Verjus is a near-perfect wine bar. This charming Jackson Square spot—from the Cotogna and Quince team—will inevitably transform “just one glass” into a relaxed three-hour dinner over fantastic French food. Lit only by candles, the light emanating from the open kitchen, and the movie-theatre-sized marquee menu, the entire dining room has a dim orangey glow. Bring someone new or that person you bicker with over the dishes to join the couples draped over each other while periodically breaking for a forkful of flawless pâté en croute.

photo credit: Erin Ng

photo credit: Erin Ng

photo credit: Erin Ng

And the pastry-encased meat isn’t the only reason to stop by. Almost everything on the menu is incredible. Charred sausage is stuffed with creamy manchego, the Boursin omelette is silky and rich, and bread is served with slabs of fancy butter you’ll want to smuggle home. There are very few misses here, and even then it’s small things, like inconsistently cooked lentils with the otherwise excellent duck confit.

Online reservations are rare, so try your luck by walking in at 5pm when the wait list opens. You can always wait at the bar and stare deep into your date’s eyes with a glass or two of organic wine.

Food Rundown

Bread & Butter

See that massive knob of butter in the kitchen? It’s all yours. Use all of it to slather each satisfying chewy piece of bread.

photo credit: Erin Ng

Mussels Escabeche

These are simple but delicious. This dish makes us wonder why escabeche isn’t on every plate of mollusks.

photo credit: Erin Ng

Omelette Boursin

Velvety and smooth. Once you slice a knife through the middle, it gracefully falls apart to either side.

photo credit: Erin Ng

Pâté En Croute

Pâté, perfected. That’s all.

photo credit: Erin Ng

Duck Confit

Our only note on this otherwise great dish is that, on occasion, the accompanying lentils can be a tad dry.

photo credit: Taylor Gomez

Soupe de Poisson

The staff might tell you it’s tough to share the soup, but there’s nothing more romantic than splitting this creamy, ruby-red bowl of tomato fish soup with that person you’ve been nervous to see all week. It’ll have your cioppino packing its bags for another bayside city.

photo credit: Erin Ng

Saucisse Manchego

Imagine stuffed crust pizza. Now pretend it’s a sausage and have it ooze manchego. Order two to avoid sharing.

photo credit: Erin Ng

Pain Perdu

If there’s one thing you have to do, it’s end your meal with this slightly caramelized french toast topped with vanilla ice cream. We would be overjoyed to come back and order this and a glass of wine seven days a week.