date nights

2 Dallas steakhouses woo slots on OpenTable's most romantic list

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be the only day that gets a designated date night.

Photo courtesy of Dakota's Steakhouse

Just in time for Valentine's Day, restaurant reservation service OpenTable has unveiled its 2025 list of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in America, and two entrancing eateries in Dallas made the cut: Dakota's Steakhouse and Perry's Steakhouse & Grille.

The list was compiled using more than 10 million restaurant reviews based on six metrics, including diner ratings, the percentage of reservations made in advance, and more. Qualified restaurants were ranked not by score, but by the percentage of reviews that included the tag “romantic."

The two Dallas steakhouses were among four total Texas restaurants that made the list.

Dakota's Steakhouse has been operating in downtown Dallas for nearly 40 years, and is famous for its subterranean location. OpenTable recounts the property's storied past, beginning with its former owners, the First Dallas Baptist Church.

"[O]nce occupied by the First Dallas Baptist Church, a clause in the deed prohibited any future owner from selling alcohol on former church grounds," the website says. "When the owners bought the space, they were determined to have a restaurant anchor their international headquarters. A loophole was discovered – 'on the ground' does not include 'below ground,' so the land was excavated, and the restaurant was born."

The restaurant is renowned for its intimate atmosphere, assisted by its iconic 1,800-square-foot underground courtyard.

"When visiting the restaurant, patrons descend 18 feet underground in a canopied glass elevator, accessed from street level, for a culinary experience unlike any other," the website says. "This cool oasis is complete with a 20 foot, 5-tiered granite water wall, multi-tiered landscaping, lava rock fire pit, and black granite bar."

The restaurant serves high quality Allen Brothers beef cuts that are dry aged for a minimum 28 days, and popular dishes on the menu include the 36-ounce porterhouse steak for two, the crab cake lollipops, and the 18-ounce lamb chop. An indulgent array of desserts and an extensive wine list round out the restaurant's robust offerings.

Dakota's Steakhouse Dallas Dakota's steaks are top-quality. Photo courtesy of Dakota's Steakhouse

Perry's Steakhouse and Grille operates several locations throughout Texas, but its Park District location stood out above the rest in OpenTable's list. The steakhouse also boasts a romantic atmosphere throughout its two-story building, according to its profile.

"The first level features a beautiful island bar that opens up to a spacious patio dining area flanked by fireplaces and semi-private areas," its OpenTable profile says. "Ascend the stunning staircase wrapping the massive wine tower to find an expansive main dining room with four private dining rooms – a perfect spot to enjoy Perry’s award-winning menu."

Diners frequently laud Perry's impeccable staff in addition to its delicious lunch and dinner menus.

"Excellent dining experience as always! Delicious food, creative dishes, wonderful attentive service," one reviewer wrote.

For Dallasites who will be taking a romantic weekend trip elsewhere around the state for Valentine's Day, OpenTable has two more suggestions on its romantic restaurants list:

Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab in Austin (Truluck's also has locations in Dallas, Houston, and Southlake)
Bohanan's Prime Steaks and Seafood in San Antonio

"Valentine's Day dining has gone through a major vibe shift over the years, and this year sees a continuation of that, with couples, double dates, and groups of friends planning to dine out for the occasion," said Robin Chiang, Chief Growth Officer of OpenTable, in a release. "Between OpenTable's breadth of restaurants and resources, there's something for everyone — from fine dining to the cozy neighborhood Italian spot — and our annual Top 100 Romantic Restaurants list and curated guides are great places to start."

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Steakhouse News

Palladino's Steak & Seafood opening in Dallas earns raves in New York

Palladino's

Joseph Palladino at Palladino's Steaks and Seafood in NY.

High-profile new steakhouse Palladino’s Steak & Seafood, the eponymous concept from restaurateur Joseph Palladino slated to open in North Dallas in spring 2026, is currently the toast of New York.

Palladino is the ex-NYPD police officer-turned-restaurateur known for concepts such as Nick & Sam's Steakhouse and the Coal Vines pizza chain. Palladino's Steak & Seafood is his newest creation, combining steakhouse, Italian, and seafood, particularly sushi.

The Dallas location will be opening at the intersection of Preston and Royal in the former Spec's space at 5959 Royal Ln. — but the concept has already made its debut in New York at the Grand Central Terminal, where it opened in September, emerging as one of the city's hottest openings, drawing celebrity visits and raves.

Here's some of the buzz it has already generated in New York:

Actor Armand Assante (Gotti, American Gangster) visited the restaurant in late September. Posing for a photo with Palladino and Las Vegas restaurateur Nick Bimonte, Assante proclaimed it to be "without rival."

Eater New York added Palladino's to its list of Best Steakhouses in NYC.

Actor William DeMeo (Gotti, The Sopranos), who has become a Palladino's semi-regular, dined there in mid-December with Italian restaurateur Steve Martorano (Cafe Martorano, Martorano's Prime). Martorano called it "one of the best meals I ever experienced in my life."

The cast and crew of Gravesend, the Mafia-themed Amazon series DeMeo created, filmed an episode at Palladino's with Sopranos cast members Vince Curatola and Chuck Zito.

The NY Post called Palladino's "NYC’s hottest new restaurant," noting that it's been "packed day and night." They gushed over the atmosphere and compared the steaks to chef Daniel Boulud’s great La Tete D’Or. "Grand Central Terminal, America’s greatest railroad nexus, deserved a great American restaurant. Brand-new Palladino’s Steak & Seafood is it."

Forbes did a feature spotlighting "Two Recently Opened New York City Steakhouses Offering A Unique Take," which included Palladino's and Cuerno — A Mexican steakhouse in the Time Life building at Rockefeller Center. "Grand Central Station may not be the first place you think of when you are trying to find an elevated dining experience. But newly opened Palladino’s provides several reasons to visit besides the need to catch a train," they said, before going on to praise the "exceptional" service and steaks.

A story by Resident magazine called Palladino's "a new era of fine dining at Grand Central Terminal" with a particular focus on the design by acclaimed Rockwell Group, which they said "channels the glamour of rail travel in the 1920s and 30s with Art Deco details, vintage-inspired finishes, and a sweeping sense of forward motion," before marveling at the "striking 2,000-square-foot all-season outdoor patio — the first of its kind at Grand Central."

The Today Show aired a segment on December 28 starring Palladino's executive chef Sam Hazen demo-ing their lunch sliders, featuring three mini burgers with American cheese, pickles & caramelized onions, stacked on a vertical spike and doused with a cheesy fondue sauce. (Palladino's also does a slider at dinner with filet mignon and truffle aioli.)

Humans of New York, the famous photography storytelling project, did a profile on Joseph Palladino and his mother, Catherine, after he hosted their exhibit, called "Dear New York," at Palladino's, giving them a prominent, highly visible platform on the restaurant's balcony.

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