Romantic Dining Restaurants

Located in the Westin Hotel on Market Street, Ducca presents an innovative menu featuring many of Italy’s culinary staples. Guests can dine under the sparkling chandeliers or enjoy the popular style of bar dining, as seen in the Veneto region. Chef Erica Holland-Toll crafts a variety of mouth watering dishes that are geared to leave even the most discriminating foodie satisfied. The wine list highlights the dual regional influence, with a focus on Italian and California vintages offered by the glass and bottle. The Venetian inspired décor (take note of the gold forks), combined with impeccable service and delicious cuisine, …

With its white marble stairs, towering Roman-style columns, and expansive dining room, Michael Mina is a monument to gastronomy. Its décor, awash in a subdued mauves, brown leathers, and soft creams, manages to be highly modern and chic, while still evoking a timeless, stately elegance. Chef de Cuisine Chris L’Hommedieu, who has had extensive experience working under Executive Chef Michael Mina in the past, expertly executes Mina’s New American culinary vision, presenting decadent prix-fixe menus showcasing fresh ingredients, culinary creativity, and epicurean artistry at its finest. Michael Mina’s namesake restaurant delivers a decadently pleasurable culinary romp in a calmingly demur …

If you follow Cortland Avenue until it appears to end, you’ll likely stumble upon Piqueo’s, a charming Peruvian gem specializing in tapas. Showcasing an acclaimed chef from Peru who creates native specialties in his open kitchen, the restaurant feels more like a home than a business. An unassuming exterior conceals a small vibrant space, complete with dim lighting and a sultry atmosphere. Piqueo’s features an extensive tapas selection that will have you walking away at the end of the night feeling like you’ve finally experienced that elusive taste of Peru and its culinary delights at their best.

Destino is lively and casual, and walking inside on an otherwise quiet Monday night can feel like being transported to a South American city during happy hour. The bright walls of the dining room are decorated with religious icons and mirrors of all shapes and sizes. Destino's menu is composed completely of small plates, all infused with flavors that Executive Chef James Schenk grew up with. Examples of the menu include three striking ceviches, tiger prawns with a spicy sofrito puree over plantain-bacon cakes, and a popular Peruvian street food: beef-heart skewers served with aji panca pepper reduction.

There is nothing intimidating or vicious about T-Rex Barbeque. In fact, its open, two story floor-plan and warm décor are quite inviting. T-Rex is “Berkeley Barbeque” – using only antibiotic and hormone-free meats, sustainable fish, and organic produce (whenever possible) – no bull whips to be found here, folks. You will find a Pulled Pork Omelette, Oysters on the Half Shell, and Grilled Steelhead Salmon. T-Rex also has an international beer selection worthy of applause, and a weeknight happy-hour schedule that encourages you to put it to the test.

The word “Hanuri” stands for “we are family” in Korean, and the owners of Hanuri Korean BBQ Restaurant take that to heart by creating an inviting dining space and menu that strive, in their words, towards “active expression of utmost sincerity and genuine kindness.” The décor of the restaurant utilizes rich earth tones and natural elements with elegant, yet homey results: bamboo lines one wall and stone inlays adorn the floor. The menu strives to make exotic, traditional Korean dishes like Nakji Bokum, sautéed octopus and assorted vegetables in a spicy sauce, more approachable. Dine at Hanuri and meet your …

With Rome-style cuisine and the atmosphere of a lively trattoria, a night at SPQR in the Pacific Heights neighborhood feels like a night in Rome. House-made semolina pastas, fresh vegetables, exotic cuts of meat, an all-Italian wine list, and plenty of Umbrian olive oil ensure that SPQR’s simple dishes are anything but ordinary. Executive Chef Nate Appleton, also of sister restaurant A16, serves the traditional ingredients and recipes that have made Rome an epicurean epicenter for thousands of years.

Rustic Italian cuisine takes root on California soil, and shines with a perfect balance of Old World charm and contemporary sophistication. Every aspect of the dining experience Incanto offers is a thoughtful expression of bettering the meal for all involved. The water is filtered and carbonated in-house, and the produce and meats used are sustainably grown and harvested. Also, “odd cuts” of meat are highlighted on the menu to both invigorate the palate and honor the animal. The Warm Pig’s Head Salad is sure to intrigue diners, while the Whole Roasted Local Sardines is a tantalizing prospect, indeed.

As Executive Chef and Owner Staffan Terje says, "You don’t choose who you fall in love with." To that same affect, diners may not have a choice but to swoon over the elegant experience a visit to Perbacco promises. A romantic ambiance is achieved through the restaurant’s showcase of exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and opulent accents of marble. Chef Terje’s menu delights the palate just as the décor treats the eyes, and presents a truly authentic selection of Italian dishes. For example, the Coniglio Al Civet, or Devil’s Gulch Rabbit, is rich and rustic in a spiced red wine …

Located on the second floor of the trendy Hotel Nikko, Anzu offers up a distinctive Euro-Japanese menu in an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Chef Barney Brown, a seasoned veteran of Asian cuisine, creates tasty and colorful sushi creations as well as a range of entrées from Miso Butter-Poached Lobster to Slow-Braised Boneless Beef Shortribs. Set in the heart of bustling downtown San Francisco, this fusion restaurant is a stylish retreat equally suited for a relaxed brunch with friends and family or a romantic evening with that special someone.

