10 romantic restaurants for date night in Dallas

by Diana Spechler

Updated 31 January 2023

The most romantic restaurants in North Texas—an eclectic mix of iconic barbecue joints, taquerias, and candlelit retreats—offer a nest for every pair of love birds.

Couples who lust after beach getaways can hit a Mayan Riviera-inspired spot in Park Cities. In Uptown Dallas, a white-tablecloth dining room delivers steaks and “accessories” (filet mignon with blue cheese crust) to those craving classics with a twist. At a century-old bar and tea salon downtown, a cozy fireplace and golden ceiling set the stage for opulent romance.

Read on for a guide to the 10 most romantic restