Finding the right place for a solid first date is tricky. Screaming over the music and chatter at a bar isn’t really conducive to getting to know a new person. A fancy restaurant can be too stuffy and sets the expectations kind of high from the get-go. Enter The Rook. Nestled into a cozy storefront in OTR, it offers everything two heart-eyed strangers need for a proper introduction. Good food? The Mediterranean pizza rolls and their sausage and sage tots offer a big ol’ checkmark. Something to loosen those lips? Their signature cocktails are all amazing — and frequently come with charming accoutrement like a candy necklace. When it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty, the best way to do it is over one of The Rook’s hundreds of on-hand board games. Is he dense? Does she cheat? Are they a sore loser? There’s nothing you can’t learn about a potential mate over a round of Scrabble. The Rook, 1115 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, therookotr.com.
2. Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
3. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
