What does a date night look like to you these days? For me and my boyfriend, Steven, date night lately has been ordering delivery and a cozy movie night at home. With social distancing measures in place, restaurants and venues are providing safe alternatives for your date night. So we took the opportunity to escape the norm, and enjoy some much-needed entertainment + fresh air with some friends.
Our first stop of the evening was Pig and Finch at Park Place, where they have a fabulous patio with ample space for several small gatherings.
Upon being seated promptly on the patio, we were greeted by Seth Welch, General Manager. He had already prepared some of their most delicious shareable plates. Their Heirloom Tomatoes (left) were so juicy and the saffron aioli was a fantastic addition to this plate. The Glazed Pork Belly (right) was some of the most tender - yet crispy- pork belly I've ever had. It was so perfectly paired with the pickled pears and whipped avocado.
No starters would be complete without a craft cocktail to enjoy before the main course. You can't go wrong with any of their expertly mixed drinks -- including the Manhattan or the Spicy Margarita.
Speaking of main courses, there was such a variety of choices, featuring gastropub fare (meaning a pub that serves high-quality food), such as Espresso Rubbed Pork Shoulder (right) or the Shortrib Ragout Grilled Cheese (left). Both were delicious options!
I decided to have their Saturday special, the Braised Shortrib atop mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. Steven had the Nashville Hot Chicken Handheld and said the chicken "was like butter" -- meaning, melt-in-your-mouth good! This is not just your average pub. Pig and Finch has elevated every element of the every day pub from their truffle fries to their 3-cheese mac and cheese.
It was the perfect evening to sip on an after-dinner cocktail, while watching the setting sun. Our waiter gave us the perfect suggestion - warmed Grand Marnier or you could opt for a nice glass of red wine.
It was soon approaching dusk, so that meant we needed to get our lawn chairs and head over to Barkley Square. You should get there early to secure a spot on the lawn for their Saturday night outdoor movie, and you can even play a game of corn hole!
They have free movies every Saturday in September. You can check out their line-up of Movies in the Square here. Last weekend we watched Crazy Rich Asians. It was a hilariously heart-warming rom-com!
We had such a wonderful time and definitely plan to do this again, soon! Especially with the fast-approaching Fall season and cooler temps here! The next time you have a free Saturday night,you should come out to Park Place for a perfectly prepared "melt-in-your-mouth" outdoor dinner and free movie experience.