A reader recently wrote me with a specific request: “Can you tell me where to find the perfect restaurant where I can propose? If so, then what table should I ask for?”
I love this question. It makes me think about the whole “A table” situation: What’s the best table for conducting business, people-watching, or seeing and being seen? Here are 10 premium-seating suggestions along the Main Line.
333 Belrose
The Pear Room is a secluded little enclave at this Radnor restaurant, a serene oasis in an otherwise energy-filled eatery. It’s perfect for romantic meetings and quiet conversations alike.
Nectar
Most diners, it seems, want a table in the main dining room. If you land one there, “Hurray!” And kudos-times-two, if you’re lucky enough to score a corner table. There’s a big difference, though, between being a part of the crowd and calmly watching it. For the absolute best people-watching opportunities on the Main Line, ask for Table 808, a cozy two-top situated along the railing of Nectar’s lesser-known mezzanine level, directly above the dining room.
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Restaurant Alba
The primo tables at this special little restaurant are D-6 (a four-top with a dual view of the restaurant’s open kitchen and dining room) and D-8 (a large, round table that seats eight and provides a good vantage point).
Creed’s Seafood & Steaks
Table 26 is the corner spot tucked into the Fireplace Room—possibly the ultimate “power table” in the burbs. Table 17, aka “The Cove,” is a romantic hideaway nestled to the side of the bar.
Seasons 52
One of the region’s most popular chain restaurants can get downright raucous during lunch and dinner. This is when the semiprivate Vineyard Room comes in handy for business types to make deals and couples to whisper sweet nothings in relative peace. Note: This side space is only offered upon availability.
The Capital Grille
The key tables are the ones fronting the open kitchen—you get chef-y zeitgeist on one side, while diners are held at bay by a wall partition on the other. The best booth in the house? Table 44.
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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
I’ll usually ask for one of the two U-shaped booths at Fleming’s. They sit alone, and each has direct sight lines to both the rest of the house and the open kitchen. Tables 11 and 12 are fit for kings and queens.
Old Guard House Inn
What “see me” table does manager Mark Breuers recommend? “The one that’s right up front in the bar. You can’t get any more noticeable than that one,” he says, also suggesting Table 35, next to the fireplace. “Couples love it.”
D’Ignazio’s Towne House Bar & Restaurant
This Tiffany lamp-filled eatery has been serving satisfying Italian-American fare since 1951. It possesses the ultimate “Will you marry me?” table in the suburbs. There’s no number—just ask for “the two-top by the fireplace in the Coach Room.” Beware: Other couples might fight you for it.
