WASHINGTON — If you’re worried that your cooking may leave your special someone less than impressed, consider visiting one of these romantic restaurants for Valentine’s Day.
Don’t worry: Romantic doesn’t always mean expensive. Some of these restaurants landed on the list for their intimate and cozy ambiance.
1340 4th St., NE Nick Stefanelli opened Masseria across from the main hall at Union Market a year and a half ago. Since then, the Italian restaurant has become a favorite of local diners, critics and even former first lady Michelle Obama. Fire pits, candles and strung lights set the outdoor dining patio aglow. Inside, bartenders concoct cocktails to keep you warm from the inside, out. (Photo credit: Scott Suchman)
Photo credit: Scott Suchman
1226 36th St. NW
This upscale Georgetown restaurant is located in a renovated Federal period house and is outfitted with antique furniture and prints. The menu at 1789 includes a variety of fish and meat dishes, and offers diners a choice of a four, five or six-course meal. (Photo Courtesy 1789/Heather Freeman)
Photo Courtesy 1789/Heather Freeman
3234 11th St. NW
It’s a small restaurant with a lot to offer — including an impressive wine, cocktail and dinner menu (everything from grilled cheese to harissa chicken to pan-roasted duck breast). Room 11 is the perfect date-night spot if you’re looking to fill up on good food — and keep your wallet full at the same time — in a cozy environment. (Photo Courtesy 1789/Heather Freeman)
1734 N St. NW
Iron Gate originally opened in 1923 as an inn. In 2013, Neighborhood Restaurant Group reopened the old carriage house and stables as a restaurant. During warmer months, the courtyard, covered in strung lights, is the perfect place to sit and sip a cocktail. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
705 6th St. NW
On the first floor of Daikaya, hungry diners slurp bowls of ramen, but upstairs at the Izakaya, Japanese whiskey and traditional small plates rule. The dark eatery is the perfect place to spice up your relationship — and your palate. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
The dining room at Joselito Casa de Comidas on Capitol Hill — complete with imported marble-top tables — transports visitors to old-world Spain. The menu is a collection of modern Spanish favorites, many of which come straight from owner Javier Candon’s family. If you’re on a budget, visit the restaurant during “Hemingway Hour” when everything, including drinks, is 20 percent off. (Rey Lopez)
Rey Lopez
601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW At Fiola, award-winning chef Fabio Trabocchi serves rustic Italian cuisine in a modern setting. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
1601 14th St. NW If you can’t afford a trip to the City of Love, consider a meal at Le Diplomate. The restaurant, in the heart of a bustling stretch of 14th Street, serves traditional French fare, including radish crudite, steak frites, omelette and a robust selection of fromage. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
1602 17th St. NW
Nestled in a Dupont Circle row house, Floriana is a warm, intimate and tasty Italian restaurant. (You can’t go wrong with fresh pasta and wine.) (Courtesy Floriana)
Courtesy Floriana
1541 14th St. NW
If pizza is more your speed, check out Etto for a selection of brick-oven baked pies, cheese, salumi and wines. (Courtesy Floriana)
828 Upshur St. NW You’ll have no choice but to cozy up next to your significant other at this tiny Petworth eatery. And now, Himitsu takes reservations. (Courtesy Himitsu)
Courtesy Himitsu
974 Palmer Alley NW Fall in love with chef Amy Brandwein’s Italian cooking at Centrolina, a City Center restaurant. (Courtesy Centrolina)
Courtesy Centrolina
122 Blagden Alley NW Tucked away in an alley in Northwest, D.C., is The Dabney, which specializes in mid-Atlantic cuisine, cooked in a wood-burning hearth. (Courtesy Streetsense/Greg Powers)
Courtesy Streetsense/Greg Powers
1250 9th St NW Bond over your love of pizza at All-Purpose. (Courtesy Streetsense/Greg Powers)
