WHY Luxe food in a romantic setting, plus a swell private room for a dinner party. Excellent wine list.

WHAT Hidden in strip mall, Derek’s is Pasadena’s swank secret. Irish-born Derek Dickenson knows what his upscale clientele craves for dinner, and he delivers the goods: seared foie gras with a kumquat marmalade; fresh oysters; beef Wellington; wild salmon with lentils, bacon and a mustard beurre blanc. Intimate nooks and lovely flowers and table settings make this one of the most romantic restaurants in town.

WHO Well-heeled oenophiles.