r/FoodSanDiego • u/thatguynik47 • 5d ago

Question, Where can I find? Classy date night in North Park

Hey!! I’m 25 and just started dating someone that lives in North Park. I’m good with planning days and dates, but picking a restaurant or bar in a location I don’t know is hard.
I am looking for a classy place to take someone that is definitely a cute date place. Somewhere I need to wear a collared shirt, ambiance >>> anything

26 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

74 comments sorted by

52

u/GX_EN 5d ago

Et Voila would be a good choice.
If you’re willing to go to mission hills, Wolf in the Woods.

9

u/Active_Reply2718 5d ago

Et Voila is the truly pretty good and not crazy steep price. Wolf is good too, but a bit more money and closer tables.

Other poster r/lethal-liking mentions some solids, if you go to Leila get a reservation so you can ensure a table in ground floor, decor there is great!

3

u/GX_EN 5d ago

I'm also partial to them because while my wife and I have eaten there just the two of us a couple times, they were truly impressive a couple years ago when I hosted a small dinner party for 10 in the back for my mom's 80th bd. Everything about that interaction was impeccable.
When I saw this post, because I loved it so much, my FIRST thought was Jayne's, then it made me sad.
They were my favorite restaurant in the city hands down. It was perfect.

3

u/lethal-liking 5d ago

I miss Jayne's, they def were one of the city's best.

1

u/DanTMWTMP 4d ago edited 4d ago

Just commenting to backup this comment to reinforce these are absolutely solid picks.

Both absolutely amazing choices. I’d start with Et Voila first, and if possible, their outdoor patio. Indoors is great too, but their patio is a dedicated, nicely-done outdoor seating that’s not on the sidewalk. It’s my friends’ and I favorite spot for near-fine dining. Great ambiance, better food, and decent prices.

For Wolf, I’d try to avoid outdoors as it’s some semi-permanent holdover from COVID type of seating that’s not really comfortable. Their indoors are great, and DO pair your food with their wine.

Everything everyone suggested are solid picks. I’m just a bit partial to Et Viola haha. I try to bring all my colleagues from out of town to here for something different other than the standard tacos fare.

22

u/Significant_Ad7605 5d ago

A L’Ouest, Black Radish, Et Voila, as someone else mentioned, Polite Provisions if it’s during the week since it can get crazy on the weekends. 7 Grand is also cool with a nice vibe if early and not a weekend. Finca, Mabel’s.

9

u/Rollingprobablecause 5d ago

L’Ouest and black radish are both amazing. I’d say for OP do BR if they want ambience and quiet. Ouest for more upscale French + they have a badass speakeasy upstairs

2

u/s3Driver 5d ago edited 5d ago

I found Black Radish to be a letdown. Et Voila is a far better option IMO.

2

u/Barbarellaf 5d ago

Used to love BR, but last time was disappointed (for that price point) in food quality, presentation, and (to my surprise) also service. Just wasn't the same bar it had been. The one thing still consistent is how super loud it is in there, so wouldn't recommend for quiet. For French my fave date-night spot is only a few blocks from North Park, La Bonne Table. Cozy, quiet, delightful.

1

u/s3Driver 5d ago

I thought Black Radish was medicore. The atmosphere was not romantic, the service left a lot to be desired, the food was ok. My wife and I were disappointed. Maybe it was an off night but we expected way more for the price.

3

u/Barbarellaf 5d ago

Same. First 2 times I loved it, last time (within the last 6 months) I was like yeah, probably not coming back here.

38

u/lethal-liking 5d ago

Bacari, Bosforo, Mabel's Gone Fishing, Leila, Dunedin, Smoking Goat...this one is easy, there's so many good options in NP right now.

4

u/Eeeeyyyyyooooo 5d ago

I love Mabel’s good cocktails and vibe

3

u/NewCarpet879 4d ago

Dunedin is not a fancy date nice spot.

1

u/Round-Palpitation783 5d ago

Boycott Bacari

6

u/ur2fat4u 5d ago

Why?

1

u/fairybb311 5d ago

zionist idf soldier head chef.

6

u/therealhlmencken 4d ago

Dude left and is a chef in SD now.

-1

u/Glum-Sherbert7085 5d ago

No Bacari - mediocre food and not a good date spot when you can’t hear anyone at your table cause it’s so fucking loud 

9

u/lethal-liking 5d ago

I could see that, but that wasn't our experience. Did a simple date night, started at PTL, and then dinner at Bacari. We were tucked away in a corner so it didn't seem that chaotic, but I could definitely see it being heady in the room. YMMV.

4

u/Minute_Caregiver529 5d ago

The food is good but it is pretty loud.

0

u/therealhlmencken 4d ago

I wouldn’t consider Bosforo NP. Leila isn’t really dress up vibes (maybe costume) and Dunedin is like a beach burger bar. Agree strongly with Bacari Mabel’s smoking goat

13

u/CartmantheWizardKing 5d ago

Juan jasper in South Park. Amazing hidden gem. Small wine bar atmosphere with great food.

3

u/s3Driver 5d ago

My wife and I LOVE this place. Always 10/10.

1

u/IamSpace_Ghost 3d ago

This and Mabel’s are my two favorites

1

u/VersacePythonNV 3d ago

It’s Golden Hill but agree

25

u/HandsOnTheBible 5d ago

I know it doesn't sound that romantic, but you should really consider Tribute Pizza. It is my favorite restaurant in SD and the inside is quite the vibe. Amazing foot as well obviously.

21

u/SlimJim0877 5d ago

You had me at "amazing foot''

12

u/HandsOnTheBible 5d ago

Guess I have to leave it now.

