Food
The Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Restaurants in Every State
It comes as no surprise that February 14 just happens to be one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. In fact, almost one quarter of the population will dine out on Cupid’s favorite holiday according to the National Restaurant Association. Not sure where to go? We’ve identified a very special restaurant in each state that will ensure your evening is filled with delectable cuisine—and a taste of romance.
Alabama
Valentine’s Day guests can enjoy a taste of genuine southern hospitality at Cotton Row Restaurant, in Huntsville, featuring Chef James Boyce’s modern American cuisine in a setting that exudes comfort and elegance. Choose between the very intimate Wine Cellar or one of the Loft rooms that are designed to provide a more private and personal experience. Diners are offered a champagne toast, roses, and chocolate-covered strawberries, to name a few romantic delights. Menu highlights will include black truffle pasta, roasted Gulf fish, and dry-aged beef.
Alaska
At Seven Glaciers Restaurant, a luxurious mountain-top hideaway with panoramic views of glaciers and the Pacific Ocean, you’ll be offered signature Alaskan entrées in a romantic atmosphere. Your experience begins with a tram ride from the Hotel Alyeska to the restaurant, which is 2,300 feet above sea level. Specials for Valentine’s Day include a five-course meal that features seasonal fish, house-made pasta, and a mousse bar. Be sure to save room for its baked Alyeska dessert, the restaurant’s rendition of classic baked Alaska. You’ll also want to check out these 14 dreamiest adventures for couples.
Arizona
Set along the banks of the majestic river, Cress on Oak Creek at the famed L’Auberge de Sedona hotel offers a romantic dining experience perfect for a Valentine’s Day celebration. Boasting candle-lit tables and an interior that truly sets the mood, couples can enjoy dishes by executive chef Michael O’Dowd, who draws upon the earth as inspiration for his ingredient-focused dishes. His special Valentines’ Day menu features wild mushroom bisque with pistachio rolled bleu cheese marble, poached lobster tail & Kobe beef filet, 72-hour marinated game hen, and line-caught Steelhead & Diver scallops.
Arkansas
Located inside Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis, the Bourbon Street Steakhouse Grill is a culinary gem of the Arkansas Delta. With its intimate ambiance and delectable menu, the restaurant is the perfect place to share an evening with your Valentine. The menu is an eclectic mix of Cajun and Creole-inspired dishes, a favorite is the lollipop pork chop, glazed with a Smokey Mountain moonshine and maple syrup. Finish with its signature Bananas Foster cheesecake; it’s perfect for sharing.
California
The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford, offers a fine dining experience from one of the best vantage points in Napa Valley. With 11 consecutive Michelin Stars, Executive Chef Robert Curry’s inspired cuisine reflects the natural diversity and rich seasonal produce available in the region. Ingredients are sourced largely from local and regional purveyors and are complemented by one of most extensive wine cellars in the valley. Feast on delightful appetizers such as sautéed foie gras with pineapple and spiced cashews, and main courses including bacon-wrapped veal with Yukon gold potatoes or Liberty Farm duck with apples, walnuts, currants, and cider sauce.
Colorado
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs recently introduced new Chef de Cuisine Max Robbins, who creates contemporary European cuisine inspired by the seasons. Set in a classically elegant ambiance with enchanting mountain views, the Broadmoor’s Penrose Room was recently named Best Historic Restaurant in Conjunction with a Historic Hotel by the National Trust for Historic Preservation/Historic Hotels of America. On Valentine’s Day, don’t miss the “Chocolate Experience” featuring three decadent chocolate desserts: Milk Chocolate & Passion Fruit Parfait with Hazelnut Feuilletine, Dark Chocolate & Bergamot Marquis, and White Chocolate and Huckleberry Panna Cotta. Find out the nine Valentine’s Day ideas long-time couples swear by.
