Six Romantic Restaurants in San Mateo County for Every Budget

San Mateo County consists of a variety of cities with food from all over the world. No matter what you crave on Valentine's Day, you can find it in San Mateo. Here are five restaurants I have personally experienced that I would recommend for your romantic night out.

John Bentley's - Two locations in Redwood City and Woodside.

My husband took me to the Woodside location on my birthday and it was tucked away on the main road. The parking lot was filled with expensive cars but the atmosphere inside was quite casual and cozy. We were simply wearing shirts and jeans and the hostess seated us quickly. Reservations are generally required but calling ahead by a day is usually enough. The food is American and the portions are generous. My favorite dish was a well cooked sweetmeat. The entrees are generally under $30 and I consider this a good value.

Creola in San Carlos

This is a non-descript looking building that looks like a real estate office on El Camino, but once you walk inside you will find that it is very quiet and inviting. The food is quite interesting. You can have some crawdad hushpuppies or alligator medallions on certain days. Most of the time you do not need reservations, and on Mondays they offer a fixed price three course meal for $50. This is a great place to try some flavors you have never tried before.

Sultana in Menlo Park

Sultana is my favorite mediterranean restaurant in the area. My husband says that he could eat the free bread there all day long. This restaurant is also on El Camino Real, but parking is plenty in the lot behind the restaurant. Generally you do not need reservations and the entrees are under $20. The decor is ethnic and the lights are dim. This restaurant seats more people than the other two so when it fills up it could get a little noisy.

Navio at Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton

This restaurant is on top of a cliff and overlooks the Pacific Ocean so it is probably best to have a meal here right before sunset. Once it gets dark you will see nothing at all. I have only been to their Sunday Brunch and it is the most extravagant buffet I have ever been to. We have not had a simple dinner there, but even the buffet had exquisitely crafted duck breast and dozens of types of truffles. If you have time to drive to the coast then this is a restaurant you must visit. The Sunday Brunch is around $88 per person and dinner differs with seasonal menus. We did make a reservation a week ahead for our anniversary, but for Valentine's day you may need to reserve earlier. Right now Navio also has an Inside the Kitchen program where you can take a cooking class with top chefs!

Kabul Afghan in San Mateo

This small restaurant is in an unassuming strip mall next to a H&R Block, but the atmosphere is casual and private. My favorite dish at this place is a big plate of rice covering big chunks of lamb sprinkled with carrots. The head waiter will also tell you the history of the place if you ask him. The service is always excellent and each table has small tea candles. Entrees are anywhere from $14 to $18 and they are seriously humongous. You can probably eat half and take half home for another meal.

Karakade in Redwood City

This small Thai restaurant just opened up a little over a year ago. The Thai ice tea is excellent and almost every curry is delicious. The walls are nicely colored and it is very small and cozy. The only downside is that service is very slow because they only have one lady running the kitchen, but the prices are excellent if you are on a budget; the most expensive entree will set you back only around $12. We have never made a reservation for this place, but it can easily fill up.

So there you have it. These are some of my best suggestions for Valentine's Day if you happen to be in the mid-peninsula!