5 Romantic Restaurants for your Valentine’s Day Dinner

left: Romantic restaurants Camille’s Restaurant and Il Terrazzo. Photos by Ellie Shortt

It might be the most important date night of the year. February 14 is your one chance to really get it right (and perhaps make up for all those other days when you might get it wrong). If you’re out to impress, make it a night to remember, complete with appropriate lighting, decor, cuisine and drinks. If you don’t find standing over a hot oven all day and doing dishes all night very sexy, there are plenty of spots in Victoria that will provide the ideal setting for a flawless Valentine’s Day dinner. Here are five downtown romantic restaurant recommendations.

Camille’s Restaurant

Cozy, intimate, and a Victoria staple, Camille’s restaurant has been a fixture of historic Bastion Square for twenty-three years. Chef David Mincey and team are known for their unique combination of fine dining with comfortable atmosphere, as well as a diverse, delicious menu and an exceptional wine list. Canoodling couples can enjoy their rich rack of lamb with fig and walnut tapenade, parsnip cambozola gratin, balsamic jus, local vegetables, and braised greens, accompanied by candlelight and the hum of soft jazz.

45 Bastion Square Victoria, BC (250) 381-3433 www.camillesrestaurant.com

The Tapa Bar on Trounce Alley

The Tapa Bar

With their slogan “food for sharing,” The Tapa Bar is a clear choice for dates a deux, or for a fun group get together. Soft warm lighting sets the mood for a cosy evening of sharing plates and superb wines to match. The grilled kale is a fan favourite, and the bacon wrapped almond stuffed dates also rate high on patrons’ lists.

620 Trounce Alley Victoria, BC (250) 383-0013  tapabar.ca

Il Terrazzo

It’s hard not to find romance within a beautiful courtyard setting surrounded by candlelight and six brick fireplaces. The scene is completed by stunning northern Italian cuisine, wood-oven roasted meats and pizza, homemade pasta, and fresh west coast seafood and an award-winning wine list. This Valentine’s Day we recommend you get lovestruck with one of their pasta dishes such as Linguine con Frutti di Mare, which has linguine noodles tossed with black tiger prawns, scallops, mussels, garlic, white wine, chili flakes, tomatoes and arugula …now THAT’s amore!

555 Johnson St Victoria, BC (250) 361-0028  www.ilterrazzo.com

Vista 18

First impressions count, and at Vista 18 you’ll find one of the best in the city. Located on top of the Chateau Victoria Hotel with panoramic views of downtown and the Pacific beyond, this beloved Victoria destination also offers well made food, creative cocktails and live entertainment. This February 14th join Vista 18 for a special five-course menu of Valentine’s Day themed dishes and wine pairings. Chefs Rob LaLaonde and Jay Holder have created a romantically red beet themed dinner that offers a heart beet amuse bouche, baby beet and fennel salad, yellow beet borscht with beet foam, beet stained ravioli and a sweet beet ice cream.

740 Burdett Ave Victoria, BC (250) 382-9258  www.vista18.com

Restaurant Matisse

Many feel that no one does romance quite like the French. Part of this, no doubt, is the rich creations French cuisine is famous for, such as Matisse’s Filet de Boeuf Rossini –  AAA beef tenderloin topped with foie gras butter, red wine and black truffle sauce. Of course no romantic French meal would be complete without some “chocolat et champagne”, so we recommend starting with a bottle of their Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Rare Vintage Rosé ’85, and finishing with the Plaque de Chocolat (chocolate espresso pot au crème, white chocolate shooter, house made chocolate ice cream).

512 Yates St Victoria, BC (250) 480-0883  restaurantmatisse.com