With summer winding down and the crisp fall season quickly approaching, you may be looking for a romantic spot to take your special someone. ICO Vista Station in Draper, Utah, has you covered with a look at some of our favorite romantic restaurants in the area, including the French “La Caille,” Utah’s-own Charleston Draper, and the surf-and-turf specialty spot, Carvers Steaks and Seafood.
La Caille
When you think of romantic restaurants near Draper, Utah, La Caille—French for “The Quail”— is probably one of the first that comes to mind. Opened in 1975 and situated on 20 acres near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, this restaurant features European cuisine, exquisite views, its very own vineyard, and 18th-century-themed rooms for special events.
The menu at La Caille is straight out of a French bistro. Make the most of the offerings and start with some escargot a la bourguignonne, also known as snails cooked with parsley and served with garlic crostini and a lemon beurre blanc sauce. For the less adventurous, they offer a charcuterie board featuring locally sourced meats and cheeses. Entrees include a wide variety of meats, including fish, lamb, beef, and lobster, any of which can be paired with a bottle of wine from the Chateau La Caille Vineyard and Winery. And for dessert, choose from the black sesame profiteroles (cream puffs), Madagascar Vanilla Crème Brûlée, or Utah Chocolate tasting, which includes a variety of chocolate mousses, flourless chocolate cake, and feuilletine crunch.
The Charleston Draper
The Charleston Draper has a local history, located in a pre-Victorian brick house built in 1878 by Joshua Terry, who worked as an Indian interpreter for LDS Presidents Brigham Young and John Taylor. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, with brunch on the weekends, and was named OpenTable’s Diners Choice Winner in 2019.
The menu at The Charleston Draper varies on the time of day, but all of them include appetizers, entrees, and desserts. For your romantic dinner, why not try the lobster mac and cheese, made with white cheddar, parmesan, and gruyere cheeses over ziti pasta and fresh lobster, or a six-ounce filet Mignon served with mushrooms and a cognac cream sauce. Pair with a bottle of red, white, or sparkling wine, or try a house specialty margarita or caipirinha. Dessert options include a pear, apple, and cranberry crisp, seasonal Italian gelato, and specialty evening cakes and tarts inspired by head chef and owner Marco Silva’s love of sweets.
Carvers Steaks and Seafood
For a more casual—yet still romantic—dining experience, check out Carvers Steaks and Seafood. The restaurant was founded on the idea that you shouldn’t have to choose between meat or seafood, offering surf and turf in a recently updated venue.
The menu at Carvers features a wide array of options, from the grilled brie starter to the lemon caper artichoke chicken. Traditional surf and turf options include a coconut-encrusted halibut and the maple cider pork chop. You also have the option to add one of seven different “styles” to your steak, including Oscar Style, which adds crab, asparagus, and a house-made béarnaise sauce, or BV style, adding burgundy garlic demi-glace, bacon, tomato, mushroom, and crumbles of bleu cheese. The in-house bar offers specialty cocktails and wine pairings, or if you and your sweetheart aren’t the imbibing types, try a flavored Italian soda or Bundaberg Ginger Beer.
Now that you’ve got some idea of the romantic restaurants in the Draper, Utah, area, you can start planning your next date night. And if you’re in the market for a new Draper apartment, contact ICO Vista Station to schedule a tour.
