Romantic Restaurants in the Detroit Area

Although Moro's mainly serves Italian food, the menu includes diverse international dishes, including fish and chips, veal, filet mignon, and spaghetti. Its specialties are salads tossed table side, singing waiters, and flaming desserts. That would make for an interesting dinner, indeed.

The Earle is a French and Italian-country cuisine and wine bar in a tiered, brick-walled dining room. The restaurant, located in the basement of an office building, has the feel of a wine cellar, and that always brings out the romance in everyone. The Earle's expansive wine list and live jazz Tuesday through Saturday add to the mood.

Weber's Restaurant is a longtime Ann Arbor favorite. The main restaurant serves prime rib, steaks, seafood, and sandwiches and sliders. Weber's has more to offer than food and ambiance: You can listen to live music and dance every night in The Habitat Ultralounge, part of the complex, eat or drink on the terrace in seasonable weather, or check out its well-stocked wine cellar.

Ask for a table by the big windows overlooking the Detroit River at this sophisticated restaurant inside Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. Serving Northern Italian and contemporary American cuisine, Andiamo's menu includes homemade pasta, seafood, veal, and steak.

The Rattlesnake Club has a million-dollar view that encompasses the Detroit RiverWalk and the international skyline. It serves American cuisine that includes seafood, lamb, duck, and chicken. The Rattlesnake Club emphasizes seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced for exceptional dining. Reserve a table on the Garden Terrace when the weather is nice.

The Whitney Mansion, built in 1894 by David Whitney Jr., lumber baron and the richest man in Detroit at the time, is a huge Romanesque Revival building that would cost about $9.5 million today.  Its heavy, formal style exudes an Old World mood. The Whitney serves American cuisine, including beef, seafood, lamb, and veal dishes for dinner. Or go there for brunch, afternoon tea, or a drink and burger in the summer at the GardenBar and Grill.

Cafe ​Cortina serves Northern Italian cuisine from pasta to rack of lamb, and the quality of Chef Ernesto's creations and the fresh ingredients have earned it a reputation as a place for the foodies. The restaurant's intimate, cozy atmosphere with a large, brick fireplace gives it romantic credentials.

Jumps is a farm-to-table restaurant where everything is made from scratch. You can go for romantic breakfast, lunch, or dinner, so romantic dining isn't limited to nighttime in this cozy restaurant.​

Voted Hour Detroit Magazine’s 2014 Restaurant of the Year, Marais is absolutely fine dining at its best. Fabulous French food, served with flair and beauty, gorgeous displays of French macarons, and warm blond and gray decor all add up to a very romantic night out.

A local favorite since 1953, Luigi's is an old-style Italian spot complete with red-and-white-checked tablecloths. A large wine cellar and nostalgic feel make it a great casual neighborhood romantic spot for any old night of the week. A bottle of Chianti, spaghetti, and thou. 

The Toasted Oak Grill is a casual three-room restaurant that also contains a bar, wine store, and market. It has an interesting, warm atmosphere and serves creative dishes with a focus on Michigan ingredients, and it's romantic in a laid-back way that includes patio seating under umbrellas. It's open for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

5ive Steakhouse & Bar is in the lobby of the Inn at St. John's, which is surrounded by a golf course and park-like greenery. The location of the restaurant makes a meal feel like a special occasion, and the menu is eclectic with a focus on steaks. 

Station 885 is family-owned and railroad-themed. Its roaring fireplace and subdued lighting give it an elegant atmosphere. The menu is varied and includes dishes such as calamari, pizza, veal, and meat loaf. Live entertainment on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday adds to the special mood.

Mr. Paul's has a cozy atmosphere with brick walls and live piano music. On the menu are seafood, beef, and pasta dishes such as rack of lamb, lobster, and Chateaubriand for two served table-side.

The menu and ambiance at Portofino are more boathouse restaurant than Italian eatery, but it has enough Italian cuisine to satisfy a craving for pasta or traditional chicken and veal dishes. Its beautiful river views and airy dining space add to the appealing mood, and you can eat outside when it's warm, with an even better river view.