Last night I planned a fun date night!
Early last week Ryan received a promotion at work and since I was awfully proud of him, I surprised him with dinner at Mark’s Prime Steakhouse, a local restaurant we’ve been dying to try ever since we moved to Ocala. We just needed a special occasion!
Since we’re sign people, I also had a silly congratulatory sign waiting for him when we arrived home on Friday night.
Have you guys seen BuzzFeed’s “50 People You Wish You Knew In Real Life” picture montage? I took the picture I included on Ryan’s sign from that article because we both thought it was way too funny when we saw it online months ago. Now we send a screen shot of the picture to each other whenever something happens that warrants an enthusiastic fist pump. That kid is awesome.
After a day out and about in Ocala, we headed to Mark’s for dinner.
Our meal began with wine (for me) and beer (for Ryan).
When I explained my wine preferences to our wonderful waiter, Kevin, he recommended that I try the Artesa Carneros pinot noir. I thought it was fabulous. It was slightly fruity but not too sweet and very smooth. I loved it!
We sipped our drinks as we dug into a fresh loaf of bread.
It was warm and took the edge off while we waited for our main meal.
Ryan and I also shared the steak tartare.
Ryan wanted to try this dish and I wasn’t completely sold at first, but once I put everything together on a little piece of toast, I changed my tune. It was delicious!
The main courses at Mark’s Prime are served a la carte and you choose your main dish and accompanying sides separately.
For my main dish, I selected a seafood dish that included shrimp, scallops, lobster and grouper.
I ate everything but the about half of the grouper, which I saved for lunch today.
Ryan and I selected the lobster macaroni and cheese and the grilled asparagus as our sides and couldn’t stop raving about the lobster mac.
I couldn’t get enough of the cheesy noodles and kept going back for more and more. I would’ve been happy with this dish as my entrée! It was fabulous.
We left Mark’s feeling full and happy! It was a wonderful date night!
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Congrats Ryan! It looks like you had a wonderful date night! Your seafood looks fabulous! Happy Sunday!
All of the food looks amazing!! Congrats to Ryan on his promotion!
Yum! Looks like you two had a great night!
Fun fun fun! I love going on Buzzfeed. Their animal pictures are HILARIOUS. Congratulations to Ryan! I’m sure y’all are both excited, I would be too!
that website cracks me up!
Yum!! I’m all about the seafood! Everything looks fantastic. Glad you guys had a great evening out! Congrats to Ryan!
What a fun night! And great way to celebrate. 🙂
Congrats on the promotion! Looks like a great and yummy way to celebrate. I love Pinot Noir…my favorite is Le Crema. Have you ever had that?
no, but now i’ll look for it! thanks for the rec!
You’re welcome! Let me know if you like it. Now I’m curious.
your meal looks phenomenal!!! congrats to Ryan!
I do love a good steakhouse! Everything looked delicious!
I love date nights…and I love seafood so that was a perfect combination, something that I would have chosen!
Everything looks amazing and congrats to Ryan!
The Kidless Kronicles
That mac looks BOMB! I love your date night recaps. Since I’ve been reading your blog, my boyfriend and I have actually taken up the same date night idea and it’s a blast! We’ve tried so many new places that I have a feeling we never would have gotten around to otherwise.
And congrats to Ryan! Love the fist pump picture haha
What a great date night – congratulations to Ryan!
Ughhh who goes to a steakhouse and doesnt get a steak???????
Lol! Ryan got a steak and I had some of his if it makes you feel any better. I’ve always preferred seafood. 🙂
Steak tartare has always grossed me out. I could never eat it. What did it taste like? Congrats to Ryan!!
I just looked at the 50 people you wish you knew in real life article and when i got to #50….I couldn’t help but crack up!!! “Nic Cage…obviously.” Thats awesome
Congrats to Ryan! So what did Ryan have as his main course? Please tell me that he had a steak!
He did!
That looks fabulous! Somehow the thing I’m craving most now though is the bread!
What a fun night! Congrats Ryan!