Connecticut
Ensconced in a beautiful 19th-century Victorian manor house set on three acres of garden and lawn, Homestead Inn – Thomas Henkelmann, Greenwich, is an exquisite boutique hotel located in the prestigious Belle Haven residential area. Its contemporary French restaurant is overseen by renowned Chef Thomas Henkelmann, who along with his wife Theresa, founded the Inn in 1997. Begin your Valentine’s Day feast with lobster bisque or smoked salmon, followed by domestic rack of lamb with a tapenade and herb crust or grilled swordfish with artichoke puree, baby vegetables, and balsamic reduction sauce.
Delaware
More than a restaurant, the Green Room in Wilmington’s iconic Hotel DuPont, is an experience in grandeur and the perfect place for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner date. With an atmosphere right out of The Great Gatsby, luxury and sophistication are on the menu along with unforgettable, seasonally inspired French cuisine. Savory appetizers include crab cakes with house-made remoulade, and for main dishes, you can’t go wrong with the pan-seared tuna glazed with apple pomegranate vinaigrette and fennel or roasted duck breast with farro risotto.
Florida
At Spencer’s by the Sea at The Reach Resort in Key West, you’ll find beach views coupled with a can’t-miss menu of refined steak dishes and fresh, local seafood. Guests can enjoy a candlelit meal on the outdoor veranda with the sound of crashing waves and a backdrop of swaying palms. For those looking to pop the question on Valentine’s Day, the resort’s newly launched “Proposal Package” comes with private dinner at Spencer’s and a custom sand sculpture.
Georgia
The Rice House Restaurant in Adairsville is housed in a 19th-century farmhouse that was carefully relocated from nearby Rome. The restaurant will be hosting two Valentine’s themed dinners on February 16 and 17 with heart-racing fare including tempura fried okra with hot pepper mayo, a Rice House charcuterie featuring country paté, southern smash, salchichon, and local cheeses, cornbread-crawfish crusted trout, and smoked lamb chops.
Hawaii
Sitting on the Big Island’s volcanic coastline, Kamuela Provision Company at the Hilton Waikoloa Village is rated one of the most romantic restaurants in Hawaii by OpenTable. Reserve the private chef’s table dining experience for a customized five-course menu including items such as fresh ahi tataki and a ginger-infused Hawaiian monchong. Although with the 180-degree views of the Kohala Coast and spectacular sunsets, you may not even pay attention the food.
Idaho
Located in the Lake Tower at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, Beverly‘s glass-enclosed restaurant provides incredible views of Lake Coeur d’Alene, named by National Geographic as one of the top five most beautiful lakes in the world. Try an elk chop or Chilean sea bass with prawns washed down with a bottle of wine from the restaurant’s cellar, billed as the largest private wine collection in the northwest with more than 14,000 bottles. We love these winter date night ideas that will keep you warm and toasty.
Illinois
One of the most celebrated fine dining venues on Chicago’s North Shore, The English Room at the Deer Path Inn is the ideal setting for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day dinner. Enjoy British classics with a twist, including almond-crusted Dover sole and rack of lamb with Jerusalem artichoke and goat cheese potato purée in a quietly regal setting.
Indiana
The most romantic day of the year calls for extra-special treatment and the French Lick Springs Hotel in the town of French Lick, won’t disappoint. From February 9 to 14, treat your sweetheart to an overnight stay and receive a dinner for two at your choice of resort restaurant. You can’t go wrong at its 1875: The Steakhouse, with its classic fare and intimate atmosphere. There’s even a curried cauliflower steak for the vegetarian in your life.
Iowa
The menu at Cobble Hill Eatery and Dispensary in Cedar Rapids changes seasonally, and for V-Day you’re looking at smoked popcorn grits and barrel-aged hot sauce jus. Chef and co-owner Andy Schumacher encourages sustainable food practice in the restaurant, which itself is made of restored brick walls, floors of salvaged wood found in a barn, and tables from floor joists from what was the community’s oldest home.
