Where to you go when you want to impress a date but don’t have big bucks to blow? Where do you go when you want to sit amongst the hip and pretty, but don’t want to have to scream over loud, thumbing music to have a conversation? The South Asian and Japanese eatery/lounge Hea (pronounced “hee”), is a good bet. The bi-level space has a ground-floor lounge (try and nab the cozy table underneath an intricately hand-carved wooden canopy), with a bar and a softly illuminated marble staircase that leads up to the dining room upstairs where you’ll find a sushi bar, a bamboo skylight, and a 300- year-old calligraphy table. Besides moderately-priced eats, there are wines by the glass, sake, cocktails, and beer (all $10 except for beers which go for $6), which can be enjoyed as you lounge on one of the joint’s patent leather banquettes downstairs or indulge in some of the eats upstairs.
