Valentine's Day Dining in Cleveland - Cleveland Article

Need some ideas on where to eat while getting struck by Cupid’s arrow? Here are some thoughts:

Romantic Restaurants

Cozy corners: Sit side-by-side, play footsie or just nuzzle-up at restaurants like XO Steakhouse, Lola Bistro and Morton’s The Steakhouse that offer high-end (and delicious!) menus, as well as quiet corners and booth seating for a little romance.

Romanza: Head over to the romance-inspiring Little Italy to perennial favorite La Dolce Vita Bistro where you can reenact the spaghetti scene from Lady & the Tramp [tip: go on Mondays for Italian opera singers]. Afterwards, head across the street to Presti’s Bakery for their famous cannoli or up the street to Corbo’s Bakery for some mouth-watering strawberry cassata cake.

Waterfront Affair: Few dining experiences compare to the relaxing setting of those offered by restaurants that sit along Cleveland’s many waterfronts. Take your pick.

Ohhh La La: That ticket to Paris not in your budget? Then bring the salle à manger française to your amoureux at one of Cleveland’s many French restaurants including  L’Albatros, EDWINS, Cowell & Hubbard, Chez Francois, Tartine Bistro, and Le Petit Triangle Café.

Nightcap: Make it a late night by grabbing a nightcap at the Velvet Tango Room near the West Side Market with its sultry jewel tones, dim lighting, sexy jazz tunes and, of course, incredible cocktails. On the east side? Sip a vintage glass of wine or tip back a hard-to-find craft beer in the quaint and quiet La Cave Du Vin.

Sweets for Your Sweetie

Romance and dessert go together like strawberries and champagne.  Try some of these spots for a little indulgence. Or, consider one of these decadent destinations:

Ice Cream: Spoil your sweetheart with homemade ice cream at the quaint Sweet Moses Soda Fountain and Treat Shop in the Detroit-Shoreway, at a locally owned Mitchell’s Ice Cream location (there are eight of them) or inside the totally unique Churned Ice Cream Shop in Tremont where you’ll get unique ice cream flavors like wasabi ginger and rosemary garlic.

Chocolates: Frozen dairy delights not your thang? Make it chocolate, then. Beer and chocolate is the name of the game at Lilly Handmade Chocolates in Tremont where the gorgeously, designed artisanal chocolates are perfectly paired with an extensive array of craft brews. Malley’s Chocolates (various locations) offers on-site ice cream parlors, along with their ridiculously huge selection of chocolates. And, Sweet Designs Chocolatier in Lakewood makes great gift-giving boxes for the chocolate-lover in your life.

Cookies, Cakes & Pastries: Located in Tremont, A Cookie & A Cupcake is a Cleveland treasure serving up mile-high cupcakes crowned with copious amounts of buttercream frostings, fruit toppings and even cookies. Or, tip back a glass of champagne along with some seriously sexy macaroons at Coquette Patisserie on the east side.