That person you locked eyes with over obscure photography collections at Defunct Books? Follow it up with something at Lou. Brunch is the time for a lively aperture debate over a kale, nduja, and egg sandwich, with some pet-nat to spice up the argument. Dinner winds its way through a discussion on optimal lighting settings and a dry-aged ribeye with caramelized onion butter. And by the time you’ve gotten to the candied fennel ice cream, that second date is a forgone conclusion.

Sure, it might seem hard to get a table at Kisser—this walk-in-only Japanese spot is roughly the size of a two-car garage and is only open four days a week for lunch. At least the experience of waiting for some cod roe-stuffed onigiri is far from that of hanging out in Ticketmaster purgatory. But after that, you’re in for a near-tranquil lunch fueled by those aforementioned rice balls and grilled 24-hour, sake-marinated yellowtail collar that’s so good you’ll murmur expletives under your breath.

A wine bar that serves Lao food in an old converted church every day until 1am? That’s Bad Idea, which is actually a great idea for a restaurant. The space is gigantic and decked out in colorful couches, the dishes like jiggly scallop-mousse-stuffed crepe are interesting and delicious, and the bottles on the natural wine list pair well with everything. This is also one of the better late-night options in town, especially if you’re looking for something like a $16 plate of katsu over rice.

Audrey could be confused with a mad scientist’s lab that turn ingredients like pawpaw and Jimmy Red corn into a culinary wild ride. The space—a two-story building that also houses June, an intimate tasting menu experience upstairs—has a warm minimalist aesthetic with lots of Appalachian art and dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. The menu changes seasonally, but expect things like grits with sorghum-cured egg yolk, pate of Texas deer, and hickory grilled sunburst trout with tomato gravy.

Nashville’s got a solid roster of wood-fire-focused restaurants (see: Pelican & Pig), but this Japanese-minimalist izakaya is somewhere that stands out. They serve half chicken, smoked fish dip, and wagyu brisket dusted in togarashi that are perfect for sharing on a date. It’s not quite an anniversary or engagement situation, but it feels a bit more elevated than your usual Friday night Netflix binge with some Trader Joe’s orange chicken.

No matter the time of day, you’ll find a fast-moving line snaking out the door of Redheaded Stranger. That’s because people queue up at this casual Tex-Mex shop for crunchwraps so good they’ll root out any core memory you might have of fourth meals at that bigger “taco” chain. Also, every single sauce here is packed with flavor. Try the carrot habanero Dreamweaver on your totchos, or the Dr. Pepper sauce with a barbacoa taco.

Cafe Roze is an airy spot that’s a nice choice for an intimate (read: small) weekend breakfast, an effortless Thursday lunch, or a light Monday night dinner. The breakfast menu has some tasty selections that veer into crunchy LA territory, like ginger mango smoothies, sipping broth, and bowls of beet tahini, turmeric eggs, and lentils, but there are also smashburgers and stout waffles on there because, you know, balance. If the morning’s gotten away from you, lunch and dinner are tasty too.

If your partner’s been hounding you about your three-month anniversary for weeks (congrats on finding that gem), Pelican & Pig is the best place to go. Mostly because you should find any reason to inhale the warm, campfire aroma wafting from the wood-fired ovens in the back. The reason you’re here, though, is for the housemade focaccia with crispy garlic, the pork chop or ribeye from Bear Creek Farm, and those stunning chocolate chip cookies with milk jam for dessert.

What started as a trailer at The Dive Motel is now a Pan-Asian brick-and-mortar spot fit for East Nashville. There’s a red theme to the decor, but there’s also a retro diner feel, which is part of what makes it a great first date spot—it’s interesting and cool without that annoying try-hard vibe. The menu has things like Japanese okonomiyaki, Taiwanese gua bao, and Sichuan la zi cauliflower, and it changes frequently, so expect surprises. Get there early, since they don’t take reservations.

Maiz de la Vida is a food truck permanently parked in front of Chopper Tiki that happens to serve some of the best tacos in the city. They transcend just about anything else you’ll find locally thanks to their top-notch tortillas, which are made through a traditional nixtamalization process using corn imported from Mexico. The quesabirria tacos—served with a side of rich consomme that’s perfect for dipping—is the move here, but don’t forget to throw in an order of churros to finish to your meal.