Philadelphia and New Jersey’s Top 12 Date-Night Destinations

Over the past decade, chef Kevin Yanaga has made a name for himself in Philadelphia’s sushi scene. His latest venture is an intimate Fishtown sushi bar and izakaya that marries classic Japanese ingredients with a fun fusion flare — think soft shell crab bao and maitake maki with yakitori sauce.

Philadelphia’s premier destination for live jazz and Southern-inspired eats makes for an absolutely ideal date night. South welcomes a roster of local and national artists to perform in its warm dining room, while the kitchen turns out inspired takes on classics including hot honey drizzled fried chicken, shrimp over locally milled grits, and vegetarian gumbo.

Named for one of the ancient gates of the Fortress Wall of Seoul, this Korean-American gastropub is a cozy Graduate Hospital corner perfect for sharing small plates and cocktails. A selection of fruit-infused sojus offers couples a chance to sample everything from easy drinking plum and strawberry flavors to a house-made chile variety. With drinking snacks from Korean fried chicken and kimchi fries to large-format offerings including bossam, SouthGate’s menu is made for sharing with your SO.

With Rittenhouse Square views and a timeless brasserie menu, there’s a reason that Parc is always packed with couples enjoying a little piece of Paris in Philadelphia. Whether it’s a third date or a notable anniversary, the perfect way to kick off a meal at Parc is with a bottle of bubbly and an impressive seafood plateau. Don’t miss out on dessert — the pastry team here is world-class.

Forget dinner and a movie — Victor Cafe offers date night with live opera performances. Servers at this longtime South Philadelphia favorite set down plates of veal saltimbocca and chicken piccata before bursting into Verdi and Puccini every 15 minutes throughout the evening.

Fork has been Philadelphia’s big-deal date-night reservation since 1997. It’s no surprise that this Old City institution has been the site of countless proposals — the dining room is effortlessly romantic, the service is spot on, and the new American kitchen is always evolving and innovating.

New Brunswick’s The Frog and the Peach might come from humble beginnings — the space was a newspaper press and a luggage manufacturer — but since 1983, the Dennis Street building has been transformed into a gorgeous place for brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks. The most romantic seats in the house are located in the Garden Room, a light-filled greenhouse space featuring tropical foliage.

This warm leather- and wood-appointed bar and bistro in Hoboken is rich with romantic history. It’s the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the city and has housed everything from a salon to a Prohibition era ice cream parlor. These days, brunch, lunch, and dinner menus lean French with frisée salads, croque madame, and moules frites.

Candlelit dinners might be the go-to when thinking about a romantic night out, but sometimes a raw bar meal right by the beach and a couple of rum cocktails is just the thing. This breezy Asbury Park spot is the place to dig into a hands-on feast of peel n’ eat shrimp, a kettle of snow crab legs, and a flight of Caribbean rums.

Inspired by the wine cellars of Portugal, this Newark restaurant is decked out with stone walls, roaring fireplaces, and no shortage of flickering candles and fine wine. Spanish and Portuguese plates are served with complementary wines from the Iberian Peninsula.

Those looking for a truly old-school night out will be thrilled to discover this hidden steakhouse gem in South Jersey. Seasoned servers shake up frosty martinis while the kitchen turns out pitch-perfect takes on timeless favorites such as oysters Rockefeller, shrimp cocktail, and prime rib.

North Jersey’s special-occasion Italian destination is a family affair. Within the restaurant’s Venetian dining room, diners can sample well-executed Italian-American dishes made with a combination of thoughtfully sourced imported ingredients alongside produce grown in the chef’s garden. Couples looking to splash out can opt for New York strip Piemontese, tagliatelle with lobster, and wild-caught shrimp scampi.