It s A Date From romantic dining patios to decadent dishes, these restaurants promise a San Diego date night done right. by SARAH DAOUST
Amid what undoubtedly has been a weird and rough year, enjoying an evening out with that special someone (safely, of course) is just what the cabin fever ordered. Enter these San Diego restaurants to the rescue—offering remedies in the form of exceptional cuisine, decor, service, style and romantic ambiance. Following are a few of our favorite restaurant picks for date night this winter. Come as you are or dress up a little. Just be ready to experience some major (and much-needed) joie de vivre. Puffer Malarkey Collective offers the best of all worlds for date night. Inside, the decidedly dramatic decor designed by Bells + Whistles is simultaneously sexy, opulent and playful. Think: glam, art-deco romance meets a luscious Japanese forest—punctuated by rich jewel tones of emerald and gold, and grandly draped curtains—topped with a pop of post-punk futurism. (For reference, stop by the bar and meet Big Chuck—the eyepopping, futuristic art piece by Berlin artists Igor Posavec and Sven Sauer installed behind it—and report back.) Outside, be transported to the firefly forests of Japan’s Shikoku Island by way of the Zen Garden dining patio. Nestled among lush foliage and trickling water fountains next to the Pacific Gate by BOSA tower, the space is an entrancing urban oasis—punctuated by the 25-foot-tall Pacific Soul sculpture by artist Jaume Plensa, which emanates a warm glow at sunset. In the kitchen, James Beard Award-winning chef Nate Appleman is a gastronomic Jedi. As Animae’s new culinary director, Appleman was challenged to build upon the restaurant’s already-acclaimed, Asian-infused West Coast cuisine. This means coal-fired meats (there’s an entire wagyu section on the menu); elegant sea fare; flavor-dense rice and noodle dishes; and refined plates that spotlight seasonal ingredients and local produce. ♥ Menu highlights: the Ora King salmon and wagyu beef carpaccio starters; the Singapore chili lobster noodles; the prime skirt steak; and the Vietnamese iced coffee 10 SOCALPULSE.COM WINTER 2021
and bao doughnuts for dessert. Try the Lemongrass Gin & Tonic or Cherry Blossom Margarita to wash it all down. 969 Pacific Hwy., downtown, 619.432.1225
Civico by the Park / Brothers Dario and Pietro Gallo welcome you to their new creation—formerly Il Dandy and now a sister restaurant to their popular Civico 1845 cucina in Little Italy. The cuisine is an homage to the brothers’ native Calabria, featuring authentic antipasti (we adore the fritto di mare and carpaccio di bresaola with shaved Parmesan), scratch-made pastas and entrees. But the star of the menu is the pizza, and the star of the pizza is its dough. Choose traditional Calabrian-style pizza dough, or try the pinsa Romana—original Roman pinsa made with wheat, soy and rice flours, and left to rise for 72 hours. The result is a light, airy dough that is low in calories and gluten, and easy to digest. (Another fun difference: Roman pinsa pizzas are oval-shaped versus round.) Try the margherita pie and let the simple, fresh ingredients and dough do the talking. More bonuses: Civico by the Park offers a full vegan
menu and Italian cocktails such as the Civico Spritz with Aperol and grapefruit kombucha. ♥ About the ambiance: the 5,000-square-foot restaurant is a stunner. A glamorous decor fuses mid-century modern with European opulence and Italian futurism. This means ornate trimming, jewel-toned velvet chairs, gleaming marble floors, 16-foot ceilings and abstract modern artwork. And the ample outdoor dining terrace merely steps from Balboa Park makes for an enchanting date night. 2550 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill, 619.310.5669
Huntress / Dress to impress for a night out, big-city style. One of the more anticipated new restaurants of the year, Huntress has at last opened its doors, and guests are in for a real treat (especially if you love wagyu steak). With the kitchen helmed by executive chef James Montejano, the posh, ultramod steakhouse and Japanese whisky bar by RMD Group offers alfresco dining on its expanded patio facing Fifth Avenue. Or dine and imbibe indoors amid an ultrasexy, sleek decor designed by Davis Ink— complete with a custom-designed chandelier made of 95 strategically placed glass pendants; and a more intimate mezzanine overlooking the restaurant's main dining floor. ♥ Our first love: the thick-cut, wagyu katsu sando on the appetizer menu. Tender, rare wagyu meat is sandwiched between toasted, buttery brioche—bite after bite, it literally melts in the mouth. Carnivores will swoon in general over Huntress’ vast steak selection, which includes both American and exclusive
DUSTIN BAILEY; OPPOSITE: SAM WELLS
Animae / This magical wonderland by the
