A lot of people have conflicting thoughts about Valentine’s Day. Some see it as the most romantic day of the year whereas others see it as a massive waste of money and the only people who benefit are the businesses. Plus, when it comes to love, people have different preferences. Some might prefer a casual night in watching films, others might like to get a bit promiscuous on Anal Dating and others might want to celebrate their love through a grand gesture or a big meal. If you’re the latter and want a nice restaurant to spoil that special someone. For a timeless date that is sure to impress, opt for a sit-down meal in a romantic venue where you and your date can enjoy each other’s company alongside a delicious meal and glass of wine. London has plenty of options to choose from, but we’ve compiled some favourites that are sure to set the tone for an intimate evening.
Casse-Croûte
This cosy bistro in Bermondsey provides a taste of provincial France, serving a range of authentic French dishes alongside an all-French wine list. The venue has space for just 20 covers, giving it a great friendly vibe and romantic atmosphere. The décor is rustic and simple with dark wood, embossed wallpaper and checked table cloths, but this place doesn’t need to be fancy. It’s the bistro’s villagey feel that makes it so charming, and the food more than makes up for the lack of extravagance.
The staff here will welcome you like family with Parisian greeting kisses and warm, chatty service, before you look to a blackboard showing the menu of the day scribbled in chalk. There are a variety of French classics available for you to enjoy, including mains such as guinea fowl and beef en croute. Come here if you and your date want to be swept away to a romantic French village, where you can delight in budget friendly meals and delicious wine.
Ristorante Frescobaldi
If France doesn’t take your fancy, here’s another London restaurant that can transport you to the romantic cobbled streets of a European city. In this beautiful venue on New Burlington Place you can enjoy the feel and food of Italy as you sit in a gorgeous oak panelled dining room, surrounded by authentic murals and a ceiling covered in ivy. Once you’ve soaked in your surroundings, turn to the range of regional wines available on display. You can sample three different options in a flight for a date night treat, each one vinified and aged in a different way.
The menu is based on traditional Tuscan food with influences from the food of Northern Italy as well as the Southern regions such as Puglia. The pasta is handmade daily and every dish uses quality seasonal ingredients, with a changing menu reflecting this. Try the crab cake with avocado and lemon dressing to start, then opt for the tagliolini con tartufo nero (taglioni with black truffle) for a main.
M Victoria Street
Ideally situated near theatreland for those extra special evenings, M Restaurants’ Victoria Street venue is an ultramodern, luxuriously decorated location where you can dine in style with your date. The M Grill restaurant is a stunning two-tiered oval dining room, specialising in the best steaks from around the world with cuts from six selected countries. Steak is always a winning option for date night and here you can get the best steak menu in London, with the best Wagyu and Kobe beef around for miles.
Start with the sustainably sourced and delicious Ike Jime kingfish sashimi or smoked magyu tartare before moving onto your preferred cut of steak. The beef has been sourced from USA, Argentina, France, Botswana, Italy and Australia, making you and your date spoilt for choice. If you’re not in the mood for steak on the night, there are plenty of other tasty dishes on the menu, including wood smoked lamb cutlets and confit trout. M also have their own wine store just next door, where you can use futuristic tasting machines to sample unusual wines after dinner.
For a truly spectacular evening, M Restaurants also have their Wagyu Experience Menu available, showcasing the world’s most exclusive Kobe and Wagyu beef.