Take a holiday in Jalisco, Mexico – the birthplace of tequila – without so much as having to pack a hat. Tres Agaves Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Lounge serves regional, rustic cuisine that relies on authentic ingredients and techniques to create dishes true in presentation and flavor. Just as vital as the fine cuisine is Tres Agave’s commitment to fine tequila. As the restaurant’s name implies, the three types of 100% Blue Agave Tequila (Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo) are the true stars of this production. Tequila tastings are held to educate patrons about the true nature of tequila: the biggest …

The Village Pub not only serves the appetite for food, but it also hopes to satisfy the entire being. Whether you’re looking to tread new ground, or you’re simply hoping to be greeted by the familiar, The Village Pub has the menu and character to keep you intrigued. Executive Chef Mark Sullivan constructs his contemporary American cuisine by drawing from classic French and Mediterranean traditions, and locally cultivated ingredients. The dinner menu highlights dishes like the Shaved Foie Gras Torchon, while the pub menu offers lighter fare – the Pork and Garlic Sausage is made in-house. The truly staggering wine …

Order a spread of small, fresh, and tasty, dishes; opt for a quartino of wine to share with friends, and settle in to a relaxing evening at Uva Enoteca. Boris Nemchenok and Ben Hetzel have joined forces and combined their two passions – fine wine and food – to create an environment that celebrates simplicity, company, and quality. Paying homage to its roots, Uva Enoteca relies on classic Italian dishes and wine: meat selections include the Cappocollo, and the Prosciutto di Parma; cheese samplings include the Sampietrino, the Blu del monceniso, and the Montes; other plates are the Funghi Selvatici …

Classic Roman Italian cuisine is balanced against the modern and sleek setting of Chiaroscuro Ristorante’s dining space, and reflects an artistic appreciation for contrasting visual elements that bring life to otherwise two-dimensional spaces. Chef Alessandro Campitelli ensures that his dishes are anything but flat by combining flavorful and fresh ingredients to compose specialties like the Tagliolini All’Amatriciana, homemade pasta mixed with caramelized onions, imported guanciale tomatoes, and romano cheese, and the Abbacchio Alla Griglia, grilled Australian lamb served with a polenta soufflé topped with a baked egg and gorgonzola cheese.

While traditional, classic, Italian cuisine has been a hit with diners all over the world for centuries, the owners and chefs at È Tutto Qua strive to infuse cutting edge recipes and techniques from Rome into their menu. Located in the heart of North Beach, È Tutto Qua does an excellent job keeping up with the latest trends in Italy, but the focus is always on quality ingredients and superb service. Meats and fish arrive fresh daily, pasta is made in-house from scratch, and many ingredients aren't added to your dish until right before it heads to your table. Knowing …

No matter that Chouquet’s was not intended to be the next big thing; it took off just the same. Chef Laurent Guillaume’s ability to meld old and new flavors into delightful light dishes; the service staff’s attentive and unpretentious care; and the stylish dining space meant to compliment, not distract from, the food, all converged to give Chouquet’s the attention it deserves. Brunch is offered on the weekends in place of the weekday lunch menu, and dinner is served nightly – the Effigham Oysters are seductive mignonette mint and shallots; and the Rigatoni with truffles, chanterelles, and foie gras is …

Fish and Farm is a chic restaurant committed to the principles of the sustainability movement. The restaurant is dedicated to pleasing your palate with all-natural and organic, local ingredients and to composing fantastic interpretations of old favorites that have a distinctive freshness to them. By dubbing their work “New American Seafood and Artisan Meats,” the owners of Fish and Farm have attracted curious food connoisseurs from all walks of life. The energy and service at this devoted eatery is as zestful as its clientele. With all this in mind, Fish and Farm remains a must for locals and visitors alike.

Located just off San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, Bistro Aix is bursting with new flavors .These organic dishes are created nightly using fresh ingredients from local growers. . Bistro Aix’s Californian twist on French Provencal food traditions present guests with a taste of this Northern region right here in California. The restaurant’s focus on olive oil and fresh organic products allows for unique menu flexibility and variety in which the chef’s versatility shines. Dishes are intriguing and invite diners to try an old favorite with a new age spin. Bistro Aix provides an intimate and simple and comfortable atmosphere in …

When gazing in awe down at the plate before them, many diners at Luce are tempted to ask, “Does art imitate food, or is my meal multitasking as a masterpiece?” The answer to both questions might just be, “yes.” Patrons’ appetites and imaginations are stimulated by Chef Dominique Crenn’s artful constructs that marry the best aspects of local, regional, and international, ingredients to create thoughtful and flavorful dishes. The highly refined and modern décor only contributes to the dining experience, and encourages visitors to make the connection between the orb-like lamps and the Chocolate “Egg,” with hot coco and cookies.

In its new space on Divisadero at Grove, Bar Crudo is a bustling restaurant reminiscent of a hip loft. The focus of the sparse and well-chosen menu is raw fish infused with creative sauces and garnishes with not a grain of sushi rice in sight. There are a few well-executed cooked fish and seafood dishes as well. If you hunger for thick steaks and mounds of buttered carbohydrates, Bar Crudo is not for you. If your dreams, however, are of Butterfish accented with Meyer lemon tapenade or Arctic Char with a drop of horse radish cream, don’t let its overwhelming …