Seductive Spots: The Haute 5 Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco

Cupid will be calling soon so here are some of our favorite suggestions for wining and dining your sweetheart in 2010.

Ame

Is it the 300-bottle wine list, the intimacy of the dining room, or the St. Regis address that makes Ame one of our favorite places to stare dreamily into the eyes of a lover? It is all three and a myriad of other reasons too. Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani are the genius minds that first brought Ame into our lives back in 2006. Their success at Terra restaurant in Napa Valley translated well to San Francisco, demonstrated by the annual accolades bestowed upon them from well-regarded sources like Michelin, Zagat, and Esquire. The menu features local ingredients blended with French and Italian flavors and Hiro’s Japanese background shows up with limited edition sake selections and a custom sashimi bar. We can’t think of a better way to firmly plant yourself in the heart of your honey.

Ame is located in the St. Regis Hotel at 689 Mission St.; 415.284.4040

Coi

When considering where to take that special someone for a romantic rendezvous, Coi should be at the top of the list of options. Diffused lighting, a palette of earth tones, and Catherine Wagner’s photography set the tone for a meal of made of love. The dining room offers an 11-course tasting menu that varies daily depending on the best available local ingredients. Chef Daniel Patterson is stringent in his adherence in sourcing local foods, a philosophy that has earned his restaurant too many awards and superlatives to list here.

Coi is located at 373 Broadway; 415.393.9000

Fluer de Lys

Considering that the team at Fleur de Lys considers their establishment one of the most romantic dining rooms in San Francisco, it seemed more than apropos to include them on our list. Chef Hubert Keller first made a name for himself at Sutter 500, but joined Maurice Rouas at Fleur de Lys back in 1986. In the past decades he has taken the culinary world by storm and earned national attention, not just from foodies, but also from mainstream America when he appeared as a Top Chef judge and now with his PBS special Secrets of a Chef. The menu at the city’s restaurant for romance comes in three, four, and five courses, and offers the delicacies that we adore like caviar and fine French cheeses.

Fleur de Lys is located at 777 Sutter St.; 415.673.7779

La Folie

What better way to say spark a fire in the heart than with a night out at a restaurant that compares cuisine to a fireworks display? And with the latest décor change, transforming the sky blue walls adorned with whimsical clouds into a sexy New York-esque supper club, doe-eyed couples are enamored with amor at La Folie. Wood accents, long mirrors, burgundy banquettes, and earth-toned walls set the mood for a night of food and love. Foie gras is always a decadent selection, but at La Folie the rich and buttery Hudson Valley delicacy is so divine that the romantic restaurant is considered the go-to place for the posh plate. The butter poached lobster and truffle-crusted veal loin wrapped around sweetbreads are other to-die-for choices served up by the Passot family.

La Folie Lounge is located at 2316 Polk St.; 415. 776.5577

Boulevard

Waterfront dining enveloped in Belle Epoque décor is one surefire way to heat things up with your honey. The brainchild of Pat Kuleto, Boulevard, located in the historic Audiffred Building, delivers the best French décor and culinary techniques with elegance and panache. Interior details that Kuleto has become famous for include brick ceilings, mosaic marble, blown glass shades, bronze statues, copper trim and panels, and acid-etched beams and furnishings. Though the bar scene might appear to be the antithesis of a quiet, romantic interlude, the two-top window tables and booths set into nooks allow for privacy to steal a smooch. And even if the ambiance doesn’t set your sweetie’s heart ablaze, the creations from Chef Nancy Oakes, like the fire roasted filet mignon, surely will.

Boulevard is located at 1 Mission St.; 415.543.6084