Lemaire

The Jefferson Hotel
101 W. Franklin St.
649-4629
lemairerestaurant.com

Second Place: Acacia Mid-Town

Third Place: Julep’s New Southern Cuisine

From the moment the valet whisks away your car (it’s complimentary — just ask your server to take care of it) to the short walk through the Jefferson Hotel’s impressive interior, Lemaire hits the high notes before you’ve even arrived. Once there, the faux marble columns in the bar area, white tablecloths and intricately complex white trim only enhance chef Walter Bundy’s consistently magnificent food. Try starting with Hog Island oysters and move on to rum-scented scallops with parsnip-coconut ravioli or a coffee-and-brown sugar-glazed pork chop. End with the Meyer lemon crème brûlée and the evening will lead to … who knows? Acacia Mid-Town’s dining experience, too, is seamless, with dishes prepared by its nationally recognized chef, Dale Reitzer. Julep’s New Southern Cuisine is moving, so wait until the end of May for a romantic evening in a larger, more sophisticated space on East Grace Street.