Romantic Italian Date Night in NYC
Description
This romantic cooking class is more than just a lesson; it's an unforgettable date night experience. You'll gain the skills to recreate elegant Italian dishes at home, perfect for impressing your special someone with your culinary talents.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(27)
Such a great experience! We went for my mom’s birthday while she was visiting from out of town. The food was delicious, and the chef was fantastic. We had so much fun and can’t wait to take another class with them!!
The Romantic Italian Date Night class was incredible! Paige was so kind, enthusiastic, and brought such amazing energy to the class. We loved absolutely everything about the experience and had such a great time. Highly recommend!
Too many people. Don't call it a romantic date night if I have to cook and collaborate with strangers. When I was told me and my lady would have to share with two other people I was shocked.
Hi there, Thank you for sharing your feedback. Our Romantic Italian Date Night in NYC is designed as a social, interactive group cooking experience rather than a private couples-only class. Guests cook at shared tables, collaborate during certain steps, and then sit down to enjoy the meal together. Many couples enjoy the lively, communal atmosphere — but we understand that some guests may expect a fully private or semi-private setup. We appreciate you giving us a try and wish you the best in finding the experience that matches what you’re looking for.
Dale was great and super knowledgeable. The food was delicious too. I wish we could’ve bought an apron as a souvenir at the end
Very nice experience with good food and a great chef. My main faults are that space is limited so you are sharing with a group and don't get to be involved in making everything. Additionally you are not involved in making everything on the page like the bread, the chef has pre-made that.
Hi there, Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re glad you had a fun night out and enjoyed the food and the chef. Our Romantic Italian Date Night in NYC is designed as a social, guided group experience, so guests cook at shared tables and collaborate during certain steps. We understand that this format can feel different from a fully individual, culinary-school-style class where each person prepares every component independently. Regarding items like the bread, some elements are prepared in advance to ensure timing, quality, and food safety within the class timeframe, while still allowing guests to participate hands-on in the key components of the meal. We appreciate you sharing your perspective and thank you for joining us in our Manhattan kitchen.
I had an amazing time at the SELFUP Italian cooking class in NYC! My friends and I attended for my birthday, and it was the perfect way to celebrate — fun, interactive, and delicious from start to finish. Chef Oliver was absolutely great. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and made everything easy to follow while keeping the vibe fun and relaxed. He explained techniques clearly, gave helpful tips along the way, and made sure everyone felt included, whether you were a beginner or more experienced in the kitchen. The menu was fantastic, and cooking together made the experience even more special. We laughed, learned, and enjoyed an incredible meal that we made ourselves. It felt like the perfect mix of a cooking class and a night out with friends. Highly recommend SELFUP for a birthday, date night, or group outing — and if you get Chef Oliver, you’re in for a great fun!
I had given my wife the "cooking class" as a birthday present because I thought it was a cool way to meet people and get new culinary impressions during our NYC trip. First of all - this "course" has nothing in common with a cooking class in Germany. There is less cooking, as one would call it in Europe or Asia, but rather ingredients tipped together, as one simply cooks in the USA. The dessert was prepared first: - Layer already baked ready-made dough and cream in a plastic cup, soak with ready-made sauce from the bottle and sprinkle with colorful sprinkles. This is seriously the dessert of the romantic dinner?! - Then make your own pasta dough - that was the only thing you really prepared from raw ingredients. Then flour and fry sliced chicken, tip over cream, pour in provided spices, lid on top. So chicken with cream sauce, what you can cook here as a 10-year-old with Maggi-Fix. Random broccoli and beetroot were then cooked by the "chefs" as a side dish. Wor didn't even hold a knife that night. Not even peeled vegetables. Nothing. Just stirred. And I could have made the dish 100% tastier and spicier without a recipe and according to my own instructions. The most ridiculous thing, however, was the starter. We were sold it as homemade burrata. Knead mozzarella in hot water, form a bowl from the soft cheese, fill with cream and cheese and close. Seriously? I thought I was with the hidden camera. Then there is the ambience, which was absolutely ZERO romantic. Plastic chairs, no candles, no decoration, when I say beer tent set and paper tablecloth, most know what I mean. Wine from plastic cups, canned Coke. Wow, super romantic. It may be that “cooking,” where you tip the simplest ingredients together, process convenience products and put them into plastic cups, is a challenge for most Americans. But someone who often cooks fresh at home with good products, who values at least some aesthetics in presentation and taste, is definitely wrong here. I absolutely cannot recommend this course if you can cook at least mediocre and don't want to celebrate a romantic date with plastic cups, loveless YouTube playlist and cola can.
Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We understand that expectations for a cooking class — especially when traveling internationally — can vary significantly depending on prior experiences and cultural standards. Our Romantic Italian Date Night in NYC is designed as an interactive, social group cooking experience rather than a formal European-style culinary training course. The format focuses on guided participation, collaboration, and enjoying a multi-course Italian meal together in a relaxed studio setting. It is not structured as a professional culinary school environment where each guest prepares every component entirely from scratch. Regarding the menu, certain elements are partially prepared in advance to ensure timing, food safety, and the ability to complete multiple courses within the class timeframe. The burrata technique demonstrated in class reflects the traditional mozzarella stretching and filling method, adapted for a group format. As for the atmosphere, our studio is intentionally casual and functional. The “romantic” aspect refers to the shared experience — cooking, laughing, and dining together — rather than a candlelit fine-dining restaurant setting. We recognize that guests who cook frequently at a high level or who expect a private, restaurant-style ambiance may prefer a different format. We appreciate you giving us a try and sharing your perspective.
Our executive Chef Paige and our sous Chef Ashley were amazing! They were amazing guides with a wealth of knowledge. It was a small class with two other couples, it was approximately 3 hour, and they were really attentive helping everyone and giving us not only instructions but also tips for making the dish at home! They were also super helpful answer all sorts of questions. We had so much fun having dancing and joking around! They were so personable and will definitely going back for some of the other classes!!! THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING EVENING!
This was our second class with Oliver - he’s awesome! I love the way he explains the science behind cooking, reviewing the steps in an easy to follow manner. He’s also warm and encouraging. We’ll definitely be back a third time!
The space was amazing, the staff talented and gracious. Lots of learning and hands-on practice. Chef Danny assisted by Chef Andrea (?) were wonderful and fun to work with.
