Date night: Zuni, Delfina, NoPa or Bix?

[mofo313]

Never been to any of these places and I'd love some help on where to go for date night. We both love food and with the crappy weather craving some italian or "comfort" food.

Thanks!

[DrBehavior]

O.K. for misleading us and making us think that this was going to be the romantic, love-filled date of the Century - do not pass go - instead, you get to spend the evening at Max's Opera Cafe listening to their supposed entertainment :))

[mofo313]

We ended up at Zuni on Friday. Had the heirloom tomato soup w creme fraiche, an assortment of oysters, the ricotta gnocchi, roast chicken for two and a bottle of Ici/La Bas Pinot Noir. It was delicious all around, we didn't come close to finishing the chicken (until we got home and dug into the leftovers.) All in all it was a great experience, the service was very good--the waiter did a great job with the wine rec and was extremely helpful throughout.

Thanks for everyone's help, we'll be visiting the other places on here before too long.

[grishnackh]

Thanks for the report back! I am glad you guys had a great date night.

[mofo313]

Thanks again to everyone for their help last time around. Looking for a special place to celebrate an engagement (gasp!) this weekend. Definitely more romantic in focus--not looking for Danko/TFL but somewhere we could enjoy a nice night of food, wine, chat, etc...

Thinking Bix based on the above but absolutely open to others.

[whiner]

I wouldn't go to NoPa. At least not downstairs. It is LOUD downstairs. Pretty loud upstairs, too. I like the food, though...

I hear lots of good things about Bix. Never been, though.

Delfina is great, although I don't think it is particularly romantic.

Not a huge fan of Zuni.

[mofo313]

Wow thanks for all the feedback on this. It's definitely not a first date, just looking for a nice dinner at a new place and these were sort of top of our "yet to visit" list. All of these places have been highly recommended by friends but choosing is pretty tough. We're not super dead-set on a dark, candle-lit dinner but definitely don't want any screaming kids or tourists in sweatpants and fanny packs joining us for dinner.

Looks like Zuni & Bix are the two to look at so far.

[whiner]

If you want somewhere romantic but not like candle-lit or anything you could try Fringale or Aziza. A16 is a little trendier (by SF standards) than either of those but I love it. Chapeau! if you want a real Parisian bistro type place. And, while I have twice had somewhat cold service there, and twice had to send back the seared ahi because it came out medium-rare, I would still reccomend Piperade (the goat cheese and ham terrine appetizer by itself is worth a visit).

Not to confuse you any more, obviously ;-)

[Lori SF]

Zuni is closed Monday. Delfina is the more lively noisy of them all.

[DrBehavior]

We took our daughter and son-in-law to Bix for their engagement and it was truly a wonderful evening. The food and the atmosphere combined make for a lovely evening. Zuni, on the other hand, has good food; however, I find it too bright and too noisy for a romantic date evening.

[Tay]

I was thinking the same thing, although I don't think I would choose any of the listed places for a first or second date...

[Frosty Melon]

Maybe it's just me, but when I hear the phrase "date night" it's referring to a somewhat rare night out for a married or otherwise devoted couple.

[meggie t]

I completely agree. I would much rather go to Bix for their food and supper club atmosphere than go to Zuni - food is good but atmosphere is lacking.

[Windy]

I'd choose Bix too, even though prices have gone up quite a bit. Stick to classics--marrow bones, steak tartares, martinis. NoPa is VERY loud, and Delfina is only romantic late, after the crowds leave.

I'm not a big fan of Zuni, but the upstairs seating is more intimate, if that's your choice.

[ccbweb]

For "comfort food" at least for me, I'd go Zuni and the roast chicken. I understand from others that the gnocchi at Zuni is quite good, though I haven't had it. I also preferred the drinks at Zuni's bar to those at Bix even though Bix looks like it should win in that category.

Bix is a nice choice, and the interior of that place will make you forget the weather outside. Very pretty restaurant. My suggestion there is to stick to the hor's dourves and first courses and skip the entrees.

All told, my wife and I will be back at Zuni before we're back at Bix.

[Tay]

I agree with you. Only caveat: Zuni can be a little noisy, but the food is really good.

[atjsfo]

I disagree. The zuni chicken was a big yawn to me. I can roast a chicken easily, I don't get what the fuss is about.

But I love the zuni ambience. It seems like a good choice for a date night restaurant from that perspective.

[ccbweb]

Many don't seem to get what the fuss is about, which I, personally don't get. It was easily the best roast chicken I've had. I'm a fairly accomplished cook and I, too, can make a pretty mean chicken. To me, the Zuni chicken is one of the perfect examples of what a restaurant can really do...they can take the time and give the attention that it's hard to do at home and they have a wood burning oven at a rocking temperature. For me and my wife, the chicken was near perfection...and perhaps it was perfect the night we had it. I also found the rest of the menu a delight in simple and restrained.

I agree about the ambiance (minus the amazingly loud table next to us most of the night...that had nothing to do with acoustics...just rudeness).

[Joan Kureczka]

Was just at Bix for the first time last week. The mains are huge. My brined kurobata pork chop was great, and I brought half of it home. My dining partner was less enthused about the burger that the waiter had gushed over.

My inclination would also be to stick to the hors d'oeuvres and firsts. The crab rolls -- the reason I had selected the place was I'd had them at a charity event -- are delicious. The bar does look good, and I had the best made kir royal ever there (most places make them too sweet or with chambord rather than cassis).

[ccbweb]

How could I have forgotten to mention the crab rolls? You're right, they were delicious. I was impressed with how much lemon flavor they managed to get into their aioli while still maintaining the balance.

[Paul H]

NoPa for comfort food. At least you won't have overly high expectations!

[grishnackh]

Bix takes the prize for most romantic of the four, but they are all nice places for a date.

[mofo313]

Paul--I'm not sure what you mean by "overly high expectations"

can you clarify?

I've heard great things about all these places and figured the 'hounds could help me decide.

[Paul H]

The food at NoPa is very good, but it is not the least bit surprising or edgy. It's comfort food. Tomato soup, rotisserie chicken, pork chops, "grass fed" hamburger... comfort food.

As a counter-example Bix has Potato Pillows with Crème Fraîche and American Sturgeon Caviar, and Fresh Maine Lobster Spaghetti with Lobster Cream. Not comfort food, though it might make you comfortable.

[ccbweb]

I just had the two items you mention from Bix last week. Loved the first, wasn't as enthused about the second. Loved the first a whole lot actually, now that I think about it.

[mofo313]

Okay I got it now. I wasn't sure if it was a dig against NoPa or what. Thanks!