When this pandemic is finally over, we’re all going to be fighting for the best reservations in town. And we’re definitely gonna need a night out away from the kids and/or pets, alone with the significant other. That is, if you’re still together after almost a year of isolation. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, whether you’re venturing out or simply getting takeout, love is on our minds and so are these 30 romantic spots around town.

Chez Francois 555 Main St., Vermilion Nestled on the banks of the Vermilion River, this quaint French restaurant reminds us of why we might never need to visit France. While it’s a bit of a hike out to Vermilion, this is dining and views at its finest and well worth the trip. Photo via Chez Francois/Facebook
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse Multiple Locations What started off in 1988 as a standalone steakhouse on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights has turned into 5 different restaurant concepts and 13 Hyde Park’s – including three around Cleveland and one in Akron. And while sometimes chains mean lower quality, this franchise has kept up the quality of their delicious steaks and fancy dining rooms, which are seasoned with their special steak butter. Photo via Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse/Facebook
ML Tavern 34105 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills With Hyde Park being around so long, it’s almost an afterthought in the Cleveland steakhouse scene, but that shouldn’t be the case with ML Tavern from the Hyde Park Restaurant Group. While not a traditional steakhouse, the thick cut steaks, and especially the rib eye, are totally on point at this beautifully decorated Moreland Hills joint that will make you feel like you’re sitting in a Ralph Lauren advertisement and are dining after you’ve finished riding your horse. Photo via Scene Archives
Pier W 12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood This Lakewood seafood restaurant has won Scene’s best of ‘most romantic restaurant’ multiple times, and for good reason. Since 1965, these views of Lake Erie and the city are unmatched, the atmosphere is sophisticated and elegant and the seafood is delicious. Photo via Scene Archives
Bruno’s Ristorante 2644 West 41st St., Cleveland Stepping into this cozy neighborhood ristorante – with its wooden bar, linoleum floors, and menu of pizza, pasta, and assorted parmigianas, cacciatores, and marsalas – is like traveling back in time to the days when Italian restaurateurs baked their own breads, made their own pastas, and served it all in charming, intimate spaces. Almost everything on the “full-meal deal” menu is delish. But when it comes to fried calamari and baked lasagna, Bruno’s scores among the very best. Photo via Bruno’s Ristorante/Facebook
The Marble Room 623 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Located in the old National City Bank building, it’d be hard to find a more beautiful restaurant in town then the swanky Marble Room. The name says it all – the beautiful marble columns and intricately designed molding is absolutely stunning. And the steak is up there for the best in town. Get the ribeye and thank us later. Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
Luca 2100 Superior Viaduct., Cleveland One of the best Italian restaurants in town also contains one of the best views of the city. The sacchetti, which contains white truffles over ricotta stuffed pasta shells, may sound heavy for the summer but you have to get it while sitting on the patio at this Superior Viaduct located spot. Photo via Luca Italian Cuisine/Facebook
Delmonico’s Steakhouse 6001 Quarry Ln., Independence Head out to Independence to visit this Italian-accented steakhouse, owned and operated by the local Hospitality Restaurants group. For a little something extra, try the Christopher Style steak, topped gulf shrimp, asparagus and béarnaise sauce. In addition to their tasty slabs of beef, extensive wine list and professional service are additional reasons to visit. Photo via Delmonico’s Steakhouse/Facebook
Cabin Club 30651 Detroit Rd., Westlake Big, juicy steaks, an annotated wine list, and friendly waitresses make this the place for expense-account types to unwind after work or to entertain on the weekends. Excellent choices include the Cabin Club strip steak, the center-cut rib-eye, a behemoth porterhouse, and a buttery filet mignon. A few seafood and poultry items are also available. Photo via Cabin Club/Facebook
Guarino’s 12309 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Established in 1918, Guarino’s in Little Italy is Cleveland’s oldest restaurants and is still a family operation. The old world decor tends toward Victoriana and the kitchen’s pasta, veal and seafood dishes are all Italian. Photo via Guarino’s/Facebook
Red, the Steakhouse Multiple Locations Luscious slabs of beef and creative, indulgent salads, sides and desserts make this modern American steakhouse a prime location for well-heeled meat-eaters. A well-organized wine list, gracious service and contemporary rustic decor with a Napa-like sophistication complete one of the best steakhouses in the midwest. Photo via Scene Archives
Cru Uncorked 34300 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills Maybe the fanciest joint in town, this Moreland Hills French fine dining restaurant is truly one of a kind in the region. If it wasn’t for the table settings, it would be easy to forget that you were touring a public restaurant and not the private home of the wealthiest family on the street — a street that also happened to be located in the ritziest zip code in town. The actual building looks like it was plucked from the Normandy countryside. Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
Don’s Pomeroy House 13664 Pearl Rd., Strongsville This restored mid-19th century mansion, which overlooks the town square of Strongsville, creates a dining experience that can’t be replicated. Featuring a traditional menu of steaks, seafood and chops, Don’s is pretty traditional menu-wise, but everything is done right. What’s really cool about this place is all of the different rooms of the mansion you can sit in – the study, the parlor, the library, the pub, or the patio when the weather’s right. Photo via Don’s Pomeroy House/Facebook
