Best Date Night Restaurants in Forest Hill / West Portal

Zuni is special. It’s that rare combination of exceptionally good food, warm and gracious service and a beautiful, timeless environment where you immediately feel at home. It’s been this way for years and it’s why it is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. This visit reinforced that all over again.

Each course was perfectly placed and presented. A very special meal and dining experience overall. The team were attentive to our timeframe and made sure we made it to our show on time. Truly excellent Michelin style service. Top notch.

My wife and I recently took my sister and her husband, who were visiting from Charlotte, to State Bird Provisions, and it was nothing short of amazing. The food was absolutely exceptional—each dish was a perfect blend of creativity and flavor. My sister and her husband couldn’t stop raving about how unique the food was, especially the bold use of spices. It was a hit with all of us! The ambiance was also fantastic. The space has a warm and inviting vibe that strikes the perfect balance between trendy and comfortable, making it a great spot for both special occasions and casual nights out. What truly elevated our experience, though, was our waiter. He was excellent—extremely friendly, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the menu. He had such a genuine enthusiasm for the food and shared thoughtful recommendations, which we greatly appreciated. At one point, we mentioned we’d heard Ryan Gosling had dined here, and he surprised us by saying he’d actually been Ryan’s waiter! He even told us about the time Ryan came in with Eva Mendes and their two kids. Such a cool story to hear directly from someone who was part of it! State Bird Provisions delivered on every level: amazing food, great atmosphere, and top-notch service. My sister and her husband loved it as much as we did. We’ll definitely be back and can’t recommend it highly enough!

Worth the hype! Experienced a Christmas miracle by snagging the last rez for two on Christmas Eve at Elena’s at 11:30 a.m. Fun seat mates, great staff (thanks Jordan!), delicious craft cocktails, superior ahi tacos and maybe the best Branzino I’ve ever had. My husband loved the pozole - not too spicy. Highly recommend. 💫

Great—as always! The food is consistently good, the ambiance was lively and warm and the server was incredibly attentive.