5 Romantic Restaurants for Your Next Date Night

Love is definitely in the air and romantic dinner dates are on the menu this weekend! 

Those looking for the perfect restaurant to wow their sweetheart have plenty of choice as venues around the country put their best foot forward as the ideal romantic destination. Here are five we think you should try for your next date night:

Primal eating and sophisticated dining are on the menu at Fatcow on James Street in Fortitude Valley. This elegant restaurant is a new addition to the Brisbane dining scene, boasting a solid marble bar, circular booth seating and mirrored ceilings to complement a menu specialising in steak and live lobster.

 

The latest offering from the Tassis Group, start a romantic date night with entrées like raw beef tenderloin with spiced yoghurt and caviar, between toasted brioche, or char-grilled octopus with onion purée, squid ink and fermented chilli; for the main, think dishes such as braised lamb shoulder, yoghurt, Israeli couscous and lamb jus, or signature eye fillet steak, wood-fired butter and garlic lobster with sides of fries and truffle aioli and a garden salad.

Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar on Victoria Avenue brings a new level of sophistication and style to Broadbeach. Located on the ground floor of the Oasis Shopping Centre, dreamy tones and a stunning fit-out draw you in, with whitewashed walls, touches of wood and pops of colour from the bottles on the shelves, all transporting guests to long, serene Summers on the Italian Coast.

 

Sofia’s is known for all-day dining, an extensive wine list, signature wood-fired bread, appellation oysters shucked to order and the guests’ favourite - cacio and pepe - served at the table in a 40 kg aged Parmesan wheel. Make sure you and your date sample dishes such as prawn linguine with fresh chilli and garlic, while from the grill come offerings such as Bistecca alla Fiorentina – Black Angus T-bone, grilled to your liking, with housemade anchovy butter, fries, grilled broccolini and braised fennel.

Located in the heart of the city in the historical Port Office Building, Moo Moo the Wine Bar + Grill on Edward Street is one of Brisbane’s favourite steak restaurants. Nestled in the Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel complex, this sister venue of Moo Moo Gold Coast retains its heritage charm along with showcasing modern elements like a monolithic granite bar top, built-in champagne walls and designer furniture.

 

There are six balconies, private booths and dining rooms as well as a walk-in wine cellar and dry-ageing display cabinets, making this the perfect date night venue; start a romantic meal with hiramasa kingfish crudo, cultured cream, black garlic, caviar and radish, moving onto mains like Black Angus beef short rib, Chinese barbeque sauce and sides of roasted creamed potatoes, sautéed greens and forest mushrooms.

Savour a delicious meal with your special someone while taking in stunning waterfront views at Seafire on the Marina on Holdfast Promenade in Glenelg. This Adelaide dining destination is located on the Marina Pier making it the ideal place to soak up the sun in the garden bar with a drink in hand, or head indoors where white-clothed tables, a stacked stone bar and mezzanine level await as you peruse a menu dishing up the highest quality beef, poultry and seafood.

 

The specialty is dry-aged steak, prepared in-house and cooked to perfection with marinades and rubs that are constantly changing – think Wagyu eye fillet with red wine jus and sides of triple-cooked potatoes, seasonal greens and roasted cauliflower, or devour char-grilled crayfish, with cowboy butter, sweetcorn and potato salad.

Tantalise your date’s tastebuds at Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley's signature dining destination, Harvest Restaurant in Windsor. Found on Hawkesbury Valley Way, this elegant venue offers intimate and romantic dining two nights a week, bringing you the delights of locally sourced ingredients and perfectly matched flavours.

 

Experience French provincial charm and culinary excellence in dishes such as salmon tartare, fried capers, avocado, baby coriander smoked salmon rosette and horseradish cream; then delve into pork belly, ginger sauce, parsnip purée, heirloom tomato confit, miso cream and apple gel, or perhaps beef short rib, pumpkin maple purée, asparagus, baby carrot, beer-glazed onion and jus hits the mark.