Love is definitely in the air and romantic dinner dates 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:
Flowing Valley Views
Located in the beautiful Barossa Valley, Harvest Kitchen on Barossa Valley Way in Rowland Flat serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes designed to be shared in a comfortable. modern and inspiring location. Expect to discover flowing views of the valley over the surrounding vines, the dining space extends to a covered patio and alfresco area ideal for balmy days; while indoors is light, bright and breezy providing to ideal backdrop to sample local wines and produce.
Opt for a curated dining experience and be fed like a Barossan with a selection of shared dishes such as venison tartare, horseradish cream and walnuts; or delve into enticing choices such as Gumshire pork, toasted buckwheat and Greenock beetroot.
Sleek and Trendy Surrounds
Bringing harmony, unity and binding people together through food is the aim of Komeyui Japanese restaurant on Wharf Street in Brisbane. Hailing from a fishing village in Hokkaido, Executive Chef and owner Motomu Kumano brought with him discipline and perfection for authentic, handmade Japanese cuisine.
Treat your someone special to a romantic meal in sleek and trendy minimalist monochrome surrounds of stools, high and intimate table settings; perhaps start with kingfish carpaccio, or nori topped with spicy tuna, before mains such as slow-cooked pork belly with soy sauce glaze.
Unique Location
Take in the unique and beautiful location as you chill out with your sweetheart at Nornabar restaurant on South Coast Highway in Nornalup. Situated on the national highway in Walpole Nornalup National Park, just moments from the giant tingle trees and Tree Top Walk, relax in the elegantly restored historic building or on the outside cottage garden terrace.
Photo credit: Bo Wong.
Experienced Sri Lankan Chefs plate up delicious Mediterranean and South Asian cuisine from locally sourced, quality seafood, meat and vegetables; expect starters such as fish croquettes and sweet chilli dipping sauce, moving onto chicken curry with coconut sambal, achcha pickle, yoghurt, papadums and steamed rice.
Thoughtfully Restored Building
There’s space for everyone at your new local watering hole, The Milton Hotel on Princes Highway in Milton. This thoughtfully restored historic building has great indoor-outdoor dining with a view out to the ocean from the deck, where soaking up the sun with an icy brew is the name of the game; or sip a whiskey in the lounge before a memorable date night meal with your partner.
The in-house micro-brewery makes this pub the House of Dangerous Ales – grab a Crispy Boy Lager to go with mixed olives and wood-fired flatbread to snack on; before slicing your knife into perfected cooked Wagyu rump, tare, horseradish and egg yolk, or lamb shoulder, harissa, labneh and pickles.
Experience Culinary Mastery
Experience a fresh, intimate and unique fine-dining experience at Table by Canberra Gourmet on Sternberg Crescent in Wanniassa. This limited-seating restaurant delivers an amazing celebration of great food and exquisite flavours in elegant surrounds of candle-lit tables, fresh flowers, blond wood and twinkling fairy lights, as Chef Thomas Heinrich delivers an eight-course degustation menu.
Dive right into your romantic evening with Bass Strait scallop crudo, or koji cured hiramasa kingfish, then delve into the likes of poached calamari, shiitake butter broth and salmon roe; perhaps grilled kangaroo loin hits the mark with smoked sweet potato, pickled ribery and Colbert sauce.
Romantic Degustation Dining
Sip an estate wine on the outdoor deck overlooking the vines and mountains at Mimosa Wines, a family-owned and operated vineyard, restaurant and cellar door on Bermagui Road in Bermagui. Nestled in the heart of the Far South NSW Coast, Mimosa is a modern restaurant offering à la carte lunch and a more refined set menu for romantic degustation dining.
With scenic seating options inside and out on the deck, expect a relaxed fine dining experience paired with a boutique Australian and New Zealand wine list. Start with an entrée of Bermagui bluefin tuna, kohlrabi, umeboshi and rice, then indulge the palate with Tathra Place duck, Jerusalem artichoke, orange and chestnut.
