6 Florida Restaurants Among 100 Most Romantic In America: Study

FLORIDA — If you're looking for the best spot to have your next date night this Valentine's Day, you may not have to travel too far. That's because six Florida restaurants rank among the nation's most romantic places to have a meal, according to the reservation website OpenTable.

After nearly two years of celebrating at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 34 percent of Americans who celebrate the holiday haven't dined out for Valentine's Day since before 2019, an OpenTable survey found. However, that seems to be changing, the company said.

"Our data suggests that Valentine's Day dining is rebounding this year, with reservations up 30 percent nationwide compared to last year," said Susan Lee, Chief Growth Officer at OpenTable. "We're excited to see this momentum leading up to what has traditionally been one of the biggest dining days of the year for restaurants."

To help diners get away for a night of romance and fall back in love with restaurants again too, OpenTable has curated its annual 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America list, which ranks the most intimate culinary destinations based on more than 12.4 million diner reviews.

This year's list spans 33 states coast-to-coast. California dominates the list with 11 restaurants, closely followed by Ohio and Georgia at seven restaurants each.

In no particular order, here are the six restaurants in the Sunshine State that earned a coveted spot on the list:

Bijoux (Miramar Beach)

Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits is a full-service fine dining restaurant located in The Market Shops outside the front entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Open for dinner seven nights a week, the restaurant features the freshest Gulf seafood, prime steaks and an extensive award-winning wine list. An intimate lounge at the restaurant features a full bar complete with a large selection of specialty martinis.

Christini's Ristorante Italiano (Orlando)

Christine's Ristorante Italiano is a fine-dining Italian restaurant in Orlando open for dinner seven days a week and features a Northern Italian menu that has delighted guests from all over the world. According to the restaurant, it's famous for its freshly made pasta, enormous veal chops and Chilean Sea Bass over a shrimp risotto. It also has an extensive wine list and full bar, with a sommelier to help answer guests' wine pairing questions.

Christner's Prime Steak and Lobster (Orlando)

Opened in 1993, this family-owned business and award-winning steakhouse is a fan favorite among locals and even celebrities. According to WESH-TV, singer Kid Rock once asked his server at the restaurant if he could pick up the tab for a United States Marine and his wife. Basketball legend Larry Bird has also dined here a few times. The restaurant is known for its high-end steaks and seafood served in refined dining rooms enlivened by piano music and magic shows.

Kres Chophouse (Orlando)

Kres Chophouse describes itself as a classic, top-tier steakhouse with a modern eclectic flair. Located in the heart of Orlando's historic district, the restaurant specializes in house-aged, hand-cut prime steaks and the freshest seafood, sourcing quality ingredients that emphasize authenticity over pretension. The full bar boasts a diversified and well-curated wine list coupled with a weeknight happy hour featuring half-priced appetizers at the bar.

Latitudes Key West (Key West)

Latitudes is located on the private island of Sunset Key, which means you can only get there by boat. The restaurant serves a fresh, flavorful island cuisine with free ocean breezes and gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Mystick Fish (Palm Harbor)

The Mystic Fish Seafood Grill and Bar has been rated among Tampa Bay Top 30 Restaurants since opening in 2001. The restaurant serves some of the freshest and most creative seafood dishes as well as bison, duck, beef and nightly specials. Guests may choose their favorite wine from the stellar wine list or enjoy generous cocktails from the full liquor bar. A grand selection of homemade desserts along with espresso and cappuccino are also available.

While nearly every cuisine type is highlighted on OpenTable's list, the "most romantic" may be surprising. Despite the increasing popularity of vegan and plant-based options, steakhouses account for 37 percent of the list, followed by Italian (13 percent), seafood (12 percent) and contemporary American (11 percent), according to the company.

OpenTable's 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2022 is generated solely from diner reviews collected between Jan. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021. All restaurants with a minimum "overall" score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. The overall score is made up of unique data points, such as overall diner rating, user klout, total number of reviews, and regional overall rating. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the percentage of reviews, for which "romantic" was selected as a special feature.

This article originally appeared on the Orlando Patch