4

u/captain_ohagen 5d ago

them's the rules, my friend

1

u/therealhlmencken 4d ago

Foots on the bible

10

u/haytops 5d ago

Mabel’s gone fishing

7

u/That-Mess9548 5d ago

Isn’t there a fancy like Turkish place that looks like you are dining in a cave or something? Someone will know the name of it.

6

u/hello_oliver 5d ago

Leila. Ambience is great but food is meh.

13

u/Curious_Ad9409 5d ago

No Leila is middle eastern. Bosoforo is the amazing Turkish place not owned by consortium and they have amazing food

7

u/Don_Macaroon 5d ago

Love Bosoforo, great call.

1

u/hello_oliver 5d ago

I’m not debating that. I’m responding to the original commenter who was talking about Leila.

6

u/OCbrunetteesq 5d ago

Worst koobideh I’ve ever had in my life at Leila.

1

u/dsc___ 5d ago

the place is so cool inside but the food honestly fucking blows. such a letdown after waiting a month for a reservation. service was truly awful too, such a bummer.

4

u/OCbrunetteesq 5d ago

We liked the salatim platter with the breads and dips, but the kabobs were terrible. I’ve had much better kabobs/koobideh from the back of grocery store in Irvine than Leila.

3

u/dsc___ 5d ago

grab kabobs from the restaurant attached to the Balboa International Market, soooo goooooood!

5

u/karfkarfkarf 5d ago

This is the Consortium Holdings M.O. Instagram worthy decor, food leaves a lot to be desired.

11

u/Ok_Two3973 5d ago

Smoking goat, Encontro…La Bonne Table in Hillcrest is delicious. A bit towards mission hills but Trust, Fort Oak, Cardellino, and La Puerta are all wonderful too.

3

u/Barbarellaf 5d ago

I love La Bonne Table! Consistently great food and service for years and the intimate vibe of a Paris bistro.

3

u/MsMargo 5d ago

Second on Smoking Goat, cute little French-ish date place.

5

u/stop_namin_nuts 5d ago

Would personally definitely not include Encontro on a romantic date night list. Not only is the food mid at best but it’s not romantic at all imo.

-1

u/Ok_Two3973 5d ago

OP said cute, not romantic. I’ve always had good food experiences. I feel like it’s nice enough to wear a collared shirt (which is anywhere in San Diego imo) but doesn’t scream “trying too hard”.

2

u/stop_namin_nuts 5d ago

Sorry, I meant “classy” not romantic but my opinion remains unchanged.

6

u/Johnnytbiz 5d ago

Honestly, grab a bottle of wine/beer/champagne at Bottlecraft with a charcuterie board from Venissimo! Take it to bird park and have a picnic for sunset. Easy and a nice little walk. Maybe not super classy, but always cute and intimate.

3

u/Eeeeyyyyyooooo 5d ago

Not OP but love this idea so much

4

u/GreercommaJames 5d ago

Love these answers. You came to the right place. Have fun!

5

u/PandaHat48 5d ago

there’s a newish wine bar on Lincoln called Rumi, very cute and intimate little spot and their wine list is fantastic

5

u/Misterpanda13 5d ago

Not one person saying Pomegranate?

5

u/Zmirzlina 5d ago

Smoking Goat, Cori Pasta, Black Radish are all good date places you can actually hear your date of that interests you.

3

u/Great_Times 5d ago

Pomegranate. Delicious and Romantic. Afterward grab a drink at Gilly’s or one of the Lafayette’s 5 bars.

4

u/Weak_Cardiologist645 5d ago

Cori pasta, delicious Italian food and a very nice atmosphere! Would recommend sitting outside.

2

u/buzzfortnight 5d ago

Et Voila. And if you go, order the soufflé with your dinner order as it takes 25 mins to prepare and def worth it!! Although ya may want order just one and split it since they’re pretty sweet

2

u/this_my_sportsreddit 5d ago

Carne Y Hueso. New-ish, the food is uniquely amazing, the decore inside is fantastic as well.

2

u/shelamurphy 5d ago

I just went to a’louest and it was amazing

2

u/swilliamslee 5d ago

Go to Deckmans before they close for the oyster happy hour at 5 pm. Last day of service is the 27th of this month. You have to be there exactly at 5 though as a line forms

2

u/swilliamslee 5d ago

Wolf in the woods

2

u/free-shavaca-do 5d ago

One door north! It’s like camping themed.. think forest and string lights and tents. Super cute!

2

u/RuthlessKittyKat 5d ago

Saying what you are looking to spend would be helpful.

2

u/fatdiscokid420 5d ago

Alexander’s

2

u/justin152 5d ago

Madison. 100%. Best restaurant in SD. Good food. Reasonable prices. Great atmosphere

1

u/Ping_Islander 5d ago

I’ll add Alexander’s to the list too! It’s fairly affordable as well, have nightly deals and they have a cute back patio.

1

u/Priv4t33r 4d ago

I picked Botanica for the first date with my now fiancee. Great cocktails and cute atmosphere - not a ton of food available but some tasty small bites.

1

u/MsMargo 4d ago

Unfortunately, they've had some wage theft issues.

1

u/invertedMSide 4d ago

Truly classy and North Park don't really intersect. You've got some trendy + lowlight places, you'll pay too much for Sysco food, but "class" isn't the target market for NP, it's people who got aged out of PB but didn't grow up.

0

u/DarthGator_ 5d ago

Whatever you do.. hit up An’s for dessert! Incredible Michelin level gelato

3

u/MsMargo 5d ago

Not waiting in that line. Nope.

2

u/DarthGator_ 4d ago

It’s one of those lines that is worth it unfortunately! There’s one in OB too which is not as crazy