Restaurants for a romantic date in Philadelphia
A neighborhood bar isn't always enough for a special evening, and Philadelphia has many intimate venues with low lighting and a good wine list.
When you're looking for a romantic setting, sometimes a neighborhood bar isn't quite special enough, and sometimes a good wine list is all it takes. There are many intimate, dimly lit places with a cozy atmosphere perfect for a special dinner. A tuxedo is optional at all the recommended locations.
Lark, Nick Elmi and Fia Berisha's restaurant, occupies the rooftop of the Ironworks building, across the river from Manayunk. It features art deco lamps, velvet banquettes, and a spectacular view. Its coastal Mediterranean cuisine, with dishes like cold braised leeks and blue crab and pink peppercorn strozzapreti, is complemented by an excellent selection of cocktails and wines. Meetinghouse, meanwhile, illuminates its dining room with abundant flickering candles, and in the evening, guests share green salads, crab dip, fried turkey cutlets, and perhaps a scoop of vanilla ice cream with mint cream.
Fork on Market, a Philadelphia culinary landmark focused on locally sourced ingredients, guarantees a special evening in Old City. Its ambiance perfectly complements dishes like beans, striped sea bass, and coconut flan for dessert. Reservations can be made online.
For a marriage proposal or a formal date, Schulson Collective's steakhouse won't disappoint. Come hungry, though: the 1.1 kg tomahawk steak, rack of lamb, beef Wellington, and lobster linguine are for discerning palates. On South 21st Street, Chad and Hanna Williams' restaurant practically invented special occasion dining. Their tasting menu changes constantly, featuring dishes like barbecue beef cheek, raw with yuzu, Jerusalem artichoke, and bone marrow jelly, and their cocktails have clever names.
James Beard Award-nominated Randy Rucker and his wife Amanda's coastal project in Rittenhouse Square focuses on seafood. Their menu draws inspiration from the Gulf of Mexico, New England, and the Mid-Atlantic waterways, featuring oysters and Maine sea urchin, raw bluefin tuna with olives, and a casual take on caviar service with hushpuppies. At Graduate Hospital, Aaron Randi's Illata specializes in hidden ingredients: its tortellini with eggplant and tomato consommé and its chocolate cake under a spiral blanket surprise with unexpected flavors.
On South Street, Rex at the Royal serves coastal-inspired Southern cuisine, featuring fried chicken, cornbread, oysters, and refreshing daiquiris. It's a romantic spot to enjoy live music. Superette, with sidewalk seating, is ideal for sharing a pitcher of house rosé with oysters, shrimp cocktail, steak tartare, and grilled octopus. Bottles are available for purchase at their shop to enjoy outdoors.
Apricot Stone's Armenian and Syrian cuisine is designed for sharing, featuring an excellent feta and red pepper sauce. Bringing your own drinks is encouraged, so you can enjoy a specialty bottle without breaking the bank. At Irwin's, on the top floor of Bok Bar, Michael Vincent Ferreri cooks Sicilian dishes and pairs them with natural wines, offering a lively atmosphere and a swordfish large enough to share.