Buzzfeed is seriously my favorite. I work in Social Media and my coworkers and I blow up each other’s new feed with amazing Buzzfeeds. Like this – http://www.buzzfeed.com/emmyf/a-typical-trip-to-the-drugstore-with-your-bff-in-1997
Also had to comment – ARTESA! I love their wine and oh my goodness if you’re ever in Napa Valley, go to the winery. It’s so, so beautiful and serene and the best way to spend an afternoon. Your dinner looks wonderful!
Lobster mac & cheese sounds great. I never would have ever thought of that combo.
Lobster mac n cheese, please! It’s like the adult version of cheezy mac.
Congratulations to Ryan! I LOVE cheesy noodles!
Before I moved to Cologne I was very skeptical about steak tartare. Here they got me with mett, German version of steak Tartare. It’s served with a pile of onion and you can spread it to the peace of German hard bread. Looks scary, but tastes amazing
Hm now I’m wondering if I could get away with having Mac and cheese for breakfast? That looks SO good!
Good job Ryan! Congrats!
Your seafood main dish looks AMAZING! There is so much food there! And look at that lobster claw on the mac and cheese….amazing! Congrats to Ryan on his promotion!
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com
I love the sign that you made for him! How thoughtful. Also, that Mac & Cheese looks amazing. What a fun date night! 🙂
That sign is so cute!
Congrats to Ryan! Lobster mac and cheese sounds amaaazing!!!
Congrats to Ryan! Everything looks incredible and has me dying for a good seafood meal. It’s just not the same eating seafood in PA when I could be eating it in FL. 🙂
What a fun night! Congrats to Ryan too. You are so cute with the signs. Such a fun little way to congratulate each other. And I’m definitely going to have to try that wine. Sounds like we have similar tastes.
Check December Southern Living magazine for a lobster mac. cheese recipe.
That’s so sweet of you to take him out to celebrate! And I love the signs, that’s a cute way to show each other that you appreciate one another!
Date nights are always fun! I’m glad you and Ryan had a good time, congrats on his promotion!
Wow, looks like a great dinner. I want to try that mac n cheese!
date nights are always fun…and even better when the food is amazing!
Congratulations to Ryan on his promotion! It looks like you two had a fabulous night out to celebrate! 🙂
Congrats to Ryan on the promotion 🙂 Date nights are always the best. We’re having one tomorrow involving scones!!!
Congrats to ryan!
You’re so cute with the sign you made. haha! 🙂
Looked like a great place to eat!
The thoughtful things you two do for one another are inspirational. Such a cute couple!
Congrats to Ryan!!! I think it is so important to build your loved one up when big/little things happen for them. Who doesn’t like to be recognized for their accomplishments and feel extra special every now and then? I always strive to be my loved ones biggest cheerleader. And I’m all for any reason to enjoy a great meal!
My boyfriend always gives me a hard time for not ordering steak when we’re at a steakhouse too. I always look right to the seafood section when I open a menu. Good to know I’m not the only one.
Date nights are the best! Glad you guys had fun!
Congrats to Ryan on his promotion!
congrats to ryan–that’s so exciting! I always put up signs or write small notes too — I think it’s so important to highlight the little things. Plus a night out and yummy food is always a bonus :]
Yay Ryan, Congrats!!! So sweet of you to take him out, it sounds like you know how to make him feel special 🙂
You guys are the cutest and I love that kid’s enthusiasm 😉 Haha!
I’m adding another prerequisite to my future prince charming check off list: must enjoy making signs. 😉 I think your tradition is so cute! Congrats to Ryan!
Dinner looks delicious–especially your seafood plate. 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Sometimes it’s the little things that make us feel more special e.g notes & signs! When I come home from a long day and I walk up the garden path I can see the flicker of candles through the window and that instantly makes me smile and forget the headache of the day!
Congrats to your hubby! That is awesome!
What a great date night, and the fact that you two had something to celebrate it made it that much more special! Also, what a good idea to try and save some of your dish for leftovers the next day…I need to try this. I’m definitely part of the “clean plate club” when I go out to eat
Sounds like a fun date night! Congrats Ryan!!!