FOOD&DRINK

Tony Benjamin lines up the West’s most romantic places to dine out on Valentine’s Day.

As anyone who works in the restaurant trade knows, there are two dates in the yearly calendar when legions of blokes abandon their scientifically developed “pies, pints and kebabs” diet for a bit of Proper Nosh. Both are a case of ‘cherchez la femme’ with one being Mothering Sunday and the other Valentine’s Day. It seems like all those washed socks have to be paid for, sometimes. The trouble is those feckless specimens of manhood aren’t the only ones looking for a table for two on 14 February (yes, lads, that’s Valentine’s, OK?) and demand for the best places runs at a premium. You don’t get a romantic view and choice food without booking well in advance, so this is your wake-up call. Take it from us – years of experience has shown that “Sorry, love, everywhere was booked, but I brought us these chips!” is only a recipe for the doghouse. Compare that with the delighted “Oh, you shouldn’t have!” smiles and who-knows-what other niceness to follow if you take her to one of Venue’s toply tipped trysting spots… and you just know it makes sense.

There’s a whole bunch of keys to any successful romantic evening, of course, and it’s to be hoped that you will have a bit of an inkling about what works for your particular loved one. It could be extravagance or quite the opposite. It could be poshness or maybe casual informality. It could be all about location or it could be all about the food. Naturally, Venueland has a range of choices to suit pretty much everybody, so we’ve checked out a few across the board that we think should be pretty failsafe for that Special Day. You’ll have to sort out the flowers yourself, mind.

Byzantium

There’s a fairy tale quality to Byzantium’s décor that guarantees Middle Eastern magic before you’ve even begun your meal, making it a very popular destination on this romantic night. The special menu offers four courses and a glass of bubbly for £39.95. 2 PORTWALL LANE, BRISTOL, BS1 6NB, TEL: 0117 922 1883.

Goldbrick House

Fancy a touch of class? GBH oozes it, from the cool cocktail bar to the excellent food, and the special Valentine’s menu offers three-course splendour for £24.95 in the elegant dining room. Get the glad rags out and head uptown – she’s worth it! 69 PARK ST, BRISTOL, BS1 5PB, TEL: 0117 945 1950.

Glassboat

Boasting one of the best waterside views in Bristol as well as a reputation for fine dining, this has to be a top romantic destination. Glassboat are offering their special Valentine’s ‘sharing’ menu over the weekend, too – £25 (lunch) or £45 (dinner) on Sat 12 and Sun 13. WELSH BACK, BRISTOL, BS1 4SB, TEL: 0117 929 0704.

Lido

Who doesn’t love a bit of a pamper? If you ask when you book into the Lido restaurant for between 7 and 8pm, you can get an hour’s free use of the sauna, steam and spa pool as well as a dip in the swimming pool between 6 and 7pm. Dinner will cost you around £35 for three courses. OAKFIELD PL, BRISTOL, BS8 2BJ, TEL: 0117 933 9530.

Café Maitreya

Whether you’re veggie or not, this has to be a great option – Café Maitreya’s meatless meals and friendly service make for one of the city’s finest eating experiences. They’re opening specially for Valentine’s with a special menu costing £19.95 (two-course) or £22.95 (three-course). 89 ST MARKS RD, BRISTOL, BS5 6HY, TEL: 0117 951 0100.

Dynasty

It’s been Bristol’s favourite Chinese restaurant for years now, and the combination of classic food and friendly service always guarantees a discreet romantic soiree. 16A ST THOMAS ST, BRISTOL, BS1 6JJ, TEL: 0117 925 0888.

Flinty Red

Our favourite restaurant last year wouldn’t miss out on the romance, so they’re offering a special version of their ‘small plate’ sharing menu at £45 a head for the evening. 34 COTHAM HILL, BRISTOL, BS6 6LA, TEL: 0117 923 8755.

Prosecco

Gordon Ramsey loved Prosecco and so do we. They’ll be opening their friendly and smart dining room specially for Valentine’s Day and offering the kind of contemporary Italian cooking that got ol’ potty mouth so hot and bothered. 27 THE MALL, BRISTOL, BS8 4JG, TEL: 0117 970 6779.

Zen Harbourside

The sister to Dynasty (above), Zen offers a sharply contemporary take on the Chinese restaurant, with many exotically spiced regional dishes that offer a new experience to those used to Cantonese or Peking food. The smart décor and attentive service make it a memorable evening whatever the celebration. EXPLORE LANE, BRISTOL, BS1 5TY, TEL: 0117 920 9372.

Bathampton Mill

They’re happy to celebrate romance any day of the year at Bathampton Mill but the riverside diner is pushing the boat out for Sun 13 and Mon 14 with a three-course dinner (including heart-shaped cuori rossi pasta option) for £27.50 and Moet champagne at £25 a bottle. MILL LANE, BATHAMPTON, BA2 6TS, TEL: 01225 469758.

Marlborough Tavern

One of the country’s top gastropubs and a popular spot for celebration dinners, the Marlborough is one of Bath’s top destinations for Valentine’s night when chef Richard Knighting will be preparing a very special menu. 35 MARLBOROUGH BUILDINGS, BATH, BA1 2LY, TEL: 01225 423731.

No 5 Restaurant

Is there anything more romantic than a French accent? Boasting a perfect location by Pulteney Bridge, No 5 has all the Gallic charm you could wish for, as well as two special menus – a three-course dinner (£34.95) and six-course taster (£39.95) – and a free glass of champagne with dessert. Formidable! 5 ARGYLE ST, BATH, BA2 4BA.

Real Italian Bar & Kitchen

Everybody loves Italian food and the Real Italian people deliver what it says on the can, especially the pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven. A stylish and contemporary place with a cosy feel and an interesting menu. A three-course meal will cost around £25. 6 GRAND PARADE, BATH, BA2 4AN.

Alfred’s

Want to take the Loved One somewhere nice, small and friendly? Newly opened Alfred’s is just starting to pop up on the foodie radar for well-prepared bistro-style food and a comfortable ambience at affordable prices but you might still get in before the crowd finds out about it.
40 ALFRED PL, BRISTOL, BS2 8HD, TEL: 0117 944 3060.

Copyright Tony Benjamin 2011

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