Set to a sound track of swaying palms and Tankless Electric Water Heater Faucet tumbling waves, Puerto Rican comfort-food classics get Andrés’s experimental touch in a glass-and-wood Caribbean perch at the ultra-luxe Ritz-Carlton Dorado Beach. Prefer to keep it classic? Steer your beloved to the art-filled Chamberlain Room, dotted with sterling-silver champagne buckets and voluminous floral arrangements. Brass martini carts roll by velvet-upholstered booths, and melt-in-your-mouth osso buco is served alongside lipstick-red currants. Advertisement 4 of 16 Chris Granger Pêche, New Orleans Veterans of Herbsaint and Cochon procure some of the tastiest oysters in the country—the humble bivalve a known aphrodisiac—and serve them up raw or fried with a classic mignonette, a fitting prelude to an assortment of piscine delicacies (Gulf Coast shrimp, locally caught catfish) grilled over a custom-built hearth.com 3 of 16 Casey Dunn Jeffrey’s, Austin, TX With its four separate dining spaces, the revamped and reopened Jeffrey’s offers the perfect backdrop for all manner of dates.

Lobster is the star in the updated asopao, a hearty stew flavored with red peppers and cilantro; the lechón asado (suckling pig) brightens with the addition of caramelized mango. What makes a restaurant truly romantic? Softly lit nooks and pages of Barolo may be catnip to Cupid, but if the food is forgettable, his aim isn’t the only thing that’s going to be off. Better yet, slide into a green velvet banquette and wait for the gilded martini cart to pass you by, or snuggle up by the crackling fireplace. In expanding our list of America’s most romantic restaurants—from mountaintop huts to metropolitan marvels—we doubled down on the best new restaurants that not only offer seductive settings and intimate service, but also feature inventive, mouthwatering cuisine presided over by a host of renowned chefs.

But it’s the rum-soaked coquito that really seals the deal with tiny spherified balls of fruit and juice presented in a coconut shell that was picked earlier that morning from the shore just beyond your window.com Advertisement 5 of 16 Dylan + Jeni Bar Sajor, Seattle . pecherestaurant. ritzcarlton. Take rock-star restaurateur José Andrés’s latest endeavor, the glass-and-wood-enshrouded Mi Casa, set against the turquoise waters of Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach.February 03, 2014 1 of 16 Ritz-Carlton Reserve From Portland, OR, to Portland, ME, perfect meals seal the deal at the country’s most romantic restaurants. While the swaying-palm sound track and sand-between-your-toes vibe may draw you in, it’s the spicy lobster asopao and rum-soaked coquito (served in a coconut shell from the beach mere steps from your table) that make for an unforgettable date. For those whose palates run a tad more trad, Jeffrey’s, in Austin, TX, may be just the ticket.

In search of liquid courage? Sidle up to the sycamore-paneled bar, where tuxedo-donning bartenders will mix you a handcrafted cocktail to wash down your lobster and caviar blinis. But what really sets Pêche apart from other seafood joints: farm-fresh sides that accompany each dish, including citrus–and–butter bean purée and pickled mushrooms with chiles—another stimulating ingredient. Similarly retro but no less exciting, Miami newcomer The Cypress Room (the crown in the city’s brilliant Michael Schwartz’s triumvirate) serves frog legs and lamb tartare at white cloth–draped tables flanked by aquamarine tufted banquettes. With our list of America’s best new restaurants for romance, even on the off chance your date is a dud, you can be sure your taste buds are hitting a homer