12 ILLINOIS RESTAURANTS AMONG OPENTABLE’S 100 MOST ROMANTIC EATERIES IN AMERICA
Romance abounds in Illinois when it comes to dining out, according to Open Table.
The online restaurant reservation giant has released its list of the “100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America” for 2020, and Illinois tops the list with 12 establishments.
Each year, the list is curated from over 80 million dinner reviews of more than 30,000 restaurants across the country. Illinois boasts the most restaurants on this year’s list, followed by California and Pennsylvania, with eight apiece.
This Valentine’s Day, try one of these celebrated and delicious restaraunts. With everything from steak to Italian to small plates, the Open Table list has something for everyone. Make plans now to experience an unforgettable meal, explore a new restaurant and enjoy a romantic night on the town.
The Illinois dozen includes:
Aba, Mediterranean cuisine 302 N. Green
Boka, seasonal American cuisine 1729 N. Halsted
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, tapas and authentic Spanish cuisine 2024 N. Halsted
Gibsons Italia, high-end Italian steak and pasta 233 N. Canal
Girl & the Goat, small plates 809 W. Randolph
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, classic steak, seafood and signature stone crab claws 60 E. Grand
Le Colonial, upscale French-Vietnamese fare 57 E. Oak
Maple & Ash, steak and seafood 8 W. Maple
RL Restaurant, American classics 115 E. Chicago
RPM Italian, pasta, steak and seafood 52 W. Illinois
RPM Steak, chophouse and raw bar 66 W. Kinzie
Steak 48, prime meats and American fare 615 N. Wabash
Some tips from Open Table for making Valentine’s Day restaurant reservations:
Make plans to eat early or late. The most popular time for dinner reservations is 7 p.m. Grabbing a 6 or 9 p.m. spot allows for ample time to enjoy your meal and get into the hot spot you have your eye on.
Forget the 20-course tasting menu. Upscale restaurants experience a huge spike in reservations for Valentine’s Day. Opting for your favorite go-to spot is a great workaround, saving the tasting menu for another Friday night.
Go on a double date. In 2019, 83 percent of Valentine’s Day reservations on Open Table were made for two people. Grab your best friends for a double date and lock in that more available four-top.