"Just one glass of wine at this candle-lit Jackson Square spot can easily turn into a three-hour dinner. That’s because Verjus (from the team behind Cotogna and Quince) is the city’s most charming wine bar. The menu of fantastic French dishes sets this place apart. From a silky Boursin omelette to a charred sausage that oozes warm manchego, there’s no wrong order here. But know that a dinner here is incomplete without the pain perdu for dessert. It will wipe every other french toast you've ever had from memory. If there's a wait, you can always spend time at the bar, staring deep into your date’s eyes, breaking contact for a sip of a low-intervention red. For a prime dinnertime table, aim to make a reservation at least a week in advance. If you’re okay with an early dinner, try showing up at 4pm right when the kitchen opens to secure a walk-in. Verjus also serves lunch Thursday through Saturday with plenty of same-day tables. While you’ll only have access to a short tasting menu during those times, you’ll get to choose from among their best dishes, including the pain perdue, boursin omelette, and pâté en croute." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez