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."

san antonio dallas austin restaurants steakhouse opentable

Opening News

Dallas diner & music venue will open in former Ferris Wheeler space

Courtesy

Pancakes

A new restaurant has been unveiled that will take over the former Ferris Wheeler space near Dallas' Design District at 1950 Market Center Blvd.: Called AM/FM, it'll be an all-day diner and lounge with a big backyard and a stage for live music, and it's from Spune Productions, the music and event production company.

According to a release, it'll open in early January initially with evening hours, cocktails, and a few afternoon soccer matches. Music acts are already booked beginning January 8. More hours will be added down the road.

Ferris Wheelers BBQ, which was also a restaurant with a big backyard and a stage for live music, closed in November after eight years. Spune had already been involved since 2023 to help ramp up the live music side. Now they'll take it over with a fresh new personality and long hours.

They were famous for having a Ferris wheel on-site; an inquiry on its status went unanswered.

The diner will open daily at 7 am, serving "musicians coming off late nights, workers heading into morning shifts, and neighbors who want a place that remembers their name," says the release very poetically.

They've redecorated the interior with a new bar and banquettes that wrap the room. Alongside the renovations inside, the set-up outdoors will evolve over the coming weeks, with extra care given to the concert experience,

Menu
The food at AM/FM will be rooted in elevated Diner classics, with a menu overseen by chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman (Oh, Hi! Hospitality) that's influenced by Mexican-American kitchens and Nuevo Southern traditions.

Breakfast offerings include huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos, breakfast empanadas, French toast, avocado toast, pork belly toast, and an intriguing twist on pancakes called masa pancakes, made using masa harina AKA corn flour.

Lunch includes a chicken Milanesa Caesar salad, Sonoran hot dog, fried catfish po'boy, kale salad, Cobb salad, and a Mexican twist on chicken noodle soup with fideo noodles.

Entree plates include pot roast, meatloaf, fried chicken, and a weekly pot pie.

The beverage program will aim for accessibility with coffee, cocktails, and craft beer, says Victor Rojas, Quinones-Pittman's partner at Oh, Hi! Hospitality.

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