8 cheap but sweet spots for a D.C. date night

Let’s face it: we could all probably use some quality time with people we love (or maybe just like a lot) right now. And whether you’re one of the many single D.C. denizens navigating the dating scene or a married couple looking for somewhere to celebrate making it through another week, dinners for two can add up.

I’m here to help you build an arsenal of affordable restaurants across town — places where you and your date can chat over plated meals, receive table-side service, eat delicious food, and revel in the fact that both of your entrees fell under $20. 

Momo’s Cafe

Momo’s Cafe is a quaint Taiwanese restaurant in Foxhall. The extensive menu features milk tea, bento boxes, ramen, and other noodle dishes. The most expensive menu item (the ribeye steak) is about $25, but most ramen bowls, noodle soups, and bento boxes fall between $10-$16. If you’re in the mood for a treat, they have a fun dessert ($15) that features a mound of snow ice shaped into a furby, flanked by custard, fruit, sweet red beans, and ice cream. 4828 MacArthur Blvd NW. 

Mixxed DC

Along Adams Morgan’s 18th Street Corridor is Mixxed DC. The American fare menu features nachos, quesadillas, burgers, and bodega-style chopped cheese sandwiches. Entrees max out at $17 with the shrimp po’boy, but you can find a $14 hot honey chicken sandwich or, if your S.O. is on a no-meat thing, an Impossible chopped cheese for $16. For extra indulgence, their fried mozzarella sticks are cheesy, crispy, and comforting. They also have $8 all-day smoothies – perfect for a refreshing snack. 2427 18th St NW.

Basebowl

Skip the baseball game date and instead head to Navy Yard for dinner at Basebowl. From chili oil wontons ($8.95) to General Tso’s chicken ($14.95) and Yu Xiang shredded pork ($15.95) you’ll find both Chinese American and more traditional Chinese dishes. Appetizer prices hover around $10 and entrees hover around $16 — and to make a day of it, the all-day bottomless drinks are only $23.99. 1201 Half St SE.

Immigrant Food

Immigrant Food's fusion of global cuisines gives diners the opportunity to taste Asia, South America, West Africa, and more in one experience; perfect for your date who says they’re really “down for whatever.” There are a few locations around D.C., but the White House location has the best prices for a sit-down dinner. On the high end, $19 will get you Filipino fried chicken and shrimp ceviche verde. But my personal favorite dish – the West African gumbo — will run you $17 for a bowl of rice, greens, shrimp, and sweet fried plantains. 1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW.

Mary Bar and Grill 

This Petworth gem serves affordable Tex-Mex and other South American dishes – from Peruvian lomo saltado to Salvadoran pupusas and of course, tacos. The vast majority of the menu is under $20, with a few options costing just a little more. And do not skip the burritos: Mary’s holds the cheese (which can sometimes overwhelm a burrito, in my opinion) and instead adds a light layer of sour cream, allowing the rice, beans, and avocado to shine. The shrimp burrito comes in at $15.95, and also for $15.95, you can get ½ a charcoal chicken, Peruvian-style, with two sides. 4231 9th St NW.

Any Day Now

Also in Navy Yard, Any Day Now is the popular all-day cafe by local chef Tim Ma. Their “sandos” – which take familiar American sandwiches like the bacon, egg, and cheese or Nashville hot chicken and replace the standard bread with scallion pancakes – have quickly become a hit. Plus, they’re each $15. If you’re feeling splurgy, the Any Day Now take on steak frites is steak au poivre for just $22. And if you can swing it, try something off the dessert menu, which rotates constantly with new creations from the in-house pastry chef. 2 I St SE.

The Duck & The Peach

We know, we know – this isn't exactly an economical option for a full dinner. But sometimes there is nothing sweeter — literally — than a dessert date. Rammy-award-winning pastry chef Rochelle Cooper showcases some of her best work on the dessert menu at The Duck & The Peach in Eastern Market. With each treat falling under $20, you and your date can dress up for a night of fine dining without feeling the fine-dining pinch. The sweet potato coffee cake ($16), topped with a dollop of sherbet and a toffee sauce made of sarsaparilla soda, is moist and dense without being too heavy or overwhelming. Round out the evening with one of their after-dinner drinks (like $15 amaro shakerado) or get cozy with camomile tea. 300 7th St SE.

Nina May

For an even more affordable option, Nina May in Shaw offers a sweets menu with prices starting at $8. Like their main menu, the dessert options rotate seasonally to showcase locally grown ingredients — but I haven’t had a bad dessert there yet. Right now, you and your date can snack on chocolate cannolis ($13) or split a slice of their basque cheesecake ($13), topped with cinnamon-orange yogurt ice cream and a fruit compote. 1337 11th St NW.