Great date-night restaurants in the Twin Cities area

A great date night can be as casual as a neighborhood hang or a dress-to-impress occasion. No matter the dress code, it’s all about spending quality time against a backdrop of scrumptious food in a cozy, romantic setting. In that spirit, here are the restaurants that make our hearts go pitter patter anytime of year.

MINNEAPOLIS

Run by restaurant power couple Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre, 112 Eatery was the first they opened. It began as a place that was exactly where they wanted to go after years of working in restaurants. The menu toes the line between comfortable and elegant with dishes, like the tagliatelle with foie gras meatballs, that have become iconic. The urban industrial warehouse setting adds an edge to the effortlessly cool vibes inside the dining room and upstairs bar.

112 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 112eatery.com

One of the finest in Minneapolis fine dining for more than 20 years, Alma ages like the fine wines it serves. Chef Alex Roberts’ exquisite menu is separated into courses, and it’s a lovely way to spend time in the low lights of the dining room. Make it an event by booking a room in the boutique hotel upstairs (run by Roberts and his wife, Margo) and ordering breakfast coffee and pastries from the adjoining cafe to be delivered right to your door the next morning.

528 University Av. SE., Mpls., almampls.com

By day Gavin Kaysen’s newest iteration of Bellecour is a neighborhood cafe, but in the evenings the setting transforms to an intimate room staged for romantic evenings. Classic French fare balances fine-dining elegance with an approachable comfort that’s just as suitable for a first date as it is for a special anniversary dinner. Service is attentive without being ever-present. A bonus tip for last-minute date nights: Even when the tables are all reserved, there’s often room available at the bar for walk-ins.

This North Loop spot is a twofer, a place where you can grab dinner and roll into nightly live music. Velvet and vintage brass accents as well as stunning millwork and stained glass add to the vibe of this Art Nouveau-styled space. The menu is small yet mighty with cheffed-up touches, from light bites such as deviled eggs and crudo to entrees like pasta, steak and seafood. Dessert, which includes chocolate coconut mousse with Luxardo cherries and saffron-infused madeleines, is not an afterthought.

204 N. 1st St., Mpls., berlinmpls.com

Rustic Italian charm is on the menu at the reborn Italian Eatery. This longtime neighborhood favorite is now run by the Travail chef collective, and they’ve retained what made it so special while adding more reasons to adore this spot. Let them pick a special Italian wine or start the night with a proper spritz and dig into woodfire-roasted entrees that will leave you feeling like you’re cozying up next to a warm hearth with the one you love.

4724 Cedar Av., Mpls, italianeaterymsp.com

Scan the dining room on any given night and witness a mix of first dates and neighborhood regulars who find this modern bistro an ideal dinner spot. Not only are the cocktails and wine list spot on, but so is the food at this Whittier neighborhood eatery. If you’ve never been, try the burger, grilled octopus or hanger steak with mint chimichurri, and it just might be love at first bite.

Minari’s revamped side lounge may have rolled out more recently, but it’s no afterthought. The intimate, gorgeous, rose-colored setting is just where we want to be for a cozy hang. Casual light bites with culinary precision are the name of the game, from the hand rolls to the “snacks” menu that includes oysters, pork ribs, Korean fried chicken, caviar chicken nuggets and the memorable kimchi cheeseburger, which should not be missed. Sip on island-inspired cocktails or local brews.

323 13th Av. NE., Mpls., minarirestaurant.com

Plan a night out at Small Hours when the week has been relentless; an evening here should be prescribed as an antidote to the stresses of life. Sink into the curated wine selection and order up snacks and a few heartier bites. The room was designed for the vinyl they play, so the sounds are just as lush, soothing and deeply cool.

2201 NE. 2nd St., Mpls., smallhoursmpls.com

For those who insist a date night isn’t complete without surf and turf, this North Loop spot has it in spades. The menu offers plenty of decadence. Oysters and foie gras toast with escargot can be found on the appetizer menu, while entrees are heavy on steaks and seafood. After all, chef Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre ran the beloved Burch Steakhouse (RIP). Add the cushy burgundy booths, soft lighting and attentive service and you get a solid bet for a great date night anytime.

ST. PAUL

Chef-owner Soleil Ramirez has created a tropical paradise just outside of downtown St. Paul. The restaurant serves her deeply personal Venezuelan cuisine with an elegance that warms the heart even in the depths of a Minnesota winter. The setting includes greenery and a gorgeous blue floor that feels like walking on water to a table set for two. Start with some of the rum drinks, wine or NA options and linger through a sweet dessert finish. Entrees will please both sincere foodies and diners looking for meat-and-potato comforts.

