By Steven Froias for Love the Ave

On Acushnet Avenue, love doesn’t just live in grand gestures or candlelit confessions. It shows up in shared plates, extra napkins, last bites offered (or not), and the quiet understanding that dessert is never optional. 

Stretching through New Bedford’s North End, Acushnet Avenue is a corridor where food and affection have long gone hand in hand—across generations, cultures, and just about every stage of love you can imagine. 

Whether you’re nervously planning a first date, sneaking out for date night between school pickups, or celebrating a love that’s stood the test of time, The Ave has a table waiting.

First Dates: Where Butterflies Meet Bifanas

First dates are delicate. You want somewhere casual but not careless, charming but not try-hard. Luckily, Acushnet Avenue specializes in places where conversation flows as easily as the horchata—or the sangria.

The beauty of a first date on The Ave is choice. Central American spots serve comfort food that invites sharing and storytelling. Mexican kitchens bring the heat (figuratively and literally), with tacos and enchiladas that give you something to talk about when the small talk stalls. Portuguese cafés and eateries offer pastries, bifanas, and caldo verde—foods that feel both exciting and familiar, perfect for breaking the ice without breaking the bank.

Here, you can linger without pressure. You can order something new, laugh about mispronouncing it, and discover you both like the same hot sauce level. And if sparks don’t fly? At least the empanadas were excellent. Love, like good food, is about risk—and Acushnet Avenue is a pretty delicious place to take one.

Check out: 

Taquería La Raza | 1216 Acushnet Avenue

Elizabeth’s Restaurant | 1461 Acushnet Avenue

Cafe Mimo | 1528 Acushnet Avenue

Date Night for Moms and Dads: Love, With a Side of Babysitter Math

For parents, date night is less about spontaneity and more about logistics. Who’s watching the kids? How long can we stay out? Is it worth it? On Acushnet Avenue, the answer is almost always yes.

The Ave understands grown-up romance. These are places where you can sit down, exhale, and remember that you were a couple before you were a carpool coordinator. Whether it’s a cozy Portuguese restaurant with hearty portions meant to be savored, or a lively Mexican spot where the music lifts your mood before the first bite, the North End delivers flavor without fuss.

Menus are deep, prices are kind, and no one rushes you—even when you linger over coffee because it’s been weeks since you’ve had an uninterrupted conversation. There’s comfort in returning to familiar favorites and joy in discovering new ones together. Date night here isn’t about impressing anyone. It’s about reconnecting, refueling, and maybe splitting dessert… or ordering two. You’ve earned it.

Check out:

Casa Lempira | 1264 Acushnet Avenue

Cafe Europa | 1256 Acushnet Avenue

Restaurante y Tortilleria Guatemalteco | 1282 Acushnet Avenue

Top Shelf Bar & Grill | 1825 Acushnet Avenue 

Endless Love: Where Romance Ages Beautifully

For the couples who’ve been at this love thing a long time, Acushnet Avenue isn’t a novelty—it’s tradition. These are the patrons who remember when the street looked a little different, who have “their” spot, and who know exactly what they’re ordering before they sit down.

Enduring love pairs well with enduring flavors. Portuguese cuisine, rich with history and heart, feels especially at home here—dishes passed down through generations, much like the relationships they nourish. Central American and Mexican eateries add warmth and vibrancy, reminding us that love, like food, evolves and expands. And of course, classic Italian served up by a New Bedford institution offers all the pleasures of home – without the cleaning up!

You’ll see couples sharing quiet meals, comfortable in their silences, smiling at familiar faces across the room. There’s no rush, no performance—just the steady joy of being together. On The Ave, romance doesn’t fade; it deepens.

Check out:

Girassol Restaurant | 1698 Acushnet Avenue

Delicias de Anita | 4437 Acushnet Avenue

Pa Raffa’s | 2857 Acushnet Avenue

Love The Ave, Always

Acushnet Avenue is more than a dining destination. It’s a love story written plate by plate, date by date, year after year. It’s where cultures meet, families gather, and love—new, busy, or time-tested—is always on the menu.

So whether you’re flirting over tacos, reconnecting over coffee, or celebrating a lifetime of shared meals, there’s one thing to remember: love lives here. Love grows here. And on Acushnet Avenue, we don’t just eat well—we Love The Ave. ❤️