With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, loved-up duos are busy organising intimate and thoughtful evenings.
But for those who haven’t yet decided on the perfect location, there are a number of romantic dining options that exude passion and offer exciting, tasteful menu options.
To help make the decision a little easier, OpenTable recently named the top 50 most romantic restaurants across Australia.
Here, FEMAIL looks at 11 of the standout restaurants – from Sydney’s Aria to Rick Shores on the Gold Coast.
Here, FEMAIL looks at 11 of the standout romantic restaurants in Australia – from Sydney’s Aria to Circa 1876 (pictured)
A TOUCH OF SALT
Located by the river in Townsville, Queensland, A Touch of Salt is known for seeing meals as ‘more than eating’.
With menus ‘designed for conversation’, the eatery describes itself as ‘one of the North’s best casual fine dining restaurants’.
For Valentine’s Day dining, the restaurant is offering a three-course menu, a long-stem personalised pink rose, a glass of sparkling or beer on arrival and intimate candlelight – all for $85 per person.
Meal options range from roasted scallops and baked flathead to grilled eye fillet of beef and dark chocolate bombe.
Pictured is A Touch of Salt’s famed smoked salmon at the Tasmanian Festival in 2017
ARIA
As one of Sydney’s most popular fine dining spots, it comes as no surprise that Aria made it onto the list.
The award-winning two hatted restaurant looks over Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay and is known for its elegant space and mouthwatering menu options.
For Valentine’s Day they are offering a decadent five-course tasting menu, expertly curated by Matt Moran and Head Chef Jason Staudt and a glass of Ruinart Champagne for $295.
Some of their standout menu options include Roasted John dory, Kurobuta porchetta and a peach tart.
Pictured is Aria’s Yellowfin tuna with sea urchin and silken tofu
CIRCA 1876
Located in the Hunter Valley, this chic hatted restaurant is situated on the picturesque grounds of Roscrea Estate.
In recent times, the restaurant has now moved away from a la carte and instead created two-course, three-course, and a five-course chef’s tasting menu options.
Highlight dishes include Sesame Crusted Yellow Fin Tuna (Soft Cooked Pullet Egg, Olive Cheeks, Chipotle Aioli, Wasabi Roe, Fresh Garden Greens and Lime) and Two Parts Duck (Seared Duck Breast, Slow Cooked Duck Egg, Fresh Black Truffle, Truffle Potato Foam, Asparagus and Jamón).
They write on their website: ‘Circa 1876 quite literally brings the “farm to fork” ethos to life as guests overlook the organic kitchen garden that their food came from just beyond their plate.’
Located in the Hunter Valley, this chic hatted restaurant is situated on the picturesque grounds of Roscrea Estate
In recent times, the restaurant has now moved away from a la carte and instead created two-course, three-course, and a five-course chef’s tasting menu options
EIGHTYSIX
Located in Canberra, this quirky restaurant is known for its share plates and casual hip hop soundtrack.
Notable menu items include a $79 whole lamb shoulder with sides, black chicken with buttermilk slaw, cured kangaroo and caramel popcorn sundae.
‘The menu has a “share plate” system, and the size of the plate increases with the price. But there is also an “all you can eat” option, which means you can turn the menu into your own degustation,’ a customer wrote recently.
Located in Canberra, this quirky restaurant is known for its share plates and casual hip hop soundtrack
KNEADING RUBY
Situated in Woolongong, New South Wales, this little eatery offers authentic woodfire pizzas and bespoke dishes made to share.
Their offering includes a whole fish with grape salad, gnocchi with a butter jus and pancetta and a mouthwatering mushroom pizza with cauliflower florets and truffle oil.
For Valentine’s Day they are offering a four course menu and a rose.
Situated in Woolongong, New South Wales, this little eatery offers authentic woodfire pizzas and bespoke dishes made to share
Their offering includes a whole fish with grape salad, gnocchi with a butter jus and pancetta and a mouthwatering mushroom pizza with cauliflower florets and truffle oil
LE PARISIEN
This stunning restaurant in Geelong, Victoria, is known for its beautiful waterfront location and extensive food and wine offering.
The building was once an old boat shed and still retains many of its original timber features.
