups, with equally grown up beverages at a full bar. Located in the corner of Hwy 183 and the Capital of Texas Highway, Dave & Buster’s has cocktail tables to sit and chat, a large arcade, billiards, and other games to keep nighttime entertaining.

Live in another part of Austin? Check out our posts: “Date Night” in North Austin, “Date Night” in Central Austin, and “Date Night” in South Austin.