That’s Amore

These romantic restaurants offer a dining experience sure to set your night aflame

Michelle Roe Restaurants

 

Rendezvous at Copley’s — located in part of the former Cary Grant estate — for the ideal spot to stir up an appetite. Enjoy Chef Andrew Copley’s American cuisine infused with exotic flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Dine on the signature Roasted Scottish Salmon or the Dijon Mustard and Parsley Crusted Colorado Lamb Rack in the cozy courtyard under the stars to put a twinkle in your special someone’s eye. 

In the mood for fine French cuisine? Cuistot pairs its award-winning wine list with creative cooking by Chef and Owner Bernard Dervieux. Highlights of the Valentine’s menu are hard-to-resist options such as the aptly named Love Affaire, a chocolate tarte with fresh raspberries, and the Shortbread Heart Cookie and Raspberry Sauce. The ambiance is also exquisite; Cuistot is housed in a French farmhouse–style building consisting of three different dining rooms, each offering an intimate setting for a memorable soirée. 

Europa Restaurant at the Villa Royale Inn is a gastronomic gem that pleases the most discerning palates. Executive Chef Kitt Fraser enhances the Mediterranean-inspired dishes with fresh herbs and locally sourced ingredients. The timeless elegance and trickling fountains of the landscaped patio make this restaurant the perfect romantic hideaway. 

Lavender Bistro’s soft lilac hue seen throughout the sophisticated dining room and the award-winning patio’s flower beds is an ode to Provence. Savor the Roasted Herb-Crust New Zealand Rack of Lamb with a Lavender-Honey Glaze with live music al fresco to woo your darling. 

If you fancy an Old World dining adventure, make a reservation at Le Vallauris. This French-Mediterranean restaurant sits in a restored historical landmark featuring Flemish tapestries and Louis XV décor that regally defines amour. The menu includes sophisticated appetizers and entrées including Petrossian Caviar, the Duo of Blue Crabs, the Sautéed Maine Lobster With Vanilla Butter, and the Charred Beef Filet. 

Escape to the tranquil Tuscan-style villa of La Spiga Ristorante Italiano for some flavorful goodness and traditions of Italy. Owner and Master Chef Vince Cultraro brings the highest quality and freshest natural ingredients to his kitchen. His expansive menu complements the vast, cultivated gardens that wrap around the patio with roses and herb beds.

Satisfy your desire for the finest in dining and succumb to the ultimate royal treatment at Jillian’s. Owned and operated by the Trubee family, this award-winning restaurant is just the right mix of excellent dining, eclectic originality, and atmosphere. Chef Trubee and his team have hosted high-profile dignitaries and celebrities since 1986. His 2015 Valentine’s Day menu features such dishes as the Presidential Whitefish, the Chicken Champignon, and Grilled Organic Salmon Puttanesca.

Can’t take that private jet to Paris this Valentine’s Day? Then spoil your significant other at local favorite and authentic French-Belgian bistro Pomme Frite. This Montmartre-style restaurant offers dishes that instantly transport you to the City of Lights. Try the signature mussels (served nine different ways), escargot, and Belgian Chocolate Mousse for a certain je ne sais quoi. 

Make a grand statement and soak up the atmosphere at Spencer’s Restaurant. Located at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, the building’s midcentury charm is enhanced by its stunning surroundings. The tree-shaded patio decorated with fire pits and twinkling lights creates the perfect warm glow for a dinner featuring contemporary and classic cuisine. 

Established in 1978, Wally’s Desert Turtle, with its impeccable service and fabulous food, sets the standard for an understated elegant desert dining experience. This beloved family-owned restaurant is known for such delicacies as its Pacific Northwest Oysters, Sautéed Dover Sole, Aspen Ridge Filet, and sweet soufflés. Special-occasion menus include farm-to-table and organic fare. Live music and candlelit ambiance make this a very romantic destination.

 

Where to Go 

Copley’s
621 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs. 
760-327-9555; www.copleyspalmsprings.com
 

Cuistot
72595 El Paseo, Palm Desert. 
760-340-1000; www.cuistotrestaurant.com
 

Europa Restaurant 
at the Villa Royale Inn
1620 S. Indian Tr., Palm Springs. 
760-327-2314; www.villaroyale.com/dining
 

Lavender Bistro
78073 Calle Barcelona, La Quinta.
760-564-5353; www.lavenderbistro.com
 

Le Vallauris
385 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. 
760-325-5059; www.levallauris.com 
 

La Spiga Ristorante Italiano
72557 Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
760-340-9318; www.laspigapalmdesert.com
 

Jillian’s
74155 El Paseo, Palm Desert. 
760-776-8242; www.jilliansfinedining.com 
 

Pomme Frite
256 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs. 
760-778-3727; www.pomme-frite.com
 

Spencer’s Restaurant
701 W. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs.
760-327-3446; www.spencersrestaurant.com 
 

Wally’s 
71775 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage.
760-568-9321; www.wallysdesertturtle.com