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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Red letter opening

Dallas bar veterans open Italian speakeasy-restaurant in Denton

Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Exposed stone walls and a backlit glowing bar anchor the subterranean space at Red: Italian.

A new speakeasy lounge serving high-end Italian food has arrived at a cool historic building in Denton. Called Red: Italian, the subterranean restaurant opened in the basement of Ruby Rodeo, a bar and live music venue located at 122 N. Locust St. on Denton Square.

The concept comes from Victor García and Mike Church. García spent years at Truth & Alibi — the popular speakeasy lounge disguised behind the faux storefront of the Deep Ellum Candy Company — before acquiring the same space for Scarlett Lounge and Kitchen in Deep Ellum in 2024. Church, a commercial pilot, trained at The Culinary School in Fort Worth and the Ritz-Carlton to refine his passion for cooking.

The business partners say they fell in love with the historic nature of the 1877 building in Denton, which housed Andy’s Bar for 30 years.

“We have always loved the building — it is the oldest building on the square. We saw the vision and loved the aesthetics for both our Ruby Rodeo and Red: Italian concepts,” Church says.

After opening Ruby Rodeo, the duo launched Red: Italian this month. Church notes that the "red" naming convention across their concepts — Scarlett, Ruby, and now Red — nods to his favorite color, a symbol of passion, and the red wines and tomato sauces central to Italian dining.

Church’s passion for Italian cuisine defined the menu, which he created alongside executive chef Denise Gabrielle, his former culinary school instructor. Gabrielle brings decades of hospitality experience from the Westin Hotels, The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, and most recently, The Taste Project in Fort Worth and Arlington.

The 58-seat underground space — which includes 10 seats at the bar — serves elevated Italian classics. Entrees range from $25 to $40, with menu highlights including:

Spicy sausage lasagna with arrabbiata sauce
Cacio e pepe bucatini
Chicken piccata
Braised lamb leg
Mediterranean Sea bass
Shrimp diablo
Espresso-crusted filet mignon with Italian seasoning

Appetizers are priced under $15 and include house-made fried mozzarella, stuffed mushrooms, grilled artichokes, bruschetta, meatballs, and flatbreads. The kitchen also serves salads, featuring a classic Caesar and a house chopped salad with nine toppings.

Shrimp diablo served over pasta with toasted slices of bread at Red: Italian.Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Desserts feature house-made panna cotta, ricotta-amaretto Italian cheesecake topped with drunken cherry sauce, and a table-side bananas Foster served with house-made amaretto gelato.

The bar program leans into Italian flavors with options like an Italian margarita made with house limoncello, tequila, amaretto, and simple syrup, alongside a peach Bellini and a smoky Godfather. The wine list spotlights Italian bottles and a selection of Napa Valley options.

“The place has the perfect intimate, upscale, fun Italian wine and food ambience,” Church says.

While entering Red doesn't require a password, it still has an off-the-beaten-path entry that is characteristic of speakeasies. Social media posts direct patrons to "look for the red awning" adjacent to Ruby Rodeo’s black awning. A set of red stairs leads guests downstairs to a door with a small sign reading "Red:".

To preserve the speakeasy atmosphere, cell phone use is discouraged. The space also features subtle Easter eggs for guests to discover, such as conversation starters tucked beneath the napkins.

Following a sold-out opening weekend, Red: Italian is now open, with an official ribbon cutting planned for September (exact date to be announced).

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 5-10 pm, with last seating at 9 pm to wrap up dinner service before Ruby Rodeo’s live music starts upstairs at 10:30 pm.

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