Kansas
Food-savvy Kansans are enamored with Harry’s Restaurant in Manhattan, which features no less than 15 succulent appetizers, eight soups and salads, and 16 entrees. Bruschetta is a delicious favorite among the antipasto items. It’s situated inside the Wareham Hotel and takes its name from the hotel’s founder, Harry Pratt Wareham.
Kentucky
Nestled in the spectacular landscape of the beautiful surrounding horse farms, The Kentucky Castle hotel in Versailles offers a truly special Valentine’s experience. The Castle Farms Restaurant takes farm-to-table to a whole new level by considering not only their produce but even the soil it was grown in. From February 10 to 15, diners will be treated to a special Valentine’s Day including caviar crostini, fried oysters, and mushroom tarts. Making a trip of it? Tour the nearby horse farms and distilleries for a weekend you and your sweetie will never forget.
Louisiana
Serving eclectic cuisine out of its 225-year-old Creole cottage on Rue Dauphine in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Bayona welcomes guests into its secluded courtyard and intimate dining rooms. Helmed by Chef Susan Spicer, Bayona’s culinary team crafts a sumptuous fixed price menu for Valentine’s Day, perfectly paired with wines from an extensive cellar collection. Samples from their regular menu include eggplant caviar as an appetizer, cream of garlic soup and sautéed redfish, peppered lamb loin, or veal sweetbreads.
Maine
At Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, just ten minutes from Portland, you’ll find the intimate Sea Glass Restaurant. Chef Andrew Chadwick’s Valentine’s menu will treat guests to an extravagant dining experience with local ingredients, think: local oysters, lamb, and scallops. The spectacular ocean views are all you need to complete the romantic evening.
Maryland
The Magdalena, located inside Baltimore’s The Ivy Hotel is elegant without being stuffy. Dine on house smoked salmon with horseradish panna cotta, dill mayonnaise, and American caviar. Or sample the venison loin au poivre or five spiced eggplant dumplings. Couples can share such decadent desserts as Tahitian vanilla creme brulee or apple, raisin and almond strudel. Can’t get a sitter? Here are perfect date night ideas for parents of young children.
Massachusetts
Located in the heart of Harvard Square, The Charles Hotel is home to two acclaimed restaurants. Enjoy a four-course pairing menu at Chef Michael Pagliarini’s newest venture, Benedetto. Don’t miss the Antipasti San Valentino, a grand antipasti platter meant to be shared. Or head to Henrietta’s Table’s where you can indulge in the new dessert menu that is the perfect sweet ending to Valentine’s Day dinner. Try the araguani chocolate budino with honey crunch, brûléed quince, and caramel gelato, upside down maple pear cake, or chocolate bread pudding.
Michigan
The historic Lady of the House in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood is perfect for date night as the menu often features meals for two—not to mention the roaring fireplace that was made for romance. The menu demonstrates a passion for knowledge and technique, with special emphasis on freshness and creativity. Mouthwatering appetizers include steak or tuna tartare, while entrees such as prime rib for two or whole-roasted chicken are hard to resist.
Minnesota
With a name that translates to “abounding with fish,” Pescara in Rochester goes to great lengths to serve the most sustainable, line-caught fish available. Wild Alaskan halibut, wild Alaskan, Scottish, or Atlantic salmon, Hawaiian Ahi tuna, Costa Rican mahi mahi, and Icelandic Arctic char are just some of the options that are shipped in from around the world.
Mississippi
With 14 booths, The Alluvian will feel like a private hideaway for you and your date. Located in the historic Delta town of Greenwood, the charming restaurant serves Southern classics to tempt your palate including seafood gumbo, fried green tomatoes with jumbo lump crabmeat, Delta catfish cakes or Cajun shrimp and grits. Bread pudding with bourbon caramel is a lusciously rich way to end the meal.
