Romantic Dining

When love is in the air, go to a restaurant that understands l'amore.

by H.M. Cauley

February 2, 2008

I t's the month when many minds turn to romance. The challenge on each Valentine's Day is to create the perfect atmosphere to get those love hormones buzzing. And for a lot of us, that starts with food. There's always the option of cooking your sweetie's favorite dishes and serving them at a candle-lit table in your own home. But if you're not up to the challenge, let one of Atlanta's experts do all the work. There's an array of restaurants around the metro area where diners can get cozy over a bottle of wine, a sensuous entree and a chocolate (of course!) dessert. If you're looking for a place to nuzzle in private between courses, there's almost no place better than the "cheater's booth" at the Atlanta Grill inside The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta. This cozy nook is discretely draped so only your servers will know what's happening between the she-crab soup andthe butter-poached Maine lobster.

At Buckhead's Aria restaurant, diners desiring complete privacy may want to reserve the wine cellar. This secluded spot, surrounded by the eatery's extensive collection of wines, is a quiet, low-lit spot to linger over duck breast, veal osso bucco and some of the most sumptuous desserts in town. There are several quiet booths and curtained alcoves at Floataway Café off Zonolite Road where diners won't be distracted by other guests. The same arrangement of secluded spots can be found in part of Aqua Blue, the Roswell eatery known for its Asian-inspired American dishes. Westside's Bacchanalia has several low-key corners where you can focus just on the lavish food of celeb chefs Anne Quattrano and Cliff Harrison. The two offer an even more intimate dining experience at Quinones at Bacchanalia, a tiny dining room below the main restaurant where its few tables are elegantly lit by Venetian glass chandeliers.
 
There are a few secluded seats around the edge of the dining room at Nikolai's Roof, atop the Hilton Atlanta downtown. But a table by the giant plate glass windows overlooking the city is just as romantic, particularly when there's a clear sky and moon. Add to the ambience the expertly attentive service, fine French food and a pre-booked hotel room a few floors below, and you've got the makings of a most memorable evening. Another eatery with spectacular evening views is the Sun Dial, more than 700 feet above street level at the top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza downtown. While you're savoring pomegranate-glazed salmon and balsamic-braised short ribs, the rotating floor will refresh the view from your window seat. The view from Canoe in Vinings is a bit more bucolic. Reserve a table along the window, where you can watch the Chattahoochee River roll by while you feast on African squash soup and hazelnut-crusted cod filet. After dinner, take an arm-in-arm stroll along the path that meanders through lush gardens with twinkling lights at the water's edge. The romantically lit Food Studio in the King Plow Arts Center has one spot that's in high demand by romantic diners – particularly those who are getting ready to pop the question. The quiet table for two in front of the fireplace has been the scene of more engagements than the staff can count. Leave your shoes at the door and let your hair down at Imperial Fez, where finger food is the fad. This Moroccan restaurant in Midtown is lined with plush cushions where you can recline while plying your date with exotic olives and bites of spicy chicken from steaming platters. Have a few glasses of wine and warm up to the belly dancers, who invite diners to get up and shake along with them. The new Beleza, also in Midtown, is another spot to share food on an intimate basis. The tiny tables of this small restaurant make it easy to rub elbows while swapping bites from small plates of Brazilian-inspired tapas. Thrive, across from CNN Center, is another new intimate dining space that serves American cuisine with Asian influences.

The menu includes sushi as well as traditional American fare such as roasted chicken and lamb chops. For a romantic touch, try the Lava roll or have a cocktail with names like Forbidden Fruit or the French Kiss. There's even a special four-course Valentine's Day menu for $59 (including a glass of champagne). French food is always romantic, no matter what the month. The contemporary styling of Trois in Midtown provides a posh background for a meal of coastal oysters, Chateaubriand for two and lemon tarts. The recently renovated Joël in Buckhead tempts the senses with beef tenderloin Bordelaise, roasted rabbit and beignets with chocolate rum ice cream. La Petite Maison, a new French eatery in Sandy Springs, features a cozy dining room with white-clothed tables where the French chefs and owners will ply you with grilled duck breast, rack of lamb and rib eyes topped with a rich Bearnaise sauce.

If you're downtown, request a table on the mezzanine away from the bustle of the main floor at French American Brasserie, where you'll have a bit more seclusion to savor your coq au vin and duck confit. No matter what your preferred cuisine or setting, remember one thing on Valentine's Day: The most important part of a successfully romantic evening is making a reservation. Planning ahead is the best way to make sure you have the romantic dining experience you envision.