There are two days of the year that if you want to get the best experience in a restaurant, I would avoid. The first is everyone’s favorite amateur hour, New Year’s Eve. The second is, Valentine’s Day.
At the risk of being bitter, or worse, unromantic, it’s just not a great experience. You’re probably picking off a set menu of their most popular or easiest to prepare dishes en masse and the couple next to you has a good chance of either being new and unsure what to talk about for this formal occasion, or together for thirty years making idle chatter while they push food around their plate. Neither of these makes for a joyful dining experience.
My methodology on this is simple--sitting across from someone on a dinner date is about as romantic as being reviewed by a co-op or HOA board.
Mr. Bites’ suggestions are based on places that have a good kitty-corner selection, or the full menu at the bar so you can sit next to your date...
With that being said, I present to you, the best restaurants for a romantically epicurean delight, as long as you visit the day before or after…
Old Vines – Mercato
Old Vines’ rich dark woods and great lighting (translation--soft muted yellow light) make for the perfect background for a great wine list and an extremely sharable new American menu. Their potato pave bites with prime beef tartare and short rib arancini are both winners.
Dusk at the Ritz Carlton
For my money, the best date food is sushi. It’s never grossly filling and there’s something wonderful (and fairly primal) about eating simple, yet elegantly prepared raw fish. Dusk has some of the better fish in town, which you can enjoy while taking in the sleek, sexy environment.
The Bohemian – Bonita Springs
If any restaurant deserves to be on pretty much any list, it would be the creative and stylish Bohemian. With a diverse menu featuring everything from short rib to the best, spicy tuna, crispy rice in town and a creative cocktail program, this the perfect place. The rich, blue-highlighted interior makes you want to toast your partner, interlock arms and sip your cocktail.
Veranda E - Downtown Naples
This perpetually hidden gem at the Escalante on the west end of 5th Avenue South has a vibe of its own. From the twinkling lights on the hacienda overlooking the pool to popping bottles under the cabana, you can achieve any kind of date here. In a beach town where restaurants overlooking the water are woefully in short supply, taking in the nouveau Spanish vibe while eating clever “global haute cuisine” feels as organic as their in-house garden. Because the Paradise Coast has far too many spots that throw on a white tablecloth, offer three cabs and three pinots and call themselves fine dining, Veranda E feels like the real deal. Check out what they do with usually cliche calamari; turning it into a sweet and savory Asian sensation.
As far as what to do on your actual Valentine’s Day? Gents, a roast chicken is not that hard to cook and can easily show your lady that you know your way around the kitchen (at least somewhat).
Until we eat again…
Mr. Bites
"Welcome to my brand new column focused on the dining pleasures of the greater Paradise Coast. My viewpoint is of someone who truly loves food without prejudice. A great burger pop-up can be as wonderful a dining experience as a Michelin star. Delicious is delicious, whether it’s a white tablecloth or a paper napkin. Oh…and expect some snark along the way."
Yours in deliciousness,
Mr. Bites