Missouri
Osage Restaurant is the cornerstone dining experience at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, the top-ranked resort in the Midwest as named by Travel + Leisure. Featuring upscale regional cuisine in a stunning dining room with sweeping Ozark Mountain views, Osage Restaurant is a fascinating destination where guests can linger long after their meal. Only-in-Missouri menu items include the seared bison fondue and hearty elk sausage, potato and kale soup. After getting your fill of Ozarks-inspired appetizers, Valentine’s Day worthy main dishes include a 28-day aged filet, pan seared halibut, and grilled rack of lamb. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Ozark mud pie.
Montana
Pompey’s Grill, located in the historic Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks, aspires to envelop guests in a warm, elegant atmosphere. Don’t miss Pompey’s Grill‘s signature Manilla clams, fresh Manilla clams steamed in a red curry coconut lime broth with fresh basil and mint. If they don’t put your date in an amorous mood, we don’t know what will! Be sure to browse this Valentine’s Day gift guide so you don’t show up empty-handed to dinner.
Nebraska
The Grey Plume in Omaha focuses on seasonally driven contemporary American fare with an emphasis on locally grown produce and livestock. Duck ravioli or Steelhead trout are delicious starters and the homemade buttermilk agnolotti or Beaufort mahi-mahi are too good to pass up. Can’t make up your mind what to order? Try the four-, five- or eight-course tasting menu.
Nevada
With stunning floor-to-ceiling windows and striking views of mountains, pines, and glistening sapphire Lake Tahoe, Edgewood Restaurant is hard to beat. Diners can watch the sun set over the mountains surrounding the lake while enjoying seared sea bass, tiger shrimp, crushed fingerling potatoes, snap peas, lobster bisque and herb crusted rack of Colorado lamb with asparagus. Edgewood Restaurant was recently selected as one of the 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2017 by OpenTable diners.
New Hampshire
The Bedford Village Inn Restaurant in Bedford will be serving a special four-course prix-fixe dinner in their AAA Four Diamond-Rated restaurant—be sure to ask for a table by one of its many fireplaces when you make your reservation. Sit back and relax in the warm atmosphere with a handcrafted winter cocktail before indulging in regionally sourced cuisine including Cape Cod oysters, pan-roasted Scottish Salmon, and local mushroom and ricotta lasagna.
New Jersey
Couples don’t need to wait until the summer for a reason to visit the New Jersey Shore. Stone Harbor’s Sax at The Reeds is offering a prix-fixe dinner February 9 to 16 with a wine pairing. Starters include grilled octopus or beef tartar, and guests can select such entrees as grilled lobster tail with risotto and romanesco or filet with latkes, asparagus and bordelaise.
New Mexico
Even the name Guilded Age Dining Room sounds romantic. With dimmed lighting inside, the view of lights that swoop from tree to tree on the nearby Plaza Park in Las Vegas New Mexico is breathtaking. Begin with a classic spinach and artichoke dip, then select from a number of tantalizing entrées including grilled ribeye with rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes and horseradish sauce. These are the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts for every stage of a relationship.
New York
At the Aurora Inn Dining Room, couples are able to cozy up in front of an original fireplace. The dining room’s location on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake in Aurora guarantees that almost every meal is enhanced with gorgeous sunset views. Executive Chef Patrick Higgins serves locally sourced, award-winning cuisine with a farm-to-table focus. There are numerous must-try options on the menu: carrot latkes with raisin, red onion, and hazelnut, a local pear chopped salad, grilled beef tenderloin or hand-made pasta.
North Carolina
One of only 62 Forbes Five Star restaurants in the world, Herons in Cary, North Carolina, is the signature restaurant of The Umstead Hotel and Spa. Led by Executive Chef Steven Greene, Herons offers dynamic, decadent and refined American cuisine inspired by the rich natural beauty of its region. Pastry Chef Jonathan Fisher recently joined the team and is a vet of the famed French Laundry. Menu highlights include tuna with iberico, satsuma, egg white caviar, winter roots, onion consommé or beef with black garlic, parsnip, chestnut polenta and Brussels sprouts.
