25 of the most romantic restaurants in the Detroit area, according to Yelp

By Metro Times editorial staff on Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 5:55 pm

It might be cold AF outside, but things are heating up in time for Valentine's Day, thanks to metro Detroit's dining scene. This is an all-time list of the most romantic restaurants in the Detroit metropolitan area, according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the restaurants category with a large concentration of reviews mentioning "romantic," "date," and derivatives of "Valentine's day," then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning those keywords. The list looks at businesses in the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Macomb. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of Feb. 11, 2021. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score or a score greater than a C/70 as of Feb. 11, 2021.

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21. French Toast Bistro

40370 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth; 734-335-6533; frenchtoastbistro.com
“Worth the wait!! Super cute and romantic hole in the wall place, great staff, and management. We come here all the time and have never had an issue. A little pricey but worth it. Parking is pretty terrible because it's in a strip mall with limited spots, but the food is so good, and they have amazing drinks so I'm giving 5 stars!” — Katie N. on Yelp

Photo via French Toast Bistro/Facebook

25. Forest

735 Forest Ave., Birmingham; 248-258-9400; forestbirmingham.com
“Fantastic all the way around. Our hostess Ashley was exceptional and the service above and beyond. Menu is varied and the wine list is one of the best. The chef has amazing creativity. Romantic and refreshing that it was not too noisy even with a crowd.” — Cherie B. on Yelp

Photo via Forest Birmingham/Facebook

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24. Assaggi Bistro

330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 586-584-3499; assaggibistro.com
“Luckily for me, Assaggi is right around the corner from where I live. It's located right off of Nine Mile in the heart of Ferndale. I've been coming to this place for years and it is always my favorite! The owners are so warm and gracious every time we walk in. All of the servers, bartenders, cooks, line staff, etc. are so friendly. Jeff is our favorite waiter, and he always knows what we like/want. The pink grapefruit martinis are AH-mazing!!!!! I have NEVER had a bad experience here. The food and services are always very consistent. They have a large patio seating area in the back, which makes it feel very intimate outside. They also have a smaller area for outside seating at the front of the restaurant, where you can watch the busy Nine Mile activity! If you try this place, you will NOT be disappointed!” — AveryMaxine N. on Yelp

Photo via Assaggi Bistro/Facebook

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23. Pop‘s For Italian

280 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-268-4806; popsforitalian.com
“If you like wine, check this place out. The waitstaff is well versed in wine and really now their selections. Pair it with a fresh and simple pizza and you've got a romantic dinner for two, meal with friends and family or a quick bite for a happy hour! This place knows what they're doing and never disappoints!” — Mary D. on Yelp

Photo via Pop’s For Italian/Facebook

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22. Vertical Detroit

1538 Centre St., Detroit; 313-732-9463; verticaldetroit.com
“When I dine at Vertical I can pretend for a few hours I'm in NY. Vertical is NY good. Things that were said, "this is the best burger I've ever had" "this is excellent." I also love the space. It's just below ground level and very intimate. Great spot for a romantic date night.” — Rebecca R. on Yelp

Photo via Vertical Detroit/Facebook

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20. Sava’s

216 S. State St., Ann Arbor; 734-623-2233; savasannarbor.com
“A little on the pricey side, but I've really enjoyed everything I've gotten from Sava's. It's great for vegetarians -- the black bean wrap is especially delicious. Great brunch, coffee, dinner entrees, and ambiance. Has a higher-end feel without coming off as stuck up. Book your reservations in advance as they fill up quick”. — Hannah I. on Yelp

Photo via Sava’s Ann Arbor/Facebook

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19. NICO & VALI Italian Eatery

744 Wing St., Plymouth.; 734-207-7880; nicoandvali.com
“My new favorite Italian restaurant in downtown Plymouth. Compari's had my heart and taste buds for the last 8 years but it's time for a new Love.

The bread and olive oil is very fresh and loaded with taste. The salad is well prepared and not your ordinary salad, it's full of flavor. The soup was amazing, my taste buds exploded and you know that twinge you get behind your ears when you taste something so good? Yes that happened. The lasagna was full of so much flavor and different tastes, cheeses, meats, tomato sauce and perfect noodles.

The service from the hostess, waitress, bartender and manager was exceptional to say the least. The style they've created in the design and setup here was very well done. Very relaxing and romantic/trendy. The patio for the warmer months is something you'd see in Tuscany. Very well done.

