Where to Go for a Great First Date in San Francisco

Choosing just three restaurants for a great first date in San Francisco is like choosing one place in Nashville to hear country music, one trendy nightspot in Los Angeles, one swanky after-hours club in Manhattan, or one beach in Hawaii - it really is that difficult. San Francisco is one of the gourmet capitals of the world, a place with more restaurants per capita than any other city in the world. Therefore, I undertook this task by narrowing my search parameters to Union Square simply because it is one of the greatest date locations in San Francisco. Sure there are lots of tourists, but the romantic activities in the area are without compare. As your dinner digests, you can wander around Grace Cathedral, stroll Huntington Park or Union Square, pop in to antique shops and luxury boutiques, enjoy the art galleries, or fill up on sourdough bread at Boudin in the Macy's cellar. You're close to the ballet, the symphony, and the opera and are a stone's throw from Chinatown. Basically, a date in this area gives you unlimited opportunities for pre- or post-dinner activities, which changes a first date from just dinner to an evening experience. So, without further ado, here are my three favorite choices for a first date in San Francisco.

First Crush Restaurant, Wine Bar, and Lounge
101 Cyril Magnin St. (at Ellis)
Phone: 415-982-7874
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday 5 p.m.-midnight
Average Entrée Price: $15-30