A good date night is really about pacing. The food matters, but so does the order things happen in and how much room you have to actually talk. Mai Thai was designed for that kind of evening, and over the years I have watched enough of them unfold here to have a sense of what makes one go well. Here is how I would plan a date night with us in Buckhead, start to finish. Begin at the Lounge Bar Arrive a little before your reservation and start at the Lounge Bar with a hand-crafted cocktail. It does two things: it takes the pressure off the first few minutes of conversation, and it means you are not watching the door for a table. The bar has its own mood, warmer and a little livelier than the dining room, which is a nice place to land before you settle in. Ask for the dining room When you book, request the main dining room. The tables are candlelit and spaced so the evening feels private rather than performed, and the lighting is forgiving in the best way. Earlier in the evening the patio is a lovely alternative, all greenery and natural light, if you would rather start your date before the sun is fully down. Order to share Dates are better when you are reaching for the same plates. I would build the table around the Chef's Creations. The Lamb Shank Massaman Curry is generous and rich, made to be pulled apart between two people, and the Lobster Pad Thai turns a familiar favorite into something you remember. Add a lighter dish or a soup to balance it, and adjust the spice to whatever you both actually enjoy rather than what sounds impressive. For anniversaries and big nights If the evening is an anniversary or a real occasion, book ahead through OpenTable and leave a note so we can plan the seating in advance. For a larger celebration, call us at (404)-343-1516 and we will help you find the right corner of the restaurant. Either way, tell us what you are celebrating; it is the kind of thing we like to get right. The practical part We are at 3872 Roswell Road NE Unit 18B, Atlanta, GA 30342, open into the evening every night and later on weekends. Parking is easy, which is a small thing that quietly makes the start of a date less stressful. Reserve on OpenTable, arrive a few minutes early for that first drink, and let the night set its own pace from there.