The Most Romantic Restaurants In Philadelphia
Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day or just an excuse to go out with your special someone, certain nights call for romantic spots. Intimate atmosphere, incredible food, dishes that are easily shared, glasses of wine and friendly yet unobtrusive service are all things that can contribute to a wonderful evening with someone you love. The following Philly spots are perfect for date nights. Just keep in mind that many restaurants will feature special offers and selected menus for Valentine's Day, so be sure to call and ask for details if you plan to make a reservation for the holiday.
Buddakan
325 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 574-9440
www.buddakan.com
If sharing your date with a 10-foot-tall Buddha is your idea of a good time, then Buddakan is the spot for you. The ambiance verges on swanky, with every detail accounted for like only Stephen Starr can. And while the dining room is rather large, each table somehow still feels intimate. The menu features modern Asian dishes, a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, with many options served as sharable plates. Grilled lamb chops, edamame dumplings and jumbo shrimp pad Thai are just a few of the standout items on the menu. End your meal on a sweet note with the dim sum-style doughnuts.
Friday Saturday Sunday
261 S. 21st St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 546-4232
www.frisatsun.com
A Philadelphia gem that is often overlooked, Friday Saturday Sunday has been a Rittenhouse Square classic for roughly 40 years. With a cozy romantic dining room and upstairs cool "Tank Bar" (named for the 80-gallon fish tank), it's perfect for a low-key, quiet, relaxing meal. Warm service, consistently good food and the unique, intimate atmosphere complete with candles and tiny white string lights keeps people coming back year after year. The mushroom soup, butternut squash ravioli and coconut cream pie are just a few dishes that always receive rave reviews. To make things even better, Friday Saturday Sunday prides itself on the fact that wine is only marked up $10, a lower markup is practically impossible to find at other city spots.
Il Pittore
2025 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 391-4900
www.ilpittore.com
Treat your date to dinner in the Italian countryside, or at least feel like it at Stephen Starr's Il Pittore in Rittenhouse Square. The rustic-style restaurant features updated versions of Italian classics from Chef Chris Painter. Housemade pastas and fresh ingredients (herbs are even grown in the rooftop garden) make for dishes that are an obvious step above standard Italian-American chain restaurants. For the most impressive experience, opt for the six-course chef's tasting menu. While the menu changes seasonally, it's the foolproof way to guarantee you'll get the highlights. Choose the sommelier-selected wine pairing to complete the meal.
Related: Top Tasting Menus In Philadelphi
M Restaurant
Morris House Hotel
231 S. 8th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-6666
www.mrestaurantphilly.com
M Restaurant is a repeat name on many lists of Philadelphia's most romantic restaurants, and one visit will make it clear why. The garden dining area is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence with beautiful trees, flowers, an herb garden (used by the kitchen daily) and little white lights. The atmosphere is simply enchanting. When it's too chilly to dine outside, try to grab a seat by a window in the cozy French bar so you can still enjoy the view. With a variety of menus available, there's something for every occasion - a la carte dishes, multi-course chef tastings, pre-theater dinners and all-day happy hour specials in designated areas. On Wednesday and Friday evenings, live jazz music is featured from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
R2L
50 S. 16th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 564-5337
www.r2lrestaurant.com
Dine with a view of the city. Located on the 37th floor of Two Liberty Place, R2L sits 500 feet above Philadelphia. The panoramic scenes are the perfect backdrop to a sophisticated evening. Elegant dishes from Chef Daniel Stern complete the experience. The menu changes seasonally, but a few winter dishes include grilled rabbit with pumpkin cavatelli, vegetarian pot au feu and a 28-day dry aged ribeye with black garlic and bearnaise. Sides are meant to be shared, with the lobster macaroni and cheese as a standout favorite. End you meal with a delicious, decadent dessert by Pastry Chef Peter Scarola.
Vetri
1312 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 732-3478
www.vetriristorante.com
Dining at Vetri is an experience unlike any other you'll have in Philadelphia. While the $155 per person price tag is likely to rule it out as a casual Friday meal out, dinner at the fine Italian restaurant is truly a special event. Limited to just 30 seats, eating at Vetri is an intimate experience where you are encouraged to speak to your servers about your likes, aversions and any dietary restrictions. The result is a personalized six-course meal crafted around the season's best ingredients and the conversations between the staff and guests. Sweet onion crepes with truffle, spinach gnocchi in a brown butter sauce and goat paired with polenta are just a few Vetri signature dishes. Vetri consistently receives top ratings for incredible food and exceptional service.
Michelle Hein is the social media editor for a women's fashion company in Bucks County by day and a self-proclaimed food and drink fanatic by night and weekend. She enjoys attending wine classes, trying new recipes in the kitchen and going to old favorites and new restaurants alike in the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. If the writing gig doesn't pan out, she constantly dreams of owning her own bakery…perhaps connected to the restaurant/bar that her lawyer husband would love to open.
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