We're just a couple of weeks out from Valentine's Day 2025, and being from the state of Illinois, our minds tend to wander toward famous Al Capone massacres romantic restaurants that we can enjoy with our significant others on what's often billed as the "most romantic day of the year" (unless you count the Super Bowl).

What makes a restaurant romantic, anyway?

After asking that same question on a search, it would appear that in order to be called romantic, a restaurant must have at least some of the following things:

  • You've gotta have ambiance: dim (or, soft) lighting, cozy seating arrangements, and intimate decor. Look for restaurants with flickering candles, and soft music to create a relaxed and intimate setting.
  • Food And Beverages: Look for restaurants with a menu that features dishes made with high-quality ingredients and presented with care. Special drinks or wine selections can also add to the romantic atmosphere. Bonus points for restaurants with a great view or outdoor seating.
  • Great Service: An angry or snotty server can definitely be a romance buzz-kill.
  • Privacy: Usually in the form of tucked-away tables and cozy booths.
  • Decent Pricing: Having to shell out four-figures for a dinner-for-two is going to be a total deal-breaker for most of us.
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Cheerful senior couple drinking alcohol over dinner
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A New Study By A Well-Respected Online Restaurant Reservation Company Throws The Spotlight On 2025's Top 100 Romantic Restaurants, And Illinois Lands 5 Spots On The List

The study at OpenTable.com has California leading the entire nation with eleven romantic restaurants making the top 100, Ohio comes in second place with 9, then it's Virginia and Florida with 6, Pennsylvania and Illinois with five, then comes Texas with four.

The restaurant that OpenTable.com ranks highest in their study is a place called Steak 48 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Near the top of the list we've got GW Fins in New Orleans and 618 in New Jersey.

But we don't live in any of those places, so let's take a look at the five Illinois eateries that hit the romantic top 100 list.

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Is this romantic or a fire hazard? Why not both? (Getty Images)
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Of The 5 Romantic Illinois Restaurants That Make Open Table's Top 100 List, 4 Of Them Are In Chicago, And One Can Be Found In Naperville

In no particular order:

If you are a regular visitor behind the Cheddar Curtain in Wisconsin, you've only got one romantic eatery that made the list this year: The Del-Bar, Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton.

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Gallery Credit: Laura Ratliff

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