North Dakota
Luxury meets western charm at the historic Rough Riders Hotel in the center of Medora. The hotel’s dining experience is not-to-miss with an authentic turn-of-the-century western atmosphere in the stunning scenery of the North Dakota Badlands. This Valentine’s Day, couples will be treated to an intimate dining experience starting with a champagne check-in, followed by a happy hour. Couples will enjoy a romantic Valentine’s prime rib buffet featuring sweet potato risotto, sautéed vegetables and wine hand-selected by the chef. Couples will finish dinner with the dining room’s signature dessert; sticky toffee pudding to share. Making it extra special? The restaurant is usually closed during the winter, save for special occasions, like Valentine’s Day.
Ohio
At The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan, you’ll find Kindred Spirits, a restaurant known for its cozy and secluded atmosphere making it the perfect venue for Valentine’s Day. Situated in the rural Hocking Hills region in southeastern Ohio, the quaint restaurant, located in a 1800s-era log cabin, serves up a special menu for Valentine’s Day, including locally sourced items like maple glazed stuffed pork chops.
Oklahoma
At O Bar, situated atop the Ambassador Hotel, you’ll find one of the best views of downtown Oklahoma City. To go along with that view, order delectable New England style crab cakes, followed by a signature dish of Dijon crusted Faroe Island salmon or dry-packed scallops and saffron risotto.
Oregon
Dining at The Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach, is an intimate experience as Chef Aaron Bedard creates a culinary tribute to the bounty of the Pacific Northwest region. Complete with resplendent Pacific Ocean views and incredible sunsets, the Inn doesn’t disappoint. Feast on Dungeness crab cakes with heirloom squash purée, braised fennel, roasted parsnips, roasted rutabaga, and caper picatta sauce, or rack of lamb with Chanterelle mushroom risotto, caramelized Brussels sprouts, and baby carrots. Can’t decide on which flowers to bring for your date? Choose one of these flowers that aren’t roses for Valentine’s Day.
Pennsylvania
Nestled in the pristine Pocono Mountains, the Tree Restaurant at the Lodge at Woodloch, makes you and your date feel pampered from the moment you walk through the front door. Befitting a spa, the restaurant embraces the philosophy that food that is good for you can also be creative, artfully presented, and graciously served. Don’t worry, you won’t go away hungry after dining on dishes like blackened Atlantic sea scallops and vegetarian chickpea and lentil stew.
Rhode Island
Newport’s Castle Hill Inn is featuring an intimate four-course dinner for two in honor of St. Valentine’s. You and your Valentine can partake of romantic delights including roasted red beet carpaccio, solemates (a beautiful pairing of tuna and hamachi), and butter poached lobster tail. The cherry clafoutis is a sweet way to end the evening.
South Carolina
One of Myrtle Beach’s newest culinary ventures, Heidi’s Corner, features two separate restaurants which are offering some extra sweet options for Valentine’s Day. At Hook & Barrel, a sleek and contemporary spot with an open-kitchen concept, you can indulge in a five-course sweetheart dinner available February 9 to 17. Or if brunch is more your speed, try the three-course champagne brunch at Croissants, available February 9 to 18. You’ll love the intimate feel, soft lighting, and French-bistro vibe.
South Dakota
Enjoy a magical evening of food and wine, featuring hors-d’oeuvres and a helicopter flight from Strawbale Winery located near the small town of Renner to downtown Sioux Falls. The winery will be hosting Valentine’s flights on February 9 to 10.
Tennessee
With a style and tradition befitting one of Memphis’ most legendary hotels, The Peabody Memphis Hotel, Chez Philippe has been named among Food & Wine magazine’s “Top 50 Hotel Restaurants.” Executive Chef Andreas Kisler is pulling out all the stops for Valentine’s Day and plans on featuring sauternes poached pear, wild mushroom risotto and beef Wellington with potato gratin, beurre rouge, asparagus, and hollandaise, for starters. Make sure you know what your Valentine’s Day flowers say about your relationship before you give them to your date!
