date nights

Dallas steakhouse makes 2026 list of most romantic restaurants in America

Better make those date night reservations early.

Photo courtesy of OpenTable

Dallas diners looking for special date-night inspiration don't have to look far: Online reservation platform OpenTable has spotlighted several local spots on its newly updated lists of the most romantic U.S. restaurants.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille in Dallas' Park District has charmed its way into OpenTable's 2026 list of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in America. Perry's has made the cut for two years in a row.

Perry's boasts other DFW locations, in Frisco and Grapevine, but the Park District spot (at 2100 Olive St.) was the only one to make the list.

Also noticeably absent from this year's top-100 list was Dallas' iconic Dakota's Steakhouse, which was highlighted in 2025.

The list was compiled using more than 9 million restaurant reviews on OpenTable from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025. Restaurants were evaluated based on six metrics, including diner ratings, the percentage of reservations made in advance, and more. Qualified restaurants were not given a score; they were instead ranked by the percentage of reviews that included the tag “romantic."

But wait, there are more lists.

OpenTable also curated a citywide list of the 77 "Best Romantic Restaurants" in downtown Dallas. The top five are:

Dakota's Steakhouse
JW Steakhouse
Hampton House
Monarch at Tower Club Dallas
Toussaint Brasserie

OpenTable's separate "Diners' Choice" list offers the most romantic restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth, which is updated monthly based on regional diner reviews from the previous four months.

The latest edition, released January 5, includes Asian fine dining restaurant Regines Lounge, modern sushi staple Hinoki in Frisco, elegant Italian eatery La Bistro Italian Restaurant, culinary hideaway The Blue Room at The Crescent Hotel in Fort Worth, fondue restaurant The Melting Pot in Arlington, and more.

For those still looking to make Valentine's Day dinner plans can use CultureMap's big guide, which includes menu details, prices, and more.

Those headed out of town for Vday might want to check out four other restaurants around Texas that made the OpenTable top100 list. They are:

Jeffrey's Restaurant in Austin
Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab in Austin (Truluck's also has locations in Houston, Dallas, and Southlake)
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse at the Houston Galleria
Bohanan's Prime Steaks and Seafood in San Antonio

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H-E-B begins quest for Texas' best in 2026 grocery competition

H-E-B

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It’s not America’s Got Talent or The Voice, but for 12 years, H-E-B has been steadily churning out stars. Through its annual Quest for Texas Best competition, small companies have become literal household names, filling pantries across the state. Now, a new crop of products has the chance to audition.

H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best will take applications for its 13th annual contest from March 11 through April 22. Small business owners and entrepreneurs across the state can submit their unique and innovative products to win a combined $100,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to feature their products on H-E-B shelves across Texas.

Since the competition started, H-E-B has discovered over 1,000 unique products across the Lone Star State. These have included various food and non-food items, including cookies, coffees, beauty items, toys, home goods, and even roasted crickets. The contest has awarded nearly $3 million in prize money and provided valuable marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support to its winners.

Over the years, Dallas-Fort worth has been well-represented among the champions. Spicytude, a Dallas company that sells Indian spices and chai tea, won third place in the 2025 competition, netting a $10,000 prize and opportunity to have products sold at H-E-B stores.

To be considered for the contest, interested suppliers and manufacturers can submit videos online. After the Call for Entries period is complete, H-E-B's Business Development Managers will select the top applicants who will head to San Antonio in October to present their wares in person before a panel of judges.

The jury will determine the top four winning products and award $50,000 to the Grand Prize winner, the title of "Texas Best," and placement on H-E-B store shelves. The first-place winner will receive $25,000, the second-place winner will receive $15,000, and the third-place winner will receive $10,000.

“We look forward to connecting with Texas-based innovators each year and providing exciting opportunities through this competition,” said James Harris, H-E-B’s Sr. Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity for H-E-B, in a release. “I can’t wait to see what products are brought to the table this year. After 12 years of the H-E-B Quest for Texas Best, the creativity and ingenuity of Texans still inspire me.”

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