Whether you're getting to know someone new or want to celebrate an occasion with your significant other, it's always good to have at least one killer romantic restaurant in your back pocket. Here are five places around town where the vibe is relaxed, the lighting is dim, and the wine is flowing—creating an intimate atmosphere for two.
Deuxave
Back Bay
Pricey and glamorous, this dramatically lit restaurant is the place to go for a great glass of wine (its list is nearly 500 bottles deep) and modern French cuisine like nine-hour French onion soup, seared foie gras, and duck confit with rhubarb puree. It's so popular as a place to propose that the chef has devised a special off-menu dessert just for the occasion, but it'll put some spice back into long-running relationships, too.
Giulia
Porter Square
This cute little Italian trattoria in Porter Square is dimly lit and intimate, creating the perfect setting for sharing a bottle of red and a few bowls of handmade pasta, like goat-milk ricotta gnocchi with truffles or wild boar pappardelle. And you'll definitely want to save room to split the decadent chocolate terrine, served with chocolate and black pepper gelato.
Ten Tables
Jamaica Plain
A pioneer in locavore dining, Ten Tables' moniker is an apt description of its petite size, ensuring that you'll have a very personalized meal. And compared to other tasting-menu spots, the price tag is reasonable ($49 for omnivores and $39 for vegetarians, with an optional $25 wine pairing). You can also split a $20 carafe of house wine and order a la carte, with dishes like chorizo risotto, lamb meatballs, and pan-roasted sea scallops.
75 Chestnut
Beacon Hill
This cozy little restaurant in Beacon Hill has a warm atmosphere, with a fun cocktail list (try the blueberry mule or the pomegranate martini). The menu can be a bit of a throwback, but many of the dishes are longtime favorites: crab cakes, wild mushroom ravioli, a grilled pork chop with shallot mashed potatoes, and molten chocolate cake or a trio of creme brulees for dessert.
Les Zygomates
South Boston/Waterfront/Leather District
If you'd prefer to have a few nibbles and focus on a great bottle of wine, chic Les Zygomates, which got a facelift last year, is just the ticket. Order up a bottle of vintage Champagne and a "grand plateau" of raw oysters, clams, shrimp, crab and ceviche, or sip a glass of Burgundy and split a platter of charcuterie (including foie gras, house-smoked salmon, and duck prosciutto). There's often live music to set the mood, too.
