Winners For

Best Romantic Restaurant

Sure, it was named one of OpenTable.com's Most Romantic Restaurants in the United States this year, and in 2011, it got a nod for the same thing by Travel + Leisure magazine, but that recent scuttle isn't news to us — for years, we've known this farmhouse turned eatery, nestled in the historic Farm at South Mountain, is a love fest both in setti...

With its sun-dappled patio, tree-covered bar, and two historic bungalows, it's no wonder Robert and Robin Trick's cozy dining oasis in the heart of Tempe remains as popular as ever (it's celebrating 25 years in business this year). Tuck into a candlelit table on the outdoor patio or around the vintage stone fireplace indoors and enjoy chef Kelly...

For couples who share a love of artisanal pizza, there may not be a more charming place to enjoy it than this 1913 bungalow in the Roosevelt Historic District. Owner, chef, and Tuscan pizzaiolo Guido Saccone not only serves up top-notch wood-fired pies, but luscious pasta and salads as well. And Cibo's (pronounced CHEE-boh's) outdoor patio and i...

Grab your squeeze (and your favorite bottle of wine) and head out to this one-of-a-kind, BYOB restaurant set in a former antiques shop in Central Phoenix. Here, candlelit rooms with hardwood floors and coved ceilings are redolent with the aromas of French and Mediterranean cuisine mixed with traditional American flavors. The menu changes with th...

One eyeful of the surroundings at this fine-dining establishment at The Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, and it's easy to see what may once have inspired the restaurant's namesake, legendary artist Lon Megargee, to call it home in the 1930s. An enchanting patio and an indoor setting of old Arizona charm -- think wood-beamed ceilings, beehive fire...

Housed in a Spanish-style South Mountain mansion built in 1929, this hidden gem, from owner Pat Christofolo and her chef-son Dustin, is a romantic retreat you and your true love may never want to leave. Outside, there are stately trees and a flagstone patio. Inside, a cozy, wood-floored dining area with a classy wooden bar. And everywhere, well-...

Chef Matt Carter's (The Mission, Zinc Bistro) newest restaurant is set in a charming yet sophisticated little 1920s bungalow in Old Town Scottsdale. Serving American cuisine with touches from all over the globe (think Berkshire pork country ribs and duck confit meat balls with foie gras), romantics can enjoy their meals inside rooms decked out i...

This farmhouse turned eatery, nestled in the historic Farm at South Mountain, is a love fest both in setting and cuisine. And its rural tranquility makes a lush backdrop for guests as well as chef Greg LaPrad, whose daily menu of contemporary American farm cuisine includes ingredients harvested at next-door Maya's Farm. Whether clinking glasses ...

There's a reason Houstonians continue to host their weddings and celebrate their anniversaries at this beloved institution — and it's not just the verdant views onto the lush bayou or the romantic, lodge-like feel imparted by the wood-beamed, fireplace-warmed structure. The food is amazing, too, as is the warm, high-end service. Rainbow Lodge of...

This cozy, elegant inn in the heart of Washington is ideal for a slow-paced dinner in the springtime, when you can indulge in rich American fare and thoughtful cocktails in the lush, secluded garden patio, one of the loveliest in the area.

Fresh, local ingredients enliven every dish in chef Cathal Armstrong's dining room. The five- and nine-course tasting menus are gastronomic adventures.

Everything about this bustling Baltimore restaurant telegraphs earthiness, from the deceptively dilapidated exterior -- it's housed in a former mill -- to the Chesapeake Bay oysters, sweet potato dumplings served with pork fatback and buttermilk sorbet that arrive at your table. Rich, homey and locally sourced, dinner at Woodberry Kitchen hits a...

From the outside, Palena looks like any other neighborhood spot. On the warm and rich inside, chef/owner Frank Ruta's mix of American and Continental flavors proves that it's a cut above the rest.

Delicate presentations of contemporary American cuisine sparkle in this sconce-lighted dining room.

