The Smoking Goat Restaurant

"It’s the fête des mères at French bistro The Smoking Goat, where those looking to skip brunch will be well taken care of. On the menu is crispy octopus with wild arugula and fingerling potatoes, a pan roasted Scottish salmon, and, for dessert, a goat cheese cheesecake. A complimentary Champagne toast and an amuse-bouche will also be served upon seating." - Jackie Bryant

"The Smoking Goat has been around since 2010, and has been the neighborhood’s go-to, date night French spot for years. Dark walls, exposed brick, a chandelier, and an eclectic mix of art make it feel like a speakeasy, only this one serves steak frites. Their duck fat truffle fries are so good you’ll ask your date if you can have the last bite (they’ll say yes, a sign romance is not dead). You’ll both be pleased with entrees like the mussels and chorizo in a tomato broth you’ll want to slurp up with a straw (a biodegradable one, of course), and local swordfish cooked in sauce vierge with crispy fingerlings. Whether you’re getting dinner to define your situationship or dining solo, don't leave before you try the goat cheese cheesecake. If your night is just beginning, let loose next door at Bluefoot Bar, where they have guest DJs on the weekend, strobe lights, smoke machines, and a packed dance floor. " - ligaya malones

"The Smoking Goat has been around since 2010, and has been the neighborhood’s go-to, date night French spot for years. Dark walls, exposed brick, a chandelier, and an eclectic mix of art make it feel like a speakeasy, only this one serves steak frites. Their duck fat truffle fries are so good you’ll ask your date if you can have the last bite (they’ll say yes, a sign romance is not dead). You’ll both be pleased with entrees like the mussels and chorizo in a tomato broth you’ll want to slurp up with a straw (a biodegradable one, of course), and local swordfish cooked in sauce vierge with crispy fingerlings. Whether you’re getting dinner to define your situationship or dining solo, don't leave before you try the goat cheese cheesecake. If your night is just beginning, let loose next door at Bluefoot Bar, where they have guest DJs on the weekend, strobe lights, smoke machines, and a packed dance floor." - Ligaya Malones

"The North Park location is a remodeled craftsman-style home that will feature an open kitchen, custom-built hearth, a chef’s table, fireplace, and a spacious garden lounge, with a wood-fired menu by Sam Deckman." - Candice Woo

"The Smoking Goat Although the Smoking Goat is credited with pioneering a culinary renaissance in a once-sleepy corner of North Park, nothing else about chef Fred Piehl’s flagship restaurant screams “culinary vanguard”—and that’s precisely what devotees love about the place. Regulars come here for the reliably exquisite staples: French onion soup with what’s essentially an open-face grilled cheese sandwich afloat in rich veal broth; duck fat truffle fries with pecorino romano and mustard aioli; beef cheeks à la Bourguignonne with carrots, cioppolini onions, cherry tomatoes, mashed potatoes, and braising jus; and other creations that blend traditional French tastes with sustainable, organic San Diego–sourced ingredients. While dinner at this rustic, romantic spot is hardly the time to eat lightly, if you want to go vegetarian, opt for the indulgent raclette au gratin with fingerling potatoes, cornichons, and toast, along with a salad of poached and raw pears with mixed greens, pistachio pesto, and champagne vinaigrette. And as befits the restaurant’s caprine theme, the goat cheese cheesecake with poached peach and whipped cream is a favorite dessert."