Texas
Overlooking a quiet bend of the San Antonio River Walk, Biga on the Banks showcases the creative cuisine of Chef/owner Bruce Auden, who has been a top name on the city’s dining scene for nearly four decades. Delicious dishes such as chicken-fried oysters and chile-rubbed steaks show how food doesn’t have to be formal to be good. Table 31, a private spot just off the main dining room, offers a slightly secluded spot for the world’s rich and famous and those guests who just want to dine like one.
Utah
Stanza Italian Bistro and Wine Bar, an elegant contemporary restaurant in Salt Lake City, sets a very romantic scene for Valentine’s with dramatic architecture, Italian cuisine, hand-picked Italian wines, and discreet but attentive service. Chef Jonathan LeBlanc’s offerings for Valentine’s will include house-favorites linguine all’aragosta e gamberetto with Maine lobster, Gulf shrimp, and baby heirloom tomatoes and Snake River Farms American Wagyu.
Vermont
It doesn’t get more intimate than the 42-seat Junction Restaurant at The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa in Essex—it was designed to make diners feel like they’re in the chef’s home. The cozy fireplace offers a perfect backdrop for a romantic Valentine’s Day meal. Butternut squash bisque is the perfect choice to begin your dinner followed by a seasonal vegetable tart or a lamb rack with braised red cabbage and roasted cauliflower. Don’t feel like spending a ton of money this year? Here are some of the best cheap Valentine’s Day ideas you can find.
Virginia
Virginia is for lovers and The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond is the perfect location to celebrate the romantic holiday. Lemaire, at the hotel, is a New American restaurant celebrating Virginia-grown ingredients and the Southern influences of Richmond’s food culture. The unique structure of the menu will allow you to customize your experience each time you visit. Executive Chef Patrick Willis expertly prepares slow braised lamb shank with malted barley, kale, mushrooms, sweet potato puree and bourbon jus along with winter squash risotto, radicchio, compressed pears and maitake mushrooms.
Washington
The Dining Room at Salish Lodge & Spa, Snoqualmie, is perched directly over 269-feet Snoqualmie Falls with a stunning view of the valley and the Snoqualmie River. Tucked on the south side of the dining room are a handful of cozy nooks, each with a feeling of privacy and romance. The restaurant is offering a four-course Valentine’s Day special, with such options as seared scallop and caviar, roasted beet carpaccio, endive and eggplant, Applewood smoked Peking duck breast, or butter poached lobster tail, and a dessert trio for two.
West Virginia
Couples skiing at Snowshoe Mountain Resort can discover adventure dining with a romantic twist. What happens when gourmet chefs team up with those wild adventure guides? You get an adrenaline-fueled off-road tour of the mountain that ends with a decadent meal prepared and served on sight at the Sunrise Backcountry Hut. This one-of-a-kind offering combines the exciting, muddy side of adventuring with a refined, intimate dining experience you won’t soon forget.
Wisconsin
The Lake Park Bistro features a beautiful setting in a park pavilion overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. The ambiance of the restaurant is perfect for couples on a date night, anniversary, or Valentine’s Day celebration. For more than 20 years, Lake Park Bistro has been a top romantic restaurant in Milwaukee because of the intimate setting, décor, and French-inspired menu that features entrees such as pan-seared foie gras on brioche French toast or sauteed sea scallops with roasted cauliflower, lemon butter, and thyme.
Wyoming
Located inside the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, The Virginian combines fine dining with the area’s rich western history in the heart of Cowboy Country. Guests can also have a drink at the historic saloon and overnight in The Occidental Hotel. Among the house specials are tender and succulent buffalo steaks along with mouth-watering prime rib, filet mignon, and sensational seafood. Find out more date night ideas that are more creative than a Netflix binge sesh.
