CW’s columnist scouts the best restaurants for Beijing’s dating season

As we get deeper into the ‘ber (or ‘burrr’) months, it seems like everyone is doing their best to find someone to hibernate through the winter with. Lately, not a day goes by that I don't get a call or a SMS from a pal telling me about a date they're going on, or asking where to take a potential love interest. This sudden onslaught of crazy daters begs the all-important question: What does the place you pick for a date say about your feelings for the other person?

If you're trying to play it cool or are testing the waters for a move from friendship to something more flirty, restaurants like The Tree (6415-1954), Rickshaw (6500-4330), Panino Teca (6416-1416), and The Vineyard Cafe(6402-7961) are all safely ambiguous. Will Yorke from the Vineyard says, "If you want a relaxed date atmosphere, come here. We're very much a casual type of place, and people who come on dates here are trying to achieve different results from those who go to flashy 5-star hotel restaurants." These casual and generally hopping eateries give you lots of flexibility; if it goes poorly - no worries, it was just a chat over pizza and a panini. For bolder date-goers, places like Dali Courtyard (8404-1430) and No Name Restaurant (6618-6061) in Houhai have excellent romantic mood lighting, and are just off-the-beaten-path enough to be intriguing. Taking a date here shows you know your way around town, and want to impress them without going over-the-top. The extremely confident can head to Kiss Kiss (6403-7626) - the spot that gives you a free cow tongue for a ten-second smooch. Serious romantics avoid the gimmicks, though, and head over to Brasserie Flo (6595-5135), which, according to manager Jimmy Loh is "the closest you can get to Paris in Beijing." Jimmy can also set up a private proposal room perfect for popping the question (min RMB 300/person, more for roses and a violinist) for those who want to hibernate with their date for life.

In the end, it's the person that really matters. If someone asks you on a date (no matter where to), it means they want to spend time with you. All of the overanalyzing is good fun, but just don’t go overboard with it.