Red-hot eats
Atlanta’s 25 best dating restaurants
By Kirsten Ott
From the first kiss to the commitment of a lifetime, relationships are supported by fantastic dates. Whether you’re on the prowl or head over heels in love, our restaurant picks rise above the rest and offer you the best dining destinations for the most amorous, scintillating and perfect dates in five discerning categories: first date, most discreet (when privacy is a must), most romantic, sexiest and budget-conscious. We’ve provided the where—the rest is up to you.
FIRST DATE
Beleza
905 Juniper St., 678-904-4582, www.belezalounge.com
Set the mood: Show your new love interest you’re in the know by taking him or her to a hot night at this new Brazilian restaurant. Fresh, organic ingredients and to-die-for cocktails sweeten the deal.
Made with love: Try the Brazilian specialty of Maine lobster moqueca in a coconut broth, $15.
Canoe
4199 Paces Ferry Rd. NW, 770-432-2663, www.canoeatl.com
Set the mood: A classic date spot, Canoe’s special place on the Chattahoochee River provides a nice local tie-in and an ample amorous atmosphere, without overdoing it. Feeling confident that the date’s going to go well? Request an oversized booth.
Made with love: Start the night off right with the titillating Blue Hill Bay mussels with ginger, sweet soya, coconut-lemon grass broth, $11.75.
Krog Bar
112 Krog St., 404-524-1618, www.krogbar.com
Set the mood: A teeny place with little space, this intimate wine-and-tapas bar encourages accidental touching of the hands, romantic undertones and heavy flirting.
Made with love: Start with the Spanish Manchego Reserva cheese, $5.
P’cheen
701-5 Highland Ave., 404-529-8800, www.pcheen.com
Set the mood: Both worldly and quaint, P’cheen is ideal for getting to know one another at an upscale pub without the pressure of getting in too deep—and a must for bar food worth eating.
Made with love: Guinness-beer battered fish ‘n’ chips, made with malt vinegar and homemade tartar sauce, served with mushy peas, $12.
Table 1280
1280 Peachtree St. NE, Woodruff Arts Center, 404-897-1280, www.table1280.com
Set the mood: Artful, sleek and modern, this contemporary restaurant consistently hits the mark with its fine dining and attentive service. Impress your date this holiday season with a prix fixe dinner at Table 1280 and tickets to the symphony afterwards.
Made with love: Order the mascarpone parfait, replete with black mission fig jam and sherry reduction, from the prized pastry chef.
DATE OF DISCRETION
Atlanta Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
181 Peachtree St. NE, 404-659-0400, www.ritzcarlton.com
Set the mood: Handsome woods and sumptuous leathers channel hunting days, while the inviting Cheater’s Booth encourages a don’t ask, don’t tell policy. Call over the sommelier for a fascinating education on the wine offerings.
Made with love: Keep it local with the Sweetwater steamed mussels, saturated in Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale and applewood smoked bacon, $12.
Dante’s Down The Hatch
3380 Peachtree Rd. NE, 404-266-1600, www.dantesdownthehatch.com
Set the mood: Set sail on your own private voyage of romance in this 18th-century ship, which attracts maily tourists (meaning you probably won’t run into your co-workers here if you’re trying to hide your office romance).
Made with love: Journey to the Orient with the Mandarin fondue–a tasty mix of Tasmanian beef, marinated pork tenderloin, garlic-rubbed chicken breast and lightly breaded shrimp, $24.25.
Food Studio
887 W. Marietta St., King Plow Center, 404-815-6677, www.thefoodstudio.com
Set the mood: Ask for a table upstairs and you and your darling dinner companion can privately indulge in sweet talk while noshing on fresh gourmet dishes.
Made with love: Start the night out right with the artisan cheese tasting, which features a selection of hand-crafted cheeses with accompaniments and a much-appreciated intro from the server, $13.
Savu
111 Perimeter Ctr W, 770-280-0700,
Set the mood: Housed in W Atlanta, this Asian-inspired contemporary restaurant is jumping with an energy we just can’t quite put a finger on, but it’s bound to extend to you for the entire night, especially if you’ve booked a room.
Made with love: Try the crispy Beijing chicken with a sweet Thai chili, lavender glaze, fingerling potatoes and sauteed spinach, $26.
Trader Vic’s
255 Courtland St. NE, Hilton Atlanta, 404-221-6339
Set the mood: Seeking a remote spot where you can be alone with your secret lover? Escape to the Pacific Islands (almost) at Trader Vic’s, where, after your creative feast on Polynesian fare, a trip up the elevator whisks you away to your room.
Made with love: Go under the sea with the macadamia-nut crusted mahi mahi, served with wasabi mashed potatoes and orange-ginger butter sauce, $25.
MOST ROMANTIC
Agave
242 Boulevard SE, 404-588-0006, www.agaverestaurant.com
Set the mood: A romantic hideaway with more than a few best tables in the house, Agave is a dreamy Southwestern hot spot sizzling with perfectly spiced dishes to keep the mood enhanced.
Made with love: Indulge with the fresh chile-and-herb rubbed lamb rack grilled, sliced and served over a New Mexico red chile puree with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and garnished with a cool corn relish, cut cilantro and rosemary, $24.
Bacchanalia
1198 Howell Mill Rd., 404-365-0410, www.starprovisions.com
Set the mood: You’ll feel on top of the world even though you’re only in West Midtown, dining at one of the poshest restaurants in the city, complete with a four-course prix fixe menu and the royal treatment.
Made with love: The house-cured charcuterie is a spotlight on some of the best meats, including Genoa salami, lonzino, Tasso ham, duck breast, pepperoni and bresaola.
