Last Sunday night after watching a little bit of football and retrieving my car from the NYC impound (arrrgh), I met up with a friend in the West Village and I suggested we go to one of my favorite Sushi restaurants in NYC, Tomoe Sushi on Thompson St. Unfortunately, it was Sunday night and I had forgotten they're closed on Sunday nights. Next to Tomoe is Lupa, a Mario Batali restaurant that also happens to be a Matt Damon fav in the city (rumor has it), but usually there's a wait there w/o res.

Luckily my companion for the night was quick on her feet and suggested we walk over to La Lanterna Caffe. It turned out to be a great date place but unfortunately I was not on an official date with her that evening. La Lanterna is a pretty romantic place with fireplaces and candles everywhere. The decor was a bit aged but that gives it some character. A little dark but I guess that's the inherent setting desired for romance. This is a great find for a cold night in NYC, where it's pretty easy to cozy up with your date.

I ordered pizza and Shiraz -- not Merlot because I now have an aversion to it because I can still hear Paul Giamatti's character still yelling "I don't drink Merlot" in Sideways. Which reminds me, a great pizza and wine place on the east side of the village is the palindrome Otto, another Mario Batali creation but that's for a later entry. After she finished off her lasagna bolognese -- thankfully she wasn't a rabbit which is a reference to my ex who would out fail order a salad no matter what the restaurant speciality was -- I was persuaded to order coffee, though I don't drink coffee after 2PM because I'll be awake till 3AM. Coffee was excellent and her recommendation of La Lanterna Caffe was even better. Definitely a great date spot! Oh, I forgot to mention they have jazz on the side and you already know of my affinity for jazz. And yes, I was awake till 3AM even though I ordered decaf.