From charming spots with breathtaking views to those boasting menus that feature some of the country's finest dishes, these US restaurants tick all the right boxes for date night. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up the most impressive restaurants in every state to help you spark a new romance or fall in love all over again. 

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the best restaurant to impress your date near you.

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

Set in the historic white-columned Merritt House, Galley and Garden is a chic spot that never fails to impress. Kick off proceedings with a drink on the patio overlooking the pretty gardens before moving into the beautiful restaurant, which is tastefully decorated in neutral tones. Diners say the food is outstanding: the seasonally changing menu features dishes such as pan-seared scallops, and pork chop with house-made bacon jam.

This Alaskan restaurant is not only one of the best in the state, but one of the most romantic, too. Located at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, it offers jaw-dropping views of Denali and the Alaska Range, while serving delicious seafood and game. Expect to see dishes like pan-seared halibut, Alaskan sea scallops, and braised short rib on the menu. Note that it temporarily closes for the winter season.

Kai, which means ‘seed’ in the Pima language, is the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in Arizona. The Native American–influenced menu isn't cheap, but it is certainly an experience. If you choose the tasting menu, you’ll be able to feast on the likes of escargot, grilled tenderloin of tribal buffalo, and wagyu beef with chimichurri, all while soaking up the beautiful views.

Head to sophisticated steakhouse Arthur’s for a meal to remember. All the delicious meat cuts are aged for a minimum of 28 days, but even if your date isn't a steak lover there's plenty of impressive dishes to choose from, including tropical salmon with a mango ginger habanero glaze (pictured). The restaurant has a refined yet welcoming feel, perfect for a romantic evening.

Voted the most beautiful restaurant in California by People Magazine, The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil boasts incredible views across Napa Valley and an impressive menu to match. The spot has held a Michelin star for the last 17 years, meaning that dining here is guaranteed to be a memorable occasion. Choose either three or four courses, with dishes such as seared tuna with bok choi and tamari lime sauce and local lamb with yellow eye beans and olives. If you really want to push the boat out, there’s also a six-course chef's tasting menu with wine pairing available.

If cozy, snowy, wintry charm is what you seek, Alpino Vino in Colorado’s Telluride Ski Resort is as picturesque as it gets – and at nearly 12,000 feet (3,658m) it’s also the USA’s highest restaurant. Within the quaint building you’ll find a wood-burning fireplace and sheepskin throws, an outdoor wine bar, and a menu of gourmet Italian comfort food. You can visit even if you’re not a skier, as a snow coach transports visitors to the snug spot. Note that it's only open during the winter season. 

In a scenic waterfront setting in New Haven, Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill is all about great seafood and steak, plus superb cocktails. The décor has a nautical theme, there’s a big brass and steel bar, and both indoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits make for a cozy, romantic meal whatever the weather. There's an extensive raw bar menu featuring oysters, clams, and lobster while mains include black garlic cod and filet mignon.

The House of William & Merry in Hockessin is not just one of Delaware’s best-loved restaurants, but is the actual home of husband-and-wife team William Hoffman and Merry Catanuto. When the chefs were looking for their first restaurant, they found a 1920s farmhouse and decided to create a restaurant on the first floor, place tables for outdoor dining on the front porch, and live with their growing family on the second floor. They serve creative dishes made from local, often foraged ingredients.

When it opened in 2018, St. Anselm in Northeast quickly became one of Washington's top restaurants. For extra privacy book one of the curtained booths and gorge on classic dishes with a modern twist – think deviled eggs, dorade with saffron pickled fennel, and a selection of steaks. And don't miss the dessert offerings – you can’t go wrong with the sweet potato pie.

Prepare to be totally charmed by the diminutive but hugely memorable Boia De. The intimate Michelin-starred restaurant is run by chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer (a couple themselves). The modern American menu with Italian influences is wonderfully creative and focuses on responsibly sourced ingredients, while the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed. Seat yourself at the marble countertop, order a glass of natural wine and settle in for the evening.

Focusing on local and seasonal ingredients cooked with an Italian twist, No. 246 in downtown Decatur is the top spot for casual dining that's still special enough. Feast on traditional Italian pizzas, slurp a classic cacio e pepe or tuck into a chicken marsala for two. The chocolate torte also comes highly recommended.