I'm all in and I'll be loyal to you Nico & Vali.” — Brian S. on Yelp

Photo via NICO & VALI Italian Eatery/Facebook

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18. J.Baldwin’s

16981 18 Mile Rd., Clinton Twp.; 586-416-3500; jbaldwins.com
“I'm not sure what I can say about this place that hasn't already been said. This gorgeous hidden gem is such a romantic place. The environment is as inviting as is the staff. A beautiful warm-hearted tattooed woman gave us amazing recommendations and the smells coming from the kitchen area were mouth-watering. This is the perfect place for dinner, just a glass of wine with your partner or a coffee and dessert night. I'm only sorry it's taken me living in the area so long to visit! P.S. The dessert trio platter is magical” — Sarah L. on Yelp

Photo via J.Baldwin’s/Facebook

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17. Ottava Via

1400 Michigan Ave., Detroit;313-962-5500; ottavaviadetroit.com
“My husband and I came here for date night, they have a very cute/romantic outdoor seating area. We started off with a margarita pizza which was to die for! He got the Bronzino and I got the mushroom pasta. Both dishes were phenomenal and the Bronzino in my opinion was the best iv ever had and the best prior to that was in New York! Totally recommend it and I totally stole his dish because it was that good! I wish they had dessert though but unfortunately they did not and I always like to end a delicious dinner with something sweet!” — Zeina A. on Yelp

Photo via Ottava Via/Facebook

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16. Marrow

8044 Kercheval Ave., Detroit; 313-652-0200; marrowdetroit.com
“Had an absolutely incredible experience at Marrow for our anniversary dinner. Menu has to be picked ahead of time, but you truly can't go wrong -- everything was fresh, unique, beautifully plated, and delicious. Our server was kind and attentive while also being careful to limit contact due to covid precautions. We sat on the back patio which had heaters and a fire going, and was a lovely setting for dinner. The tasting menu is well worth the price and we already want to return since the menu changes often! Marrow exceeded our expectations and made our anniversary dinner fun and memorable.” — Carolina R. on Yelp

Photo via Marrow/Facebook

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15. Toasted Oak Grill & Market

27790 Novi Rd., Novi; 248-277-6000; toastedoak.com
“My fiancé and I aren't from the area so we went to the first well-rated restaurant that was near us and we were very impressed! The decor and atmosphere is romantic and unique. It's connected to a gorgeous hotel. Many wine options which didn't disappoint. The food was excellent. We ordered the short rib and the filet. Both exceeded expectations. It is pricey - but for high quality food. Slightly overpriced in my opinion but still worth it. The service was very good.” — Ang Z. on Yelp

Photo via Toasted Oak Grill & Market/Facebook

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14. La Dolce Vita

17546 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-865-0331; ldvrestaurant.net
“We have been here dozens of times over the years & it's ALWAYS outstanding. Have gone for a romantic dinner with just the two of us, with one or kore of our adult kids, several different couples and it's consistently wonderful.

Pours from the bar are generous, salads always fresh and the pasta are like Nona used to make. My wife is partial to the Lasagna Béchamel & I favor the Sinfonia di Mare, although we've enjoyed other dishes as well.

The outdoor patio is charming & the live piano player is very enjoyable. Our only "complaint" is that when we go with two other couples with whom we often dine out, despite our request to NOT do so, they tend to seat us in the "back room" which has the ambience of a VFW hall. Otherwise, we love it here!” — Steve K. on Yelp

Photo via GoogleMaps

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13. La Bistecca Italian Grille

39405 Plymouth Rd., Plymouth; 734-254-0400; labistecca.net
“This has been a long time favorite for special occasions. The atmosphere is romantic and if you're lucky they sometimes have live music. We went this week and had the sea bass and shrimp dish on special. Both were delicious.

The staff here is very attentive and ensures you are taken care of throughout. This is a great place for a great steak too, just tried something different this time. The creme brûlée was a nice finish. They also make an amazing Cosmo!” — Sam B. on Yelp

Photo via La Bistecca Italian Grille/Facebook

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12. Pizza e Vino

849 Penniman Ave., Unit 100, Plymouth; 734-254-0275; pizzaevinoplymouth.com
“Still the best pizza in Plymouth. Nice friendly staff with a hip casual romantic feel. The oven comes all the way from Italy making the pizza very authentic. The salads are delicious and fresh. Great selection of wine.” — Linda B. on Yelp

Photo via Pizza e Vino/Facebook

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11. Johnny’s

215 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-794-1261; johnnysroyaloak.com
“Johnny's is a hole in the wall with entrance from the kitchen door of B's. You are texted a password which needs to be confirmed for entry. The hostess then walks you to the real deal!

