San Francisco's Best Romantic Date Spot 2008

Fun, flirtatious restaurant and wine bar with distinctly Californian appeal.

Reviews:

• “Valentines Day Delight!”
• “horrible late night service, NOT fine dining experience”
• “Lovely ambiance, great food and service.”
• “Great Date spot great food!”
• “wine”

Tips: Wine flights—three glasses poured a third each ranging from $10-$15—are a good idea and a good deal.

First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge or email First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge

Cozy, delightful wine bar with a pub feel in Union Square.

Reviews:

• “Best intimate wine bar”
• “Great wine bar!”
• “Comfy. Cozy atmosphere with a fun wine list”
• “Very impressed!!!”
• “What a nice Birthday treat”

Tips: Be sure to ask owners Dave or Angela for their latest, favorite little-known wine find.

The Hidden Vine

Extragant, modern Gascon cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients pleases the palates of an international clientele in the Hotel Palomar.

Reviews:

• “Very Romantic, Great for a dressed up Date”
• “A perfect evening!”
• “Excellent service but disappointing meal — please spend your money somewhere else, or regret it”
• “Run from Molly”
• “Wonderful, top notch splurge, tasty, conveinent.”

Tips: The restaurant’s new Honor Bar is a play on the honor principle: from 4pm to 9pm every evening, sommelier Emily Wines will be featuring six hand-picked wines that customers can order by paying what they please in a box on the bar.

Fifth Floor Restaurant or email Fifth Floor Restaurant

Two sparkling tiers of champagne, live music and savory hors d’oeuvres.

Reviews:

• “bubble lounge”
• “bar staff is a joke…crowd is horrible”
• “Best Nightclub in SF!”
• “Best Romantic Primer!!”
• “The UN of SF nightlife”

Tips: For men: No hats, tennis shoes or weathered jeans. Women can sport jeans and sandals—as long it’s a “well-put-together outfit,” according to staff.

Bubble Lounge

Off-the-beaten-path Indian restaurant specializes in spicy romance.

Reviews:

• “Below average food and decor”
• “Fair.”
• “Best Indian Resturaunt around”
• “Most Romantic!!!”
• “Restaurant with a Heart… one million hearts speak the story of love!”

Tips: It’s worth the one-block walk for reduced rate validated parking at the Cathedral Hill Hotel on Van Ness: $4 for three hours.

Maharani or email Maharani

The California-style Vietnamese cuisine and opulent French-Colonial setting make this a popular downtown destination.

Reviews:

• “TO DIE FOR MELT IN YOUR MOUTH YUMMY!”
• “Unbelievable food, impeccible service. "
• “Good Food, Very Bad Service”
• “Expected surprise!”
• “Definate recommendation”

Tips: During warmer weather, sit on the outdoor veranda, away from the rush inside.

Le Colonial or email Le Colonial

This pint-sized wine bar and art gallery brings a touch of Paris to a San Francisco backstreet.

Reviews:

• “Service Lacking”
• “Overrated, cooked wine”
• “Great Little Wine Bar”
• “Parisian Perfection”
• “What a wonderful place!”

Tips: Biron is available for private parties—anything from book launches to birthdays.

Hotel Biron

Classic French fare sparkles at this striking Theater District brasserie.

Reviews:

• “An authentic brasserie in a great setting.”
• “Beautiful Parisian Brasserie "
• “my first visit two years ago. definitely not my last.”
• “Five years on, very disappointed”
• “Just my opinion, horrible!”

Tips: Parking is free during weekend brunch.

Grand Cafe or email Grand Cafe

A late-night dining spot brings rib-sticking gourmet fare to SoMa.

Reviews:

• “Horrible service, disappointing management and mediocre food”
• “Mediocre food, terrible service”
• “Good Restaurant”
• “Overall good food, HORRIBLE service”
• “OOOOH LA LA!! Best dinner I’ve had in a long time!”

Tips: Oola is one of the few decent restaurants open for a late-night bite. It’s open until midnight weekdays, and 1am on the weekends.

Oola or email Oola

Concrete chic meets “La Dolce Vita” at this Mission District phenomenon.

Reviews:

• “Perfect Date”
• “It’s such a lame place for movie!”
• “Reminds us of why we love living in San Francisco "
• “Great Food, Ambience and Service!”
• “First time, will try again!”

Tips: For the same food in a more casual setting, head to the adjacent Laszlo Lounge. Patrons can order from the Foreign Cinema menu.

Foreign Cinema