We're sure we can agree there are fewer things more classically romantic than drifting through Venice's watery backstreets in a gondola. That might not be achievable in time for date night, though, so for a London-based alternative, head to Veneta, the latest restaurant in the Salt Yard stable. You'll find all the usual suspects – charcuterie, small plates and great wine – but with a Venetian twist. Think baked scallops with pumpkin, lardo and lemon; charcoal-grilled pork ribeye, a bean purée, and fig cremosa; and chicken braised in almond milk with medjool dates and saffron. There’s a raw fish bar, too, where you can scoop up some oysters (it is date night, after all), as well as a gelato bar offering some of the most delicious ice cream you'll find outside of Italy.
French cuisine is a romantic classic, and when it's served in a charming, bare-bricked dining room in cobbled, arched mews off Charterhouse Square, it's undeniably hard to beat – especially as le Café du Marché's food is delicious, from duck confit that melts off the bone to impeccable frites. In standard French fashion, the restaurant offers a fixed-price two or three course menu that comes with baguette, chips and green salad, and there's a typical French-forward wine list, too. And if you really want to bring out the big guns, make sure you dine here on one of the monthly jazz and chanson nights.
Choosing a venue with a buzzy ambience is vital when it comes to initial dates, especially if, like us, your specialty is cracking some truly awful jokes that lead to lengthy awkward silences. The modern, spacious feel of Caravan's Granary Square site has just that, with great music and flattering low lighting that'll give you brownie points for your excellent taste. What's more, the small plate-focused menu, well-seasoned with ingredients from all around the world, is perfect for inviting discussion about when you travelled around Japan and South East Asia. Don't mention that time you got really drunk on sake, though. No one needs to know about that.
If the spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp is your idea of romance, a visit to pasta kings Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda's first site in north London might just be in order… Although we can guarantee that the hand-rolled pasta will be too good to share – pappardelle with beef shin ragu, we're looking at you. The food here is Tuscan, which means you'll find plenty of charcoal-grilled meat and fish, a selection of mouthwatering Italian antipasti, and an excellent, well-rounded wine list. As for ambience, the whitewashed walls, exposed wooden flooring, crisp white tablecloths and friendly service hit just the right note.
A menu of moreish small plates is ideal when a full-blown dinner is a bit too much – and moreish (and Moorish) is par for the course at Morito, which specialises in Mediterranean-style tapas that's been souped up with a bit of North African spice. We particularly like sitting at the counter, something we're big fans of because it means you sit a little closer and can get a bit tactile with your date (ooer). What's more, Exmouth Market is lined with bars and restaurants and festooned in fairy lights, making it good for a pre- or post-date drink.