The ambience is spectacular. Romantic, intimate and dark. The cocktails were up to par with some of the best ones. The selection is v carefully picked. It is tough to go wrong. Both hubby and I enjoyed our drinks. We got Beet salad, lamb chops and lemon chicken. The food is out of this world. Delicious and oh so beautifully presented! The beet salad came with one of the best tasting fresh goat cheese with sesame seeds. The lamb chops were encrusted in roasted peanuts and served with sake souffle. The chicken was fresh, cooked to perfection and served with lemon sauce and heirloom tomatoes. We loved every bite of our food. So much so, I cheated to get a second portion of the lamb! We gift wrapped our date with their creme brûlée. Perfection in a cup!

The concept is emerging in Michigan and comparatively unique. The ambience will remind you of a romantic rendezvous in NYC. The food is unmatched. The drinks top notch. The service is warm and hospitable. The experience- amazing! Coming back- absolutely yes!!!!!” — Nish S. on Yelp

Photo via Johnny’s Royal Oak/Facebook

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10. Giovanni's Ristorante

330 S. Oakwood, Detroit; 313-841-0122; giovannisristorante.com
“The location of this restaurant is in Southwest Detroit, close to Dearborn. It shares a building with what appears to be a factory. Nonetheless when you enter the restaurant it's dimly lit and reminds me of an old-fashioned steakhouse from the 1970s. In a good way though! Our waitress was very polite and did a very good job. My wife ordered the sautéed shrimp with risotto appetizer, which is basically large fresh shrimp sautéed with herbs and it's placed on top of homemade risotto with cheese. It's very delicious. We had the calamari as well which was delicious. Their pasta is house made, and I ordered the angel hair pasta with Bolognese sauce which was very good. My wife ordered the veal lamb chop bone in, with morel mushroom sauce, which had tons of morel mushrooms and was fantastic.I highly recommend this place and I cannot wait to return” — Mark S. on Yelp

Photo via Giovanni's Ristorante/Facebook

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9. Mr. Paul’s Chophouse

29850 Groesbeck Hwy., Clinton Twp.; 586-777-7770; mrpaulschophouse.com
“My favorite restaurant within 200 miles! Escargot, amazing. Their salad, amazing. Manhattan's, amazing. Been going since 2004. I will continue to go, because it's the best place in town.Atmosphere is romantic with almost a 1950's "rat pack" vibe.”— Brooke B. on Yelp

Photo via Mr. Paul’s Chophouse/Facebook

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8. La Feria

4130 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9081; laferiadetroit.com
“Why did I wait so long to come here! La Feria is a smaller place tucked neatly in a Midtown corridor. Don't let the size of the restaurant fool you! This is an intimate, authentic tapas restaurant which will leave you wanting to come back sooner than later!

They DO NOT take reservations, at least on a Friday. We came here with a group of friends, however, my husband & I arrived early to grab a table. Worked out perfectly as the servers were waiting for a larger table to clear, so they can clean & prep for us.

All employees here are very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is intimate, romantic, but not dimly lit so you can come here with friends too! They offer a full bar and cava, too!

All the tapas my group ordered were just so delicious. We tried the charcuterie, octopus, pork, a few others...then the money...patatas bravas, my favorite!! The potatoes were covered in spicy tomato sauce & aioli, just delicious! For my personal taste I wish the potatoes were cut a bit smaller and more well done, however they still tasted amazing. We also tried each dessert. The flan was perfect and melted in my mouth.

Cannot wait to come back here! Glad there is a better variety of tapas restaurants in the D but I feel like this "cuisine" is underrated!!” — Despina T. on Yelp

Photo via La Feria Detroit/Facebook

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7. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

17440 Hall Rd., Clinton Twp; 586-464-9463; chwinery.com
“First of all, I think it is super cool that this is the first location in the state. If I'm not mistaken, I was told that they definitely plan to open more and very soon.

The location is super nice! The complex that it sits in has other restaurants and stores and even a little play area for the kids! This CH location is BIG and gives you all of the ambiance that they are known for with a nice large tasting area in front and tons of dining space towards the back of the restaurant. I am a wine club member and have been one for years, so it's always nice to see the consistency of quality across the board.

Our waiter was great. I ordered the Southern Hot chicken sandwich. I wasn't a huge fan of it only due to the fact that most Nashville/Southern hot sandwiches that I've had have all tasted differently and this wasn't that. It was still good, just not to be under that category, in my opinion.

If you plan to go on a weekend, make reservations. We had about an hour and a half wait on a Saturday evening for 4 people. Or just head in a drink the time away doing a tasting!” — Sabrina C. on Yelp

Photo via GoogleMaps

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6. El Barzon

3710 Junction St., Detroit; 313-894-2070; elbarzonrestaurant.com
“This is a great hidden gem in the city. The ambiance on the patio is amazing and so is the food. This is a great place for a romantic dinner or friends night out.” — Sandra T. on Yelp

Photo via El Barzon Restaurante/Facebook

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