Valentine's Day plans are ramping up and if you're still looking for a place to take your sweetie in a few days, there are several options you can choose from on OpenTable's new list of the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America.
The online restaurant reservation company compiled the list strictly from more than 80 million diner reviews collected between Dec. 2018, and Nov. 2019. Restaurants with a minimum overall score and number of qualifying reviews were considered in the ranking. Overall score data included overall diner rating, the total number of reviews, user klout and regional overall rating. Then, the restaurants were scored and organized according to the percentage by reviews that listed “romantic” as a feature.
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“We craft this list every year to help diners looking for inspiration for the most popular date night of the year,” said Jessica Jensen, senior vice President of Marketing at OpenTable. “Whether it’s a special night with your significant other, a girl’s night out, or your first outing with someone new, these restaurants have passed the test of setting the table for exceptional ambience and an incredible meal.”
Here are the seven Atlanta eateries that made it on to this year’s list.
This Inman Park restaurant specializes in French, Spanish and Italian cuisine. Chef and owner Marla Adams uses the history and traditions of Spanish and French food and transports them to Atlanta.
“Babette's maintains a high standard of excellence. It is our favorite restaurant for a romantic dinner for two,” one reviewer wrote of the elegant eatery.
This west Midtown seafood spot features a continuously changing menu that includes high-quality seafood that’s paired with fresh local ingredients. Plus, an oyster happy hour occurs every day of the week; check the website for details. “Good for a date” is among the restaurant's top tags, so it would make an ideal Valentine’s Day dinner spot.
Seafood and steak abound at this Buckhead spot. Signature items include the famous jumbo batter fried lobster tail and Savannah lump crab cocktail.
“Chops / Chops Lobster Bar improves with age. The food was the best its been in years. The service was perfect. Both must be true because the place was packed on a Wednesday night. This may very well be the best steak place in town. We will be back much sooner than later,” one reviewer said.
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Housed in a centuries-old cabin, Blue Ridge Grill specializes in American meals made from farm-to-table ingredients. Guests can choose wines from the Buckhead eatery’s award-winning wine cellar.
“Great food, nice atmosphere, superb service - Stephen was excellent! We will be back!” said one diner who stopped in before attending the symphony with his wife.
No stranger to gaining recognition, this Italian eatery has been a local favorite since 1978. In the decades since it opened, it’s earned the AAA Four Diamond Award and the DiRona Award for years. Guests have long enjoyed northern Italian cuisine that evolves with the seasons and focuses on locally-grown ingredients.
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A fine dining steakhouse named after French boxer Marcel Cerdan, this restaurant counts filet madame, bone-in New York strip and porterhouse steaks for two among its menu options. It’s top OpenTable tags include “good for a date” and “special occasion” so it’s no wonder it landed on the annual list.
Another Buckhead restaurant, Bones opened in 1979 with a mission to provide the finest steaks, seafood and service. In addition to its inclusion on OpenTable’s list, Zagat has recognized it on several lists including best restaurant service in Atlanta and the most romantic restaurant in the neighborhood.
“I can always count on Bones for excellence in every aspect of fine dining! Today the filets were especially delicious with a gravy on top that was so flavorful. The onion rings are the best you can find anywhere. My favorite restaurant in Atlanta by far!” one guest said in an OpenTable review.
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