Best romantic restaurants photo
(Inn at Little Washington photo by Gordon Beall)

Best romantic restaurants

The Washington Post Staff  |  Updated 02/09/2012

Birthdays, anniversaries and other special dates are best celebrated over an intimate meal.

 
 
 
 
 

Little Serow

Washington, DC

Forgo the menu and, perhaps, the whole idea of white-tablecloth dining, and just give yourselves over to this intimate basement nook where servers don dainty '50s house dresses and one of the city's best chefs ships out course after course of spicy, sour cuisine from the Isaan region of northern Thailand. Bonus: At $45 a person, it's a relative bargain.

 
 
 
 
 

The Inn at Little Washington

Washington, VA

A dinner for two in the four-star enclave of chef Patrick O'Connell is roughly the price of a weekend getaway - the tab nearly always nicks $600 - so it's a good thing the food is as transportive. For gastronomic tourists, the surprising fare and superlative service make this a destination worthy of the biggest celebrations.

 
 
 
 
 

Bombay Club

Washington, DC

A lavish makeover upgraded the Bombay Club's elegant and understated dining room. The Indian cuisine is among the best in town.

 
 
 
 
 

Volt

Frederick, MD

Bryan Voltaggio may not have outfitted his namesake Frederick restaurant in oh-so-trendy leather banquettes and dim Edison bulbs, but the spare decor proves a refreshing change. Perhaps it's because luxury seems reserved for the food, sourced down to the last cocoa nib; choose from a four-course menu thick with oysters and foie gras or indulge with seven. More restaurants are on the way from Voltaggio, including another Frederick venue and a steak house in Chevy Chase, but Volt should remain a destination.

 
 
 
 
 

CityZen

Washington, DC

The Mandarin Oriental's modern dining room pairs fine wines with meticulously crafted contemporary American dishes. The perennial four-star restaurant carries a hefty price tag, making it especially well-suited for very special occasions.

 
 
 
 
 

Komi

Washington, DC

Delicate presentations of contemporary American cuisine sparkle in this sconce-lighted dining room.

 
 
 
 
 

Palena Dining Room

Washington, DC

From the outside, Palena looks like any other neighborhood spot. On the warm and rich inside, chef/owner Frank Ruta's mix of American and Continental flavors proves that it's a cut above the rest.

 
 
 
 
 

Woodberry Kitchen

Baltimore, MD

Everything about this bustling Baltimore restaurant telegraphs earthiness, from the deceptively dilapidated exterior -- it's housed in a former mill -- to the Chesapeake Bay oysters, sweet potato dumplings served with pork fatback and buttermilk sorbet that arrive at your table. Rich, homey and locally sourced, dinner at Woodberry Kitchen hits all the right notes, while main courses remain generally affordable, at around $30.

 
 
 
 
 

Restaurant Eve's Tasting Room

Alexandria, VA

Fresh, local ingredients enliven every dish in chef Cathal Armstrong's dining room. The five- and nine-course tasting menus are gastronomic adventures.

 
 
 
 
 

Tabard Inn

Washington, DC

This cozy, elegant inn in the heart of Washington is ideal for a slow-paced dinner in the springtime, when you can indulge in rich American fare and thoughtful cocktails in the lush, secluded garden patio, one of the loveliest in the area.

 

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