Top 10 restaurants for your Valentine

By Lauren McGlone
Collegian Editor
February 13, 2007

While Geno’s probably isn’t the best place to take your Valentine this year, Philadelphia offers a plethora of romantic restaurants to celebrate this Feb. 14. Here, Philly File highlights the top 10.

10. Chloe—Located in the heart of Old City on Arch between 2nd and 3rd streets, Chloe offers meals for all to enjoy, ranging from seafood to pasta to steak. This B.Y.O.B. is fairly small, so plan to beat the crowds and dine early.

9. Pasion—Enjoy Latin American cuisine at Pasion, located at 211 S. 15th Street. Experience an authentic Cuban and Argentinian meal prepared by chef Guillermo Pernot for a unique Valentine’s Day.

8. Davio’s—A northern Italian steakhouse, Davio’s at 111 S. 17th St. was named a Best of Philly restaurant by Philadelphia Magazine three times since 2000. This Valentine’s Day, Davio’s is offering a special menu for the romantic holiday. The $75-per-person cost buys one of five appetizers, including Maine lobster bisque; choice of entrée, including Jumbo Lump Crab Risotto, and a Lover’s Dessert Buffet. Call 215-563-4810 for reservations.

 7. Mama Palma’s—Enjoy gourmet pizza at Mama Palma’s at 2229 Spruce St., where all pizzas are made-to-order and baked in an authentic wood-fired brick oven. Treat your Valentine’s date to an order of Mama Palma’s famous polenta bread, and split one of the menu’s unique pies. The goat cheese and bacon pizza, topped with onions and fresh peppers and tomato, is a favorite.

6. Rose Tattoo Café—Complement the bouquet of roses for your Valentine with a dinner at the Rose Tattoo Café. Offering American Continental Cuisine, Rose Tattoo Café at 19th and Callowhill streets offers unique entrees such as lobster quesadilla and ponzo-marinated tuna. For the 21 and over crowd, Rose Tattoo Café features a fairly extensive wine list.

5. Friday Saturday Sunday—Visit Friday Saturday Sunday this Valentine’s Day for a romantic dinner. Located at 261 S. 21st St. Friday Saturday Sunday offers patrons a fairly large menu that includes horseradish-panko crusted tilapia, baked three-cheese eggplant roulade and chile-rubbed New York strip steak. Cheesecake, double layer chocolate cake and tiramisu are among the freshly-baked desserts at Friday Saturday Sunday.

4. Fairmount Waterworks Restaurant—Enjoy a meal with a view at Fairmount Waterworks Restaurant, located at 640 Waterworks Drive. Inspired by Neo-Classical traditions, Fairmount Waterworks offers an exotic dinner menu, including mustard seed crusted salmon, grilled octopus, porcini risotto and pan-seared chicken. Call 215-236-9000 to make reservations.

3. Le Bec-Fin—Located at 1523 Walnut St., Le Bec-Fin offers an extensive menu of French cuisine. Specialities include sauteed black sea bass filet, grilled mahi-mahi and roasted venison loin, as well as a vegetarian option. Be sure to leave room for the French desserts, which include Caradou, Delice and Botoga.

2. Bridget Foy’s—This popular hot spot at 200 South St. will offer a special Valentine’s menu Feb. 14 through Feb. 17. For $40, the Three-Course Lover’s meal offers a choice of appetizer, including seared duck breast; choice of entrée, including strip steak and herb-crusted salmon; and a dessert of Chocolate Fondue for Two. For the over 21 crowd, the meal also comes with a choice of an aptly-named cocktail: The Passionate One, French Kiss or Love Potion No. 9.

1. Scannicchio’s—Located on the corner Broad and Porter streets in South Philly, Scannicchio’s offers authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy, dim-lit atmosphere. Voted the best B.Y.O.B. by readers of the South Philadelphia Review in 2006, Scannicchio’s features a large menu of Italian specialties from Penne Alla Vodka to Chicken Cacciatore to Veal Parmigiana, among other favorites. The portions at Scannicchio’s are large, but will not take a heavy toll on the wallet. Make reservations by calling 215-468-3900.

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu