10. Aubergine

32nd and 5th Building, 5th Avenue corner 32nd Street
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Tel. 856 9888

The setting: Tell your date you'll be eating at a restaurant above McDonald's and she'll probably think you're taking her nowhere special. Aubergine, despite its less-than-romantic neighborhood, is one of your best bets for romantic dining with classy, meant-to-impress interiors. It's the kind of place you can gush about post-dinner.


The food: You probably can't go wrong ordering any beef entree on their menu, but their Wagyu comes highly recommended. They also make their own bread from the restaurant's in-house patisserie, which also has an excellent selection of to-die-for desserts.

Perfect for: Steak lovers

Be prepared to spend: Anywhere from P500 to P1,900 per person, depending on what you order

9. Taste of L.A.

171 A. Roces Ave. cor. Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Tel. 374-2461

The setting: It's easy to miss if you're just driving by, and when you do see its home-like facade you might be skeptical about how romantic it is, but you'll be in for a sweet surprise once you enter this charming, converted home set-up. Save for large veranda windows spewing sunlight into the second floor dining room, it stays pretty dark inside even during the day, especially with its red walls and dark wooden floors. This Tomas Morato institution is best known for its dark corners.

The food: To begin with, try the cheese fondue for two--a mix of gruyere and emental cheese served with crusty bread, then choose from a variety of Pinoy favorites like kare-kare and salpicao, grade-A steaks, or from their selection of wood-fired pizza for your main course.

Be prepared to spend: About P400 to P600 per person

Perfect for: A casual, low-key lunch or dinner

8. Galileo Enoteca

G/F Reyes Gym, No.80 Calbayog Street Corner Malinao Mandaluyong City. Tel. 532 0482

The setting: Part of the thrill of eating in this hole in the wall is its clandestine location, and feeling like you've just stumbled upon a secret restaurant in some obscure street in Mandaluyong. Though it's not quite so secret anymore, Galileo Enoteca is still as charming as ever with quaint, brick walls and an intimate, cellar-type ambiance that you don't get just anywhere.

The food: More deli than restaurant, Galileo Enoteca's menu is limited to light Italian favorites that are best eaten with a bottle (or two) of wine. Try the prosciutto with fresh melon or the cold cuts and cheese platter for starters then move on to your choice of panini or pasta.

Perfect for: Wine and cheese lovers

Be prepared to spend: About P200 to P500 per person, depending on what wine you order

7. Red

The setting: Red is in-your-face romantic with dramatic, red chairs set against a white-walled backdrop. The hotel-chic restaurant is as elegant as they come yet still surprisingly cozy, with plenty of two-seaters that are far enough from each other to enjoy private, one-on-one conversations that the couple seated next to you won't hear. Tip: Grab a table by the window for a view of the hotel garden.

The food: A continental menu with a good variety of classic fine dining favorites like pan-roasted Chilean sea bass and grilled fillet mignon. Leave room for dessert--they do a mean Chocolate Dome.

Perfect for: That big anniversary dinner, or when you just want to impress someone and you've got the cash to splurge

Be prepared to spend: About P1,000 and up per person.

6. Sala

Podium Level, LV Locsin Building
6752 Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue
Makati City. Tel. 750 5159

The setting: Sala tends to have that intimidating, special occasion-only vibe, which makes it perfect for Valentine's Day (if you can score a table). The fine dining oasis is tucked a few meters away from the bustling Makati Avenue, and the walk up to the entrance only adds to the anticipation. Kept simple yet very cosmopolitan, Sala's swanky interiors will get you in the mood for sparkling conversations and elegant eating.

The food: Sala's modern European fare made it an institution in Malate before they moved to Makati in 2007. Expect the usual suspects on the a la carte menu: foie gras, Kurobuta pork, Angus beef, among others, all plated to perfection.

Perfect for: When you want a solid, can't-go-wrong restaurant to impress your date

Be prepared to spend: Around P2000 per person for a three-course meal

5. Cafe Ysabel

455 P. Guevarra St.,
San Juan, Mandaluyong City
Tel. No. 726-9326 and 725-5089

The setting: After over two decades, Cafe Ysabel still remains one of the metro's top dining and date destinations not only because of its great food, but also because of an ambiance unlike no other. Furnished with period pieces and just the right lighting, the refurbished 1927 ancestral home maybe old-school but is still very much conducive to romance. Here's a tip: For a nice view of the garden, get a table in the enclosed porch area.