They describe themselves as ‘providing an exquisite fine dining experience’ with a mix of modern and classic french cuisines.
The menu includes a $47 bouillabaisse of crab, prawns, mussels, market fish, tomato and fennel broth and a $55 Wagyu eye fillet with onion textures, morel mushrooms and Madeira.
This stunning restaurant in Geelong, Victoria, is known for its beautiful waterfront location and extensive food and wine offering
Pictured is their modern interpretation of a Niçoise featuring tender calamari and a sous vide egg
NOUR
Based in Surry Hills, New South Wales, Nour is ‘built on a dream of presenting classic Lebanese flavours in a fresh, exciting way’.
‘At Nour, we take classic Lebanese flavours and playfully tease out their full potential. Who said falafel has to roll to the same old beat, meal after meal? Why does eggplant only get to hang out smashed with tahini?’ They write on their website.
For Valentine’s Day, Nour has created a five course set menu for $99 including a glass of sparkling wine or beer.
The special menu includes confit petuna trout, a wood roast spiced short rib and chocolate.
Based in Surry Hills, New South Wales, Nour is ‘built on a dream of presenting classic Lebanese flavours in a fresh, exciting way’
OSTERIA DI RUSSO
Located in Enmore, New South Wales, Osteria di Russo ‘pays homage to the influence of these new arrivals to Australia, and re interprets the Italian restaurants of their era’.
‘Our food involves classic Italian flavour combinations, but Head Chef Chris Mosley rarely uses imported ingredients and is informed more by seasons and modern cooking techniques rather than traditional recipe,’ they write.
‘The restaurant is styled on the classic Italian tratorias of the 1970s, but serves intricate share plates, offers bar dining and doesn’t play Andrea Bocceli.’
Menu items include share plates, chicken leg rotolo and local burrata.
They also offer a seven course menu for $75 per person and a chef’s menu option where they pick the meals for diners.
Located in Enmore, New South Wales, Osteria di Russo ‘pays homage to the influence of these new arrivals to Australia, and re interprets the Italian restaurants of their era’
Menu items include share plates, chicken leg rotolo and local burrata
POTTING SHED
This quirky, beautifully decorated restaurant is located in the famed Grounds of Alexandria in New South Wales.
The wholesome menu offers a number of cozy share options for groups, three course substantial meal choices for those wanting to make an evening of it and a fun selection of nibbles for guests wanting a light after-work snack with a cocktail or a share jug among friends.
Delicious menu items range from a share platter for two with cured meats and scallops to Hunter Valley quail and Coorong pippies.
This quirky, beautifully decorated restaurant is located in the famed Grounds of Alexandria in New South Wales
Delicious menu items range from a share platter for two with cured meats and scallops to Hunter Valley quail and Coorong pippies
RICK SHORES
Located in one of the Gold Coast’s most iconic locations, this restaurant is known for pan-Asian flavours focusing on fresh locally sourced produce with intention to share.
Tasty menu options range from Karaage Chicken and pork belly sliders to freshly shucked oysters and curries.
Their higher end options include a $50 twice cooked duck with fermented plum and a $50 pork hock with smoked bacon XO and pickled garlic.
Located in one of the Gold Coast’s most iconic locations, this restaurant is known for pan-Asian flavours focusing on fresh locally sourced produce with intention to share
VAQUERO
Vaquero is a beautiful Mexican restaurant in the heart of Albion, Queensland.
‘At Vaquero Dining we take influence from the Spanish origin, celebrating a menu design to be shared with friends and family. Simple, elegant plating, ultimate respect for the food we serve, direct from farm to plate,’ they write.
‘Our charcoal oven ensures that moisture, tenderness and flavour are the three key elements with every dish.’
For Valentine’s Day, they are offering a sumptuous meal, excellent wine and cocktails for $75 per person.
Their most popular menu items include a dry aged beef of the day with horse radish cream, free range pork with roasted globe artichoke and rolled and sous vide lamb saddle with spinach sauce .
Vaquero is a beautiful Mexican restaurant in the heart of Albion, Queensland
Pictured is their duck liver pate with Lustau PX jelly, pickled quince, persimmon and fresh bread