The beautiful views at the award-winning Le Mer are enough to impress your date on their own, but once they set eyes on the elaborate tasting menu they’re bound to be smitten. Feast on the likes of steamed escolar (snake mackerel) with sea asparagus, lamb cannon with eggplant caviar, and poached lobster with a chorizo cream sauce while gazing out at the palm-fringed shore.

For prime steaks and fresh seafood served in a dimly lit lounge to the tunes of live jazz, head to Chandlers in Boise. This classic steakhouse offers both an à la carte and a prix-fixe menu. The latter features delights like veal picatta, beef bourguignon, and butterscotch crème brûlée for dessert. 

Named in homage to the bohemian thinkers of the 1950s and 1960s, Beatnik in Chicago surprises and delights with its unique interior inspired by Moorish opulence, Mediterranean farmhouses, and the tropical lushness of Bali. The food is similarly wild – expect an explosion of flavors, textures and colors, with ingredients sourced from around the world. The menu features a selection of mezze dishes, including beef cheek arepas, red curry noodles, and smoked burrata.

Run by two brothers, the first Melting Pot restaurant opened in 1975 and was dedicated to serving authentic Swiss-style fondue. Today the restaurant in Indianapolis offers a unique, hands-on dining experience. Four-course menu options feature everything from veggie-only dishes to indulgent filet mignon and cold-water lobster, as well as a chocolate fondue for dessert. 

There's plenty about this contemporary Italian restaurant that will charm you. For starters, the Neo-Classical Italianate architecture wows before you get through the door – the restaurant is housed in the city's 1913 Masonic Temple, which has become something of a local landmark. The food is as impressive as the building, and the menu features updated Italian dishes, from imaginative tofu 'gnocchi' to house-made cavatelli. 

Since opening in 2011 this restaurant has racked up numerous awards, including James Beard semi-finalist for Best Chef in the Midwest. When dining at Story, it’s not hard to see why it’s proved so popular. There's a menu full of beautifully presented dishes with French and Italian influences – favorites include swordfish, a wagyu beef burger and house-made ice cream for dessert.

At 610 Magnolia, fine dining and Southern comfort live in perfect harmony thanks to award-winning chef and owner Edward Lee. Tucked into a quiet corner in Old Louisville, the intimate restaurant offers ever-changing tasting menus – you might sample butternut squash and goat cheese agnolotti, or perhaps seared scallops with braised radish. 

Located in a renovated masonry warehouse in New Orleans, Bywater American Bistro is the second restaurant from the James Beard Award-winner and Top Chef runner-up Nina Compton. The open kitchen sends out a wealth of great dishes, like blackened octopus with sweet potato coconut purée, or roasted Gulf fish with brown butter hazelnuts. 

Describing itself as 'an inspired bistro,' this romantic spot offers a mouthwatering four-course fixed-price menu that benefits from both Asian and European influences. Enjoy the glazed pork belly with jasmine rice and sesame aioli, followed by seared scallops served with leek and mushroom risotto, or a flavor-packed yellow lentil dhal.

The perfect spot for date night, Charleston blends French and Lowcountry cooking with delicious results. The brainchild of lauded chef Cindy Wolf, you can opt for three, four, five, or six-course menus, all of which feature outstanding dishes such as fresh artichoke soup with truffles, pan-roasted scallops, lobster and mascarpone ravioli, and grilled prime beef tenderloin. 

In the beautiful city of Cambridge, down a cobbled path in the heart of Harvard Square, is Harvest. This elegant restaurant presents the best of New England cuisine, with seasonal menus devised by working closely with local farmers to source the freshest ingredients. The interiors are smart, with dark woods and neutral tones. There’s also an outdoor terrace, a lovely spot full of flowers (and heaters for cooler nights).

Located in Detroit’s most iconic mansion, The Whitney is world famous for upscale dining. This Michigan restaurant was voted one of the most romantic restaurants in the US by Gayot, and it’s easy to see why. The drinks are served at the stunning Ghostbar, before diners sit down in one of the opulent rooms for a meal. Weather permitting, dishes like beef Wellington and twin lobster tails can also be enjoyed fountain-side in The Whitney gardens.

For a romantic date in Minneapolis, head to the atmospheric Café Lurcat. The elegant comfort food here is made with fresh, artisan ingredients, while the setting is magical. The dining room boasts sparkling chandeliers, exposed brick walls, and gorgeous views over Loring Park.

