This is with a disclaimer. Restaurants and where to go on a date. Being a person that has never spent big money on dining out (even in the old days when I worked and had the money to spend) I can't really tell a guy that does like the upscale life where to go. I think a valid point on where to go should include some weight given to the social background of the "date". A guy that is used to going to high end places with a girl who is not used to that what so ever, she may or may not be comfortable in that environment. I am not knocking the girl and I am using "comfortable" more in the context of big money being spent on a meal for two people that could feed a family here for a week or two. Same with the other side of the coin. The "date" is a high estrata girl who IS used to very nice places, take her to Brosty's to mack on chicken and you never see her again. Those choices can only be made by you.
Traveler mentioned a place in Laureles, it is called J C Delicias, on the corner of Cr 76 and Transversal 34. There is also one in El Tesoro mall and one on the corner of Ave Poblado (Cr 43) and Ca 4S, just two short blocks north of Oviedo mall, single story yellow building. They have a pretty good menu, good salads, pastas, a huge variety of arapas. The food is consistant and solid. Average meal maybe $ 8-10.
Crepes and Waffles, all over the country, maybe 5/6 in Medellin. My wife and son like them a lot, we do not go often, too "corporate" for Dad. Their food is good, prices not bad, people here like them quite a bit.
Mondongos, VERY popular, very good food, people wait in line to eat there. Maybe average $ 10 - 12 a meal. The large one is on Cr 70 and Circular 4, the smaller one is one block from Parque Gringo, on the corner of Ca 10 and Cr 40.
IL Forno, Italian food, same as the others, solid food, good prices. One in Parque Gringo, one in the San Diego mall. The best one sits by itself up in barrio San Lucas, Poblado, across from the church, San Lucas, Ca 20S and Cr 25B.
MUDD should jump in here, as he has MUCH better knowledge of places than I do.
All of the places I mentioned would be the equivalent of the U.S.'s "chain" places - Chili's, Applebees, Outback, etc, without the "chain" feel and they are cheaper.
AREAS that one could/would go on dates, eats, bars, discos, clubs.
Parque Lleras (Parque Gringo)
Las Palmas - the road up the hill in Poblado, several big time places where people with coin go, more/less, some with GREAT views of the city.
Poblado Ave. - More/less from the hotel Dan south to Santa Fe mall.
LA 70 - South from the metro station Estadio to UPB. Hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars. Not many "Gringos", but not a bad area. Kind of a "Colombian Tourist" version of Poblado/Parque Gringo area.
My personel favorite area is Sabaneta. Very south end of the valley. The entire area around the park is restaurants, bars, clubs, etc., for a few blocks in every direction. What is really nice about it is that it has more people out walking around, young, old, families, singles, couples. The vibe is really, really good. My son and I went down last Friday night (it was raining, my wife, being a real Piasa women, is NOT going out if it's raining). We had some pizza, walked around and talked about how we have to hatch a plan to move down there.
I am old and tired, that's all I have, for now.
Micky