84 Wabasha St., St. Paul, crasquirestaurant.com

Every neighborhood should be so lucky to have a restaurant like Gus Gus in its midst. Located at the base of a building near the University of St. Thomas, the interior is a cool boho kind of chic with plenty of cozy tables perfect for comfortably sinking into deep conversation. Dishes are a balance of decadent fun and serious craft. Start with an Aperol spritz-flavored Jell-O shot before proceeding to dishes like the citrusy roasted beets with Chinese sausage or the beurre blanc-blanketed gnocchi.

128 Cleveland Av., St. Paul, gusgusmn.com

790 Grand Av., St. Paul, hyacinthstpaul.com

There’s a reason this St. Paul spot was just named a James Beard Award semifinalist in hospitality. It’s run by spouses Joan Schmitt and Susan Dunlop, who met while working at an upscale steakhouse, and their years of experience lead to unforgettable moments. The tasting menu unfurls with progressively filling, stunning flavors that change depending on Dunlop’s ingredient availability and inspiration. Plan ahead, though; seating is at a premium and reservations often sell out.

631 S. Snelling Av., St. Paul, joansinthepark.com

With white linens, seasonal Italian food and a flickering fireplace, Luci Ancora is a St. Paul institution that was built on romance. Founded by the Smith family in 1996, the warmly lit dining room overlooks the tumbling yard of nearby St. Catherine University. Plush piles of pasta and expertly prepared entrees create choice meals for two.

2060 Randolph Av., St. Paul, luciancora.com

410 St. Peter St., St. Paul, meritage-stpaul.com

A long granite bar beckons visitors inside this art-filled East Side restaurant. The small black booths are perfect for stealing a moment. Focus on each other while touring the menu, which always includes a rotating vegan special that’s been known to beguile any eater, no matter their stance on meat. Start with a selection of teasers, tiny little bites that are fun to share make the evening last a little longer.

989 Payne Av., St. Paul, tongueincheek.biz

The St. Paul dining spot stands like a jewel in the crown of Cathedral Hill. Inside are several seating areas: the casual bar area, a more formal dining room and a snug lower level with a crackling fireplace. The menu changes seasonally but always delivers elegance with a new American influence. In addition to an impressive wine list, there’s also a fabulous selection of zero- and low-proof cocktails for those looking for something special without the alcohol.

374 Selby Av., St. Paul, wafrost.com

Inside Lat 14’s kitchen, celebrated chef-owner Ann Ahmed makes terrific use of fresh herbs and a deeply stocked pantry to create vibrant dishes that impart all the glory of flavors found along the 14th latitude. Aromatic and deeply satisfying, the menu hops from her famous basil chicken wings to sumptuous Bengal curry over to showstopper entrees like the tamarind-glazed walleye. As a bonus for those driving, the full bar shows equal care in crafting NA cocktails as it does with spiked beverages.

8815 7th Av. N., Golden Valley, lat14.com

This spot in a suburban business plaza is fancier than it looks from the outside, with an interior of dark woods, contemporary-yet-stately wallpaper and gorgeous chandeliers. Dishes with global influences come out of the kitchen on pretty vintage-inspired plates. Go as casual as the excellent cheeseburger or pork belly sliders, or more formal with pastas, steaks and fish options. It’s worth considering an order of “Nana’s Meatballs,” a family recipe passed down from generation to generation in which six hours — and lots of love — is put into making the sauce.

3344 Promenade Av., Eagan, kitchenandrail.com

Romance is all about experiencing life’s whimsy and wonder together — which is why dinners at this Excelsior restaurant should always include a johnnycake to share. The giant sweet/salty/savory pan-crisped corn cake is downright delicious. It’s undeniably fun to share, as are plenty of the new American dishes on the menu. From elegant cocktails to a classic creme brulee for dessert, it’s an obvious choice for a special night out.

There’s been buzz around this Italian restaurant since it opened in an unassuming Woodbury strip mall. Inside, the room is open with in-demand bar seats and elegant modern design. Follow your heart through the pasta options with an ever-changing mix of noodle shapes and sauces just as suited for sharing as they are for savoring all by yourself with leftovers to eat cold out of the fridge late at night. Service is warm and attentive, setting the mood for a memorable night.

10060 City Walk Dr., Woodbury, lilianamn.com

Plan ahead for a reservation at this darling Italian restaurant in downtown Bayport. Befitting its charming small-town setting, the room is delightfully cozy. Run the menu from exceptionally made classic cocktails to the exceptional house-made focaccia to pastas and hearty entrees.