In a picturesque setting on the Gulfport waterfront, The Chimneys combines Southern architecture with plenty of greenery and makes for an incredibly charming place to dine. Enjoy fresh seafood dishes such as crab claws, seafood gumbo, stuffed flounder, and lobster tail as you look out across the water.

Novel is an appropriate name for this modern restaurant in Kansas City. The interiors are modern but romantic, with decorative tile-work and heavy hanging curtains. The menu follows that lead with smart and imaginative dishes such as beef sirloin tartare with wasabi tofu, and ramen noodles with butter-poached Maine lobster. 

There's something ultra romantic about an upscale Italian restaurant and Lucca's is just that. The spot deals in 'fine Italian fare' with a sleek dining room and a charming red brick façade to boot. Come by for perfectly executed pasta dishes such as fisherman's spaghetti or seared scallops and white shrimp with angel hair.

Tucked inside one of Omaha's architectural landmarks (the former Paxton Hotel, now luxury apartments), 801 Chophouse is a swish restaurant focused on top-notch service and fine cuts of meat. Slip into one of the luxurious leather booths and feast on filet mignon, Faroe Island salmon, and appetizers such as oysters Rockefeller and pancetta-wrapped scallops. The lobster mac ’n’ cheese is the must-order side dish.

With all of Las Vegas' dazzling lights in the palm of your hand, there aren't many better places for a special meal than Vetri in Palms Casino Resort. Located on the 56th floor, the restaurant focuses on outstanding Italian dishes like saffron fusilli with lobster, grilled seafood misto, and ricotta gelato with a dark chocolate shell and warm orange olive oil.

For comfort food in a beautiful setting, head to Max’s Restaurant and Pub at the Snowvillage Inn in Eaton. Originally built as a summer home by Frank Simonds, a Pulitzer Prize–winning author, the inn has welcomed guests since 1948, with its restaurant a particular highlight. Here you'll find sweeping views of Mount Washington, as well as tasty, fresh dishes such as Maine crab cakes and oysters on the half shell, sea scallops, and duck breast with parsnip purée and cranberry gastrique.  

Run by chef Scott Anderson, elements in Princeton is a very special place to dine at. With a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, the indulgent chef's menu features wild king salmon and rib-eye with cheesy, garlicky aligot potatoes. There's also a more affordable five-course tasting menu showcasing the seasonality of the ingredients.

It's hard to find fresher dishes than at Campo, located at the Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm in Albuquerque. Situated on an organic farm, the restaurant serves dishes created from seasonal, organic ingredients from the property’s own fields, as well as local farmers and herdsmen. The restaurant is housed in a renovated barn with an open kitchen and amazing views of lavender fields and the Sandia Mountains.

Enjoy a fairytale dining experience at Winston-Salem’s magical Ryan's Restaurant. From the cozy spot deep in a forest you can gaze out at large oak trees and a stream, while inside the comfy sofas and crackling fireplace will keep you snug. The outdoor deck and window-side tables are great places to enjoy the restaurant’s selection of seafood, steaks, and soups while taking in the beautiful natural surroundings.

Housed in a 1917 building in Fargo just behind the theatre, Mezzaluna is well known for its excellent food and elegant décor. With high-backed banquette seating throughout the dining room and plenty of original architectural features, it’s definitely a charming spot. The menu has something for everyone, too, with plenty of vegetarian dishes as well as fresh seafood and inventive meat options.

Orchids' menu is the epitome of fine dining, featuring a creative selection of appetizers and entrées, alongside an impressive wine list. Dinner at this AAA five-diamond restaurant will require splashing out, but with plates such as foie gras terrine, roasted halibut with morels, and chateaubriand with seasonal vegetables, it’s well worth it.

Cheever’s Café in Oklahoma City brims with charm. Once a florist, then a house, and now a restaurant, the café retains many original features, including the terrazzo floors and the glass-walled flower case that now displays desserts and wine bottles. The menu is stuffed with delicious options, from healthy salads to creative pasta dishes, but the bestselling dish is the chicken-fried steak with jalapeño gravy and garlicky mashed potatoes.