The food: Go for their signature dishes like the pastas, pizzas, and comfort food. You won't go wrong with the fork tender U.S. Braised Beef Belly, Truffle Pizza, Salpicado, Willy's Fettuccini, and homemade Merguez sausage.

Be prepared to spend: P800 per person for food and a couple of beers.

Perfect for: A laid-back dinner date followed by a few beers and a proposal, perhaps? Get this: Some tables in the cafe are known as the "yes" tables--go figure.

4. Lolo Dad's Cafe

899 Pres. Qurino Ave. cor. Leon Guinto St.,
Malate, Manila

The setting: This fine dining restaurant exudes a vibe so relaxing and cozy you'd never think you were in the middle of busy Quirino Avenue. Simple interiors like interesting wooden chairs and a few accent pieces add to charm of this unassuming dining destination.

The food: With multi-awarded chef Ariel Manuel at helm, you can be assured that every plate that comes out of the kitchen is flawless. Herbes de Provence-crusted rack of lamb, lemon roasted lobster and scallops, and confit of duck leg and roasted duck breast are a few of the excellent dishes in Lolo Dad's repertoire.

Perfect for: A partner who appreciates good food and loves to eat

Be prepared to spend: Again, excellent food and excellent service don't come cheap, for a full meal (appetizers to dessert), be prepared to spend P3,000 each.

3. Champagne Room

One Rizal Park.
Manila Hotel
Tel. No. 527 0011

The setting: Crystal palm trees, elegant upholstery, fine china, and art deco interiors make the Champagne Room the perfect setting for a classy dinner date. Unlike most fine dining date places that have dim lighting, this establishment's brightly-lit dining area casts a warm glow, making everything appear more beautiful--possibly, even your date.

The food: Fine French cuisine is what the Champagne Room is known for. The upscale dining spot offers a businessman's lunch menu and a degustation menu which features hard-to-pronounce French fare like pate, escargot, and foie gras.

Perfect for: If you're popping the question, celebrating your 10th anniversary (yes, you need to earn this dinner), or out to impress, the Champagne Room is highly recommended.

Be prepared to spend: About P3,000 (per person) for food and champagne. This Valentine's Day the Champagne Room has a special menu for P3,500 per person.

2. Ninyo

66 Esteban Abada St.,
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Tel. No. 426-0301 and (0917)538-5813

The setting: Think of Ninyo as your own private hideaway. A lush garden and a Koi pond welcome you to this old-house-turned-restaurant. Inside the house, a combination of antique accents with hints of Zen and Bossanova beats add to the restaurant's cool and intimate vibe. The dimly-lit wine lounge on the second floor could be your next stop for the night.

The food: The menu consists of French-Japanese fusion dishes artfully prepared by creative culinary genius Chef Nino Laus. Each plate that comes out of the kitchen looks and tastes like it was made with love. Standouts are the Coffee Crusted Tuna and Salmon Tataki, Cold Jellyfish and Soba Salad, U.S. Hanging Tender Steak, and Duck Leg Confit.

Perfect for: A getting-to-know-you date or a secret rendezvous with your special someone

Be prepared to spend: P1000 per person is enough for an a la carte dinner. This Valentine's Day Ninyo has a 12-course degustation menu priced at P2,500.

1. Lemuria

5 Julieta Circle, Horseshoe Village
Quezon City
Tel. No. 724-5211 and 722-2185

The setting: Walking into Lemuria feels like walking into a quaint European country home. Hidden in a residential neighborhood in San Juan, the rustic restaurant sits on top of a wine cellar and conveys a unique charm and cozy vibe.

The food: Elegant French-Mediterranean cuisine is Lemuria's forte. Feast on gourmet dishes like pan-seared scallops with almond butter, escargot sauteed in almond and herb butter, roasted duck breast with potato Lyonnaise, and U.S. short-ribs Bourguignon. What's more, the fine dining restaurant has an impressive selection of wines straight from the cellar of Brumms Wines. After all, what's a good meal without wine?

Perfect for: An indulgent dinner to celebrate an anniversary or an upscale date night

Be prepared to spend: This elegant fine dining experience comes at a steep price. Expect to shell out around P2,500 per person for a complete dinner (appetizer, main course, dessert, and wine).