Ciao Bella
309 Pharr Rd. NE, 404-261-6013, www.ciaobellaatlanta.com
Set the mood: Authentic Italian at its best, this cozy hideaway affords you and your date a lovely candlelit dinner on handsome dark wooden furniture in a warmly designed trattoria.
Made with love: Homemade lasagna in a beef ragu, with mozzarella, Parmesan reggiano, $11.50.
Pleasant Peasant
555 Peachtree St. NE, 404-874-3223, www.thepeasantrestaurants.com
Set the mood: Just a quick walk to the Fox Theatre, this old-world style French nook is a must for date night before seeing a big production.
Made with love: Honor the South with the Young Harris trout, which is served over white rice with lima beans and topped with lemon caper butter and red onion confit, $18.
Wisteria
471 N. Highland Ave. NE, 404-525-3363, www.wisteria-atlanta.com
Set the mood: A tried-and-true destination for true romance on a plate, Wisteria offers dependable and good Southern eats for star-crossed lovers.
Made with love: Treat your honey to the Charleston-style jumbo lump crab cakes served over roasted corn and sweet pepper succotash, $12.
SEXIEST
Loca Luna
836 Juniper St. NE, 404-875-4494, www.loca-luna.com
Set the mood: Fun and festive, Loca Luna serves up tasty tapas to satiate the hunger, while its live music spurs a lot of hip action on and off the dance floor.
Made with love: Order several plates to share, especially the patatas bravas: extremely addictive, spicy, crispy fried potatoes served with roasted pepper aioli sauce, $4.
Mitra
818 Juniper St., 404-875-5515, www.mitrarestaurant.com
Set the mood: It’s easy to get hot and bothered just walking into Mitra, let alone dining here. The blend of Latin vibe meets American flair works well and is certain to provide ample support for Cupid and all that jazz. Head downstairs for extra sizzle.
Made with love: Tantalize the tastebuds with the juicy orange, morita-braised pulled pork with citrus mojo, $19.
Sala – Sabor de Mexico
1186 N. Highland Ave. NE, 404-872-7203, www.sala-atlanta.com
Set the mood: What’s sexier than Latin music and addictive margaritas gussied up with gourmet Mexican fare? All of that, plus a heaping side of hotness served up amidst an artfully designed dining room.
Made with love: Wrangle your date’s heart through his or her stomach with the carne asada, a handsome dish of certified angus: a wood-grilled rib-eye with a chile-negro sauce and fresh avocado, $20.
Trois
1180 Peachtree St., 404-815-3337, www.trois3.com
Set the mood: A top-notch upscale French restaurant, Trois affords you and your date the chance to don your evening finery and enjoy a truly magnifique meal and ample glasses of premium wine in a sensuous setting of sophisticated, plush décor.
Made with love: Order the bread-crusted Mediterranean snapper, worth every penny and served with saffron rouille and olive tapenade bouillabaisse, $24.
VIII fifty Restaurant & Lounge
1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Roswell, 678-206-0850, www.850atlanta.com
Set the mood: Intimate and sophisticated, VIII fifty offers a 20-foot waterfall, a fire aquarium, a 15-foot wine cellar, banquette and booth seats, private cabanas, al fresco dining and a chic lounge—all without venturing ITP.
Made with love: The pistachio-crusted scallops, simmered in an orange juice reduction and topped with roasted baby zucchini, $9.
WON’T BREAK THE BANK
Ibiza
2285 Peachtree Rd., 404-352-3081, www.ibizarestaurantlounge.com
Set the mood: The owners of Imperial Fez keep this exotic beauty on a short leash—right next door. Take your date out for a steamy night of tapas, flamenco dancing and hookah—all in one place.
Made with love: Get it right with your foreign affairs by noshing on the babaghanouch, roasted eggplant with tahini herbs and spices,
$4.99.
Piebar
2160 Monroe Dr. NE, 404-815-1605, www.piebar.com
Set the mood: Far more than just a pizza joint, this über-cool slice of heaven offers just enough swank to impress your date without hurting your chances of affording the second date.
Made with love: Pick your own gourmet signature pizza for $10, or order two to share.
Pozolé
1044 Greenwood Ave., 404-892-0552, www.pozolerestaurant.com
Set the mood: Craving excitement in a boisterous setting but still want to lock hands over the table as you sip on your margaritas? A superb destination for Nuevo Latin food, Pozolé scores big with daters seeking a hip spot without digging too deep into the pockets.
Made with love: The pozolé, natch. A thick, soulful hominy soup con pork, you can sip this goodness in a bowl to share with your date, $6.75.
Spoon
768-A Marietta St., 404-522-5655, www.spoonatlanta.com
Set the mood: With an enviable atmosphere for a lower-priced restaurant, what’s known as a fab hotspot for lunch has yet to be discovered by night crawlers out for a delightful date right on the cusp of Atlanta’s next growth spurt.
Made with love: Spice up your night with the massamun curry, a flavorful dish sprinkled with cashew nuts and everything nice, $11.
The Chocolate Bar
201-C W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, 404-378-0630,
www.thechocolatebardecatur.com
Set the mood: For the dessert connoisseur (and who isn’t, really?), indulge yourselves in the sensual decadence of chocolate, accompanied by delicious small plates to satisfy your hunger. Live guitar music plays softly in the background for romantic ambiance.
Made with love: Cut to the chase with the chocolate pot de crème, a perfect piece of rich heaven with 75 percent Tanzanian couverture and Szechwan cocoa nib crisp, $4. SP
Kirsten Ott is the Life, Food & Style Editor. Drop her a line at kirstenott@sundaypaper.com.