Sunset Harbor 625 Prospect St., Fairport Harbor Located on Lake Erie, this hidden gem sits on the dock of a fishing pier in Fairport Harbor, out east by Mentor. Enjoying some fish tacos and a cold beer is our idea of summer, while watching the sun set over the 90-year-old Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse. Photo via Sunset Harbor Bar and Grille/Facebook
Le Petit Triangle 1881 Fulton Ave., Cleveland A little cramped, occasionally noisy, and quite possibly the city’s smallest restaurant, this tiny French bistro still manages to provide a romantic atmosphere while turning out superlative crepes, earthy pâtés, and one of the best Croque Monsieur sandwiches this side of the Seine. You’ll be transported to Paris for a couple hours here. Photo via @Lindsey_Salchi/Instagram
Blue Canyon 8960 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg Perched on a hill overlooking the Ohio countryside, this rambling lodge offers a lovely backdrop for their hearty American fare. While entrées like short ribs and mac ‘n’ cheese may sound homey, count on the restaurant to update them with luxury ingredients and season them with culinary magic. Photo via
Aurelia 16 North Main St., Chagrin Falls Chef-owner James Balchak spent nearly six months converting the North Main Diner, formerly Dink’s, from a dowdy luncheonette to a smart little supper club. Energy from the buzzy bar scene boosts the mood and spirit of the entire space, ensuring that the atmosphere never dips to melancholy. This farm-to-table restaurant has recently found its footing after testing some things out and figuring out what worked and what didn’t. Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
Il Venetian 100 St. Clair Ave. NE., Cleveland From the team behind Marble Room, and the fabulous Lockkeepers in Valley View, Il Venetian opened to rave reviews in 2018. While the city in general is full of Italian restaurants, downtown doesn’t have a ton of them. Now, there’s a new option, and it’s up there for the best Italian in town, with a creative menu and beautiful decor. Photo via Il Venetian/Facebook
Strip Steakhouse 36840 Detroit Rd., Avon Housed in a 160-year-old Pennsylvania Dutch barn, this steak house is anything but old-fashioned. Owner Ron Larson spiffed up the interior in ways that will pleasantly surprise diners expecting doilies and drapes. The two-story barn features a first-floor lounge with open kitchen and a spacious loft dining room. First-rate steaks and chops share the menu with less conventional steakhouse fare, like smoked chicken, pasta Bolognese and horseradish-crusted grouper. Photo via @Stripsteakhouse/Instagram
Blu, the Restaurant 3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood Svelte and sophisticated, Blu, formerly Moxie, is where you take your significant other to impress them with your good taste. The heavily seafood menu is artfully presented by professional servers. Finish your meal with the baked hot chocolate and you are guaranteed to leave happy. Photo via Blu, The Restaurant/Facebook
Nighttown 12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights The preeminent jazz and blues club in town also serves up some of the best high end pub fare in town in a romantic atmosphere, and that’s been the case since 1965. What can be better than a Dublin Lawyer while listening to some soothing live jazz?? Photo via @JCopsey/Instagram
Paris Room 7 North Franklin St., Chagrin Falls If you’re a tiny French brasserie in Chagrin Falls, you almost have to be romantic, no? That’s certainly the case with this gem of a spot, located in the heart of downtown CF. Photo Provided
Marotta’s 2289 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights This upscale traditional Italian joint has some of our favorite pizza in town. Large slices resembling New York-style pizza and delicious pastas are just some of the wonderful options in this intimate setting. Enjoy your meal with their extensive Italian wine list. Photo via Marotta’s/Facebook
Gigi’s on Fairmount 3477 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights This chic and funky wine bar is one of the cooler decorated joints in town. Three always changing entrees are offered in addition to a wide array of their signature bruschetta bars, paninis, salads and small plates. We love their brunch as well. Photo via @GigisOnFairmount/Instagram
Nora 2181 Murray Hill Rd., Cleveland Nora upends the Little Italy stereotype of the spag-and-ball joint by applying classic French technique to Italian ingredients to come up with dishes that are in synch with the season, if not the surrounding restaurants. While you won’t be dabbing red sauce off your shirt, you will be awash in the Old World charm that attracts us to the Hill in the first place. Beneath a pressed-tin ceiling and behind a wall of windows, diners dig into creamy burrata, crunchy polenta fries, wild mushroom stuffed agnolotti, and fettuccine carbonara topped with crispy matchstick potatoes and a buttery poached egg. Photo via Scene Archives
L’Albatros 11401 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland Given that University Circle is the epicenter of Cleveland culture, you’d think it wouldn’t be so damned hard to find a great meal. Fortunately there’s this French-themed gem, the crown jewel of the Zack Bruell kingdom. While we could happily live on the wine and cheese alone, it’s nearly impossible to skip the garlicky snails, the mussels frites, and the textbook skate with browned butter. Do yourself a favor and order the pied de cochon, goosed with the silkiest béarnaise. Photo via Scene Archives
Toast 1365 West 65th., Cleveland Gordon Square’s Toast is one of the most fun and unique dining experiences in town. Farmhouse themed, with a highly curated wine list from owner Jillian Davis, an ever changing menu based on what’s fresh at the local farms, and a choice of one of three dining areas, this place is definitely worth checking out. It’s also the perfect spot if you like to try a bunch of different items. Photo via @Toast_Cle/Instagram

Scene's award-winning newsroom oftentimes collaborates on articles and projects. Stories under this byline are group efforts.