A dinner for two in the four-star enclave of chef Patrick O'Connell is roughly the price of a weekend getaway - the tab nearly always nicks $600 - so it's a good thing the food is as transportive. For gastronomic tourists, the surprising fare and superlative service make this a destination worthy of the biggest celebrations.

A lavish makeover upgraded the Bombay Club's elegant and understated dining room. The Indian cuisine is among the best in town.

Bryan Voltaggio may not have outfitted his namesake Frederick restaurant in oh-so-trendy leather banquettes and dim Edison bulbs, but the spare decor proves a refreshing change. Perhaps it's because luxury seems reserved for the food, sourced down to the last cocoa nib; choose from a four-course menu thick with oysters and foie gras or indulge w...

The Mandarin Oriental's modern dining room pairs fine wines with meticulously crafted contemporary American dishes. The perennial four-star restaurant carries a hefty price tag, making it especially well-suited for very special occasions.

Bondir is the culinary equivalent of a honeymoon period: All courses are evocative, each portion aims to please and you’re never bored. Every taste leaves you curious—but also wondering, how long can this last? Well, indefinitely, considering chef Jason Bond’s daily revised entrees of enchantingly constructed seasonal ingredients. Focus on the f...

Let's put it this way: you'd better be pretty chummy with your date if you plan to dine at Ten Tables' JP outpost — they're not kidding about the 10 tables part, so it gets real cozy real fast. While you're playing footsie, huddle up to the chef's table to watch 'em make your shaved-fennel salad. And if atrocious wordplay and impeccably crafted ...

Housed in a 115 year old, 52-room mansion and topped by Detroit's coolest lounge, the third floor Ghost Bar, The Whitney offers meals to savor and visits to remember. Its pristine gardens are a special place for outdoor dining, cocktails and garden parties.

In all of San Diego, there is no other restaurant like it. Opened in 1941, the multi-awarding winning Marine Room Restaurant's spectacular oceanfront views, exemplary service, and outstanding wine list makes it San Diego's premier dining destination. Join the award-winning Executive Chef, Bernard Guillas, and Chef de Cuisine, Ron Oliver, on a cu...

The origins of The Scootch can be confusing, but restaurant consultant Will Bauer claims he originated the Baltimore sandwich. Who knew we had a special one? Bauer says he named the sub after a local restaurant worker, Dominic (aka Dominooch, hence Scooth), who worked with him. We particularly like the version at Luigi’s in Hampden—a thick mound...

One-of-a-kind ambiance, award-winning cuisine, uncompromising service and the region's best wine collection are the hallmarks of The Firehouse. For fine dining, business entertaining and private parties and special events for 20 to 300 The Firehouse is a perennial favorite. The tree-canopied, old-world Courtyard is Sacramento's quintessential wa...

Pier W lays annual claim to best seafood in Cleveland, but the food is only half of the appeal at this perennial favorite. Pier W means romance on the town, whether it's the beautiful views or white-tablecloth treatment. Simply bring the name up and you're bound to hear stories of someone's engagement or birthday, anniversary, or first date. It'...

If you can’t make it to Paris, this is the next best thing. Take the elevator 11 stories above the Strip, and make sure to ask for a seat by a window. Sunset or twilight is the best time to enjoy spectacular views while dining on classic French cuisine.

What says love more than house-cured meats and adventurous Italian from a James Beard nominated chef? Pair it with a meticulously curated wine list and you're likely to fall head over heals.

We all need a little romance in our increasingly hectic, electronic, and plastic lives. To escape the constant rush of the world, try an evening under the fairy lights of Cecconi's, located in the enchanting courtyard of the Soho Beach House. It begins at the bar over a champagne cocktail or a barrel-aged rum old-fashioned ($14). There's no hurr...

Down an unremarkable street, beside a row of unremarkable storefronts, is a remarkable restaurant. From the unassuming street that runs beside the Gateway Plaza, peer into the window of Serafina Waterfront Trattoria and see a working kitchen. Tuck down a narrow path and you'll enter a warm candlelit room with just a few seats that leads to a pat...