Good afternoon, my hungry friends, and welcome back to our weekly Philly food chat, "Romance Edition." I know I promised a couple weeks ago to fill you in on the dining highlights of my recent week at Disney World – but there really weren’t many, and the food was so unmagical (compared to the parks themselves), I think we can wait a while before I give you all the details of why the “Yak & Yeti” Asian place in Animal Kingdom really lived up to its name.

 

Judging from my in-box and voice mail, what’s really on your minds is the annual rite of Valentine’s Day dining. But as I told a poor fellow who called me yesterday, hoping to find that perfect place to propose to his girlfriend: do yourself a favor and try another night. If you haven’t already reserved a place at your favorite restaurant, forget about – those seats are taken, given the double-whammy of Valentine’s and Saturday night. Conversely, if you can get a reservation, it might not be a place you’d want to go anyhow.

I’ve never been a fan of celebrating Valentine’s in restaurants, and according to our online poll this a.m., 75% of the nearly 300 respondents agreed (at least 25% said they’d be cooking at home – my choice, too).  Ironically, I just came across the sore topic of Valentine’s in a book I’m currently reading, Waiter Rant (Ecco), in which the author, “The Waiter”, gives similarly frank advice:

“If you ask me, Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest scams going…Smelling blood in the water, restaurants replace their regular menus with “special” menus that give price gouging a good name….They hyperinflate their profit margins by shrinking portions, using cheaper ingredients, and masking inferior cuts…If everything you eat tastes like it’s been soaked in black truffle oil, then someone’s pulling [^&*!] Somewhere…

“And don’t get me started about the pain-in-the-[a$$] seating arrangments….Every year I ask (the owner) if he’s going to put a table in the ladies room.”

 

Still, don’t get the idea that I’m a total grouch about romance in restaurants – only on Valentine’s Day. So I thought this would still be a good occasion to explore the topic, even if you might not be getting a table this Saturday. But what, after all, is a romantic restaurant? Certainly it means different things to different people, whether it’s that prime seat in the corner at Vetri or a sharing, hands-on meal on the rugs and pillows of a Moroccan bistro. I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts and favorites, but here’s a quick, by no means comprehensive  list of some of mine:

For pure candle-lit exotic mood: Tangerine

A Renaissance classic: Friday Saturday Sunday

Some suburban charmers: Restaurant Alba (Malvern), Gilmore’s (W. Chester), Marshalton Inn (W. Chester), Rouget (Newtown), Inn at Philips Mill (New Hope), Majolica (Phoenixville), Mainland Inn (Mainland), Pond (Radnor)

With a little help from the blue agave: Tequila’s, Xochitl

Feeling French: Bistrot La Minette (those red banquettes); Zinc (great intimate boite of a room, but haven’t been recently); downstairs at Le Bar Lyonnais (or upstairs at Le Bec, why the heck not, if you can afford it?)

Italian: Le Virtu; Osteria (if you can get in), Vetri (so romantic, it’s now a cliché), Paradiso; Cucina Forte, L’Angolo (you gotta like small places); La Famiglia, Caffe Casta Diva  

Some cozy BYOs: Matyson, Blackfish (Conshy, where I actually saw a guy get down on his knees and propose – we’re still not sure if she accepted!), Pumpkin, Little Fish (see last Sunday’s review)

For steak: a steak house is so predictable. The Saloon has much more S. Philly character and great Italian flavored chops that are usually worth the price. (the Italian specialties, a bit less so...)  

Some sexy bars for a drink: Bar Saigon (above Vietnam); L’Etage (above Beau Monde); Raw (especially in warm weather when the courtyard is open), XIX (since they opened the windows, it’s a 19^th floor stunner at sunset)

For dessert: Naked Chocolate Café, Apamate (churros and chocolate), Franklin Fountain (for old fashioned ice cream).

 

That’s just a starter list…what are your favorites?