These Are the Top 100 Date Night Restaurants in America, According to Yelp

When it comes to true love, no two couples are alike. Some might prefer a quiet atmosphere in which to dine out, while others crave the bustle and buzz of a trendy, popular spot. And on Valentine’s Day, every couple deserves to find exactly what they’re looking for. That’s why Yelp has released a list of the top date-night restaurants across America, according to the reviewers themselves.

A press release explains that the list, which includes 100 different restaurants of all sizes, was compiled based not only on positive reviews but also a high concentration of reviews that mention it as the ideal place for a date, with keywords like “romantic” and “anniversary” increasing an eatery’s chances of inclusion. In order to represent as many areas of the country as possible, each city could only be featured a maximum of three times. And since it’s less than sexy to contract foodborne illness, Yelp also chose restaurants with a passing health score as of December 2024.

Topping the list is Cesarina, a San Diego spot with roughly 3,000 Yelp reviews and 6,000 photos. It opened in 2019 and, according to its website, has an endearing mission: “to create a convivial atmosphere that nurtures the community as a mother would.” Diners lavish particularly high praise on Cesarina’s Bolognese, vegan pastas made with dairy-free mozzarella, and tiramisu.

The perfect restaurant is in the eye of the beholder, but some common themes arose across all the selections in the list. An intimate atmosphere is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a key feature; places like Bavette’s in Chicago, Intero Restaurant in Austin, and Over the Moon Cafe in Tacoma, Washington find ways to make diners at each table feel cozy and attended to. Yelp also notes that a commonality was a love for housemade pastas: In addition to Cesarina, a whopping 50% of the top 10 selections serve some form of Italian food.

Related: These Are the Top 100 Vegan Restaurants in America, According to Yelp

Other distinctive entries on the list include Nocturne, a Denver jazz club that also happens to serve up great food — curry gnocchi, anyone? — and Livery, an Indianapolis Latin American restaurant located in an 1890s building that once housed horse stables. (“You MUST get the churros for dessert,” one Yelp reviewer implored.)

Valentine’s Day presents lots of competition for dining reservations, so Yelp recommends securing your spot as early as possible. It’s also worth checking with the restaurant in advance to see if they do anything particular for couples celebrating a special occasion, because the press release notes that “Several of our top 10 date-night spots love to play Cupid for anniversaries and other romantic occasions.” Restaurants are, after all, in the hospitality business, and the more memorable they can make your evening, the more likely you are to return.

Top 100 Date Night Restaurants, According to Yelp

1. Cesarina, San Diego, California

2. Club A Steakhouse, New York, New York

3. Intero Restaurant, Austin, Texas

4. Penumbra, Chicago, Illinois

5. Maccheroni Republic, Los Angeles, California

6. Pane e Vino, Miami Beach, Florida

7. Le Fou Frog, Kansas City, Missouri

8. dLeña, Washington, District of Columbia

9. Da Andrea, New York, New York

10. Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf, Chicago, Illinois

11. Wolf in the Woods, San Diego, California

12. Mama's Fish House, Paia, Hawaii

13. The Chef's Table, Houston, Texas

14. Herbs & Rye, Las Vegas, Nevada

15. Seven Hills, San Francisco, California

16. Ciccio Mio, Chicago, Illinois

17. 618, Freehold Borough, New Jersey

18. Nocturne, Denver, Colorado

19. Lagniappe, Miami, Florida

20. Livery, Indianapolis, Indiana

21. COTE Miami, Miami, Florida

22. El Cielo, Honolulu, Hawaii

23. Guard and Grace Modern Steakhouse, Denver, Colorado

24. Petralunga, Miami, Florida

25. Viaje, Long Beach, California

26. Coastal Fish Company, Memphis, Tennessee

27. The Goat & Vine, Temecula, California

28. Oak and Ola, Tampa, Florida

29. Fratellino, Coral Gables, Florida

30. Rootstalk, Breckenridge, Colorado

31. Frida Southwest, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

32. Noko Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee

33. Hestia, Austin, Texas

34. Pia's Trattoria, Gulfport, Florida

35. Tinker Street, Indianapolis, Indianapolis

36. Ox, Portland, Oregon

37. Siamo Napoli, San Diego, California

38. Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar, Cleveland, Ohio

39. J-Prime Steakhouse, San Antonio, Texas

40. Over The Moon Cafe, Tacoma, Washington

41. GW Fins, New Orleans, Louisiana

42. Malama Pono Restaurant, Los Angeles, California

43. Pusadee's Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

44. Casablanca Moroccan Kitchens, Los Angeles, California

45. South, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

46. Saviano's Italian Kitchen, Euless, Texas

47. The Iberian Pig, Nashville, Tennessee

48. Bowen House, Dallas, Texas

49. Lemongrass, Brooklyn, New York

50. Nori, Orlando, Florida

51. Montalcino Ristorante Italiano, Austin, Texas

52. Arario Midtown, Issaquah, Washington

53. Carmelina's, Reno, Nevada

54. Chez Bacchus, Long Beach, California

55. Mama Carolla's, Indianapolis, Indiana

56. Cibo, Phoenix, Arizona

57. The Monroe, Orlando, Florida

58. Salt, Arlington, Virginia

59. La Bodeguita de Mima, Louisville, Kentucky

60. Fúdo, Chamblee, Georgia

61. Frog & Slim, Sacramento, California

62. Von's 1000 Spirits, Woodinville, Washington

63. Royal Taj, Columbia, Maryland

64. Sushi Den, Denver, Colorado

65. Elements Restaurant, Vancouver, Washington

66. Krasi, Boston, Massachusetts

67. Montarra, Algonquin, Illinois

68. George Bistro + Bar, Pensacola, Florida

69. Elliott's Steakhouse, Chandler, Arizona

70. Sushi On Me, Jackson Heights, New York

71. L'Ardente, Washington, District of Columbia

72. Butcher's Union, Grand Rapids, Michigan

73. Chestnut, Asheville, North Carolina

74. M Sushi, Durham, North Carolina

75. Talula's Garden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

76. Yunta Nikkei, Charlotte, North Carolina

77. Polite Society, St. Louis, Missouri

78. Slightly North of Broad, Charleston, South Carolina

79. Dahlia Tapas Tequila & Wine, Phoenix, Arizona

80. Geronimo, Santa Fe, New Mexico

81. Lechon, Portland, Oregon

82. Green Valley Grill, Greensboro, North Carolina

83. Leo's, Grand Rapids, Michigan

84. MCK Restaurant and Bar, Atlanta, Georgia

85. Young Joni, Minneapolis, Minnesota

86. Can Can Culinary Cabaret, Seattle, Washington

87. The Cellar at Duckworth's, Charlotte, North Carolina

88. Bar August, New Haven, Connecticut

89. Maxan Jazz Club, Las Vegas, Nevada

90. The Ivy Inn, Charlottesville, Virginia

91. Anixi, New York, New York

92. L’Ardoise Bistro, San Francisco, California

93. Baldamar, Roseville, Minnesota

94. TJ Buckley's, Brattleboro, Vermont

95. Moon & Turtle, Hilo, Hawaii

96. The Lime Lite, Fresno, California

97. Noto, St. Peters, Missouri

98. Satay Bistro, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

99. First & Last, Phoenix, Arizona

100. Avec, Chicago, Illinois

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