Trivia question for you: What's the bear's name on the California State flag?

Monarch.

Follow-up question: What do you get when you combine classic San Francisco cuisine with a chef whose resume boasts the French Laundry, the Restaurant at Meadowood and Balboa Café?

The Bear & Monarch, and your newest date night.

The answer to your second question opens on Monday in the shadow of the Transamerica Pyramid at the Loews Regency, and it just might be the perfect FiDi date spot. Check out the slideshow, which definitely errs on the delicious side.

Hey, there you and your date are. Gazing up together at the large bronze-and-glass wall, a visual homage to the city's Gold Rush days. And there you are again, being escorted past gold-splattered concrete columns to your table near a wall patterned to look like rain. Which is presumably an homage to SF summers.

Start off with a cocktail to help the witty banter along. A titular the Bear, which combines walnut and golden raisin-infused rye with sweet vermouth, should do the trick. Tipples will flow, as will conversation. You'll suddenly realize that you haven't even looked at the menu yet. And so you'll do that.

Will you have the clam chowder bowl? Will you opt for a 108-day-aged, 32-ounce côte de bœuf? Trick question, obviously. Both. Because you're having bot—

Anyway, good place.