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

This week in gluttony

Garden parties top 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Dallas Arboretum Food and Wine Festival 2022

Photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum

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Festival season has arrived and one of Dallas' biggest takes place this week, with more than 40 chefs and restaurants in a garden setting. The garden theme continues with botanical tea party and author book signing and a cherry blossom dining experience at a sky-high restaurant. End the week with a Sunday morning "rave" bumping with caffeine and DJ beats.

Wednesday, March 25

Herradura Tequila Dinner Experience at Barrel & Bones
The Colony craft bar and smokehouse will host a tequila pairing dinner featuring five expressions of Herradura Tequila. Menu highlights include ahi tuna tostadas, fire-roasted adobo marinated whole pork, and chocolate cake with vanilla flan. Dinner is $80, and begins at 7 pm.

Thursday, March 26

A Cherry Blossom Experience at Kessaku
The sky-high sushi lounge will host four days of a seasonal three-course dinner with illuminated cherry blossoms and a “love letter ceremony.” Write a wish and tie it to the trees. The menu includes green tea service, edamame, marinated cucumbers, and a Kessaku tower of Wagyu steak tartare, sashimi, nigiri, and more, with lychee gelee for dessert. The dinner is $150, and seating times start at 6 pm. Dates are March 26-27 and April 2-4.

Paul Hobbs Wine Dinner at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
Enjoy wines from California, Argentina, and New York during this five-course pairing dinner at Del Frisco’s in Dallas and Plano. The menu includes halibut and shrimp ceviche, Duroc pork Milanese, Hudson Valley duck, Snake River Farms ribeye cap, and salted caramel bread pudding bites. The $185 price includes tax and gratuity and dinner begins at 6:30 pm.

Dallas Arboretum Food & Wine Festival
Sample dishes from more than 40 DFW chefs during this springtime festival in the gardens of the Dallas Arboretum, at the height of Dallas Blooms. Multiple James Beard Award finalist participants include Misti Norris (Far Out), Abraham Salum (Salum), Matt Balke (Encina), Nikky Phinyawatana (Asian Mint), and Eduardo Osorio (Meridian). Tickets are $162 ($142 for Arboretum members) and the event will run from 7-9 pm.

Wine Tour Around the World at Fearing’s: It’s All in the Blend
As part of Fearing’s Wine Tour Around the World dinner series, this event will explore the artistry behind blended wines. Selections to be featured include wines from Spain, Portugal, Sonoma Valley, and Champagne. The $179 price includes culinary pairings with the guided tasting. The event begins at 7 pm.

Saturday, March 28

Garden Botanical Tea featuring Kimberly Schlegel Whitman at Bar Juniper
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas will host author and lifestyle expert Kimberly Schlegel Whitman during an afternoon tea service with a presentation and book signing of her book, A Loving Table: Creating Memorable Gatherings. The $125 reservation includes a signed book plus spring pastries, finger sandwiches, sweets, and garden-inspired teas. The event will run from 12-2 pm.

Sunday, March 29

This is Coffee and a DJ New Artisan Distillery
Combining caffeine with bass, this high-energy Sunday morning “rave” will feature hand-crafted coffee and matcha beverages along with cocktails, mocktails, breakfast bites, and DJ beats. Suggested entry fee is $10, or pay $15 for a coffee beverage and bites, or $25 for a cocktail and bites. The party will run from 11 am-4 pm.

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