For beautiful views and delicious food, visit the Stephanie Inn Dining Room, about 80 miles from Portland, in beautiful Cannon Beach. With breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Haystack Rock and the Tillamook Lighthouse, it’ll be hard to tear your eyes away from the surroundings, but when you do, you’ll enjoy the open kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and dishes full of fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Part of the family-owned Ledges Hotel in Hawley in the Pocono Mountains, Glass has wonderful views of the neighboring waterfalls, as well as an eclectic menu of small dishes perfect for sharing. Choose from plates such as crispy shrimp tacos and wild boar sausage and enjoy the ambience of the dining room and outdoor terraces.

Believed to be the USA’s oldest tavern building, and one of America's most fascinating historic restaurants, Newport’s White Horse Tavern is a real slice of history, established in 1673. Today the focus is fresh, local food: fish, clams, and lobsters caught in Narragansett Bay and artisan cheese, honey, and beef sourced from nearby farms. 

Located in Wentworth Mansion, this romantic venue is the perfect place for feasting on seasonal and local dishes paired with fantastic wine. Chef Marc Collins draws inspiration from global cuisines to create an incredible menu featuring plates such as antelope and lamb osso bucco. Alternatively, you can travel around the world courtesy of Collins’ five-course tasting menu, which changes almost daily.

With a more casual vibe during the week, and a fine dining mood at the weekend, the romantic Sioux Falls’ restaurant Parker's suits all kinds of diners. The menu changes each season, with locally sourced, organic ingredients and a variety of tempting dishes, while the décor is tasteful and smart, with soft lighting, flickering candles, and exposed brick walls.

A Southern seafood restaurant in the heart of Nashville's Gulch neighborhood, Marsh House serves fresh, tasty food in a chic yet casual setting. The menu features a wealth of fish dishes, like mahi with grilled greens and a whole snapper for two – perfect for lovers of seafood.

Enjoy fairytale dining in a rustic treehouse at The Laurel Tree in Utopia, Uvalde County. It’s not just any treehouse, either, but a beautifully quaint dining room complete with antique furnishings perched in a 450-year-old oak tree. The experience is intimate, with just one table seating up to six people. Dishes are prepared by a Cordon Bleu–trained chef, with ingredients sourced from the garden and from local markets.

Head to Salt Lake City's swanky Kimpton Hotel Monaco and you'll find Bambara, an ultra-stylish restaurant dealing in upscale New American food. The interiors are a treat, with bold arched windows and grand sweeps of marble, and the menus are just as appealing. Example dishes include gnocchi with chimichurri and walnut dukkah and braised lamb with herby spaetzle.

Set in an intimate venue in the heart of the woods beside the Green Mountains and Champlain Valley, Hen of the Wood aims to serve as much produce from its local surroundings as possible. Menu highlights include the crispy duck breast, hanger steak, and signature mushroom toast.

You’ll really be blowing the budget by dining at The Inn, but it’s guaranteed to be well worth it. Self-taught chef Patrick O’Connell first opened the restaurant in 1978 in what was once just a garage; now it’s continually voted the best restaurant in Virginia by Washingtonian magazine. Expect to see luxurious items such as caviar, soft-shell crab, foie gras, and wagyu beef on the menu.

The eye-catching glass building housing Canlis is seriously impressive – and so too is the food and overall dining experience at this family-run restaurant. Nominated for James Beard Awards several times, Canlis serves a multi-course menu where diners choose three dishes and the chefs surprise them with the rest, from perfectly cooked halibut with smoked tomato and squid to lamb with sesame and nori. 

A meal at The Restaurant at Hillbrook Inn & Spa has become a must-do experience in the region. The seasonal menus highlight produce sourced from local farms and include delights such as venison flank with sweet potato, filet of beef with braised kale, and seared local mushrooms with parsnip butter.

Boasting a conservatory with Lake Michigan views, this modern American restaurant not only serves incredibly delicious dishes but is also one of America's best wine restaurants, according to Wine Enthusiast. Opt for a chef's tasting menu created by executive chef Nick Wirth or order from the three-course menu with dishes such as charred Spanish octopus and lamb loin.

For food with wow factor served in a relaxed but cool atmosphere, visit Jackson Hole’s Snake River Grill. The dining room décor is smart but rustic with wood and brick details, roaring fireplaces, and flickering candles. The food, meanwhile, is seriously creative. A particular highlight is the steak tartare pizza topped with black Angus New York steak, garlic aioli, capers, parsley, and red onion

Now discover America’s most romantic restaurants

Last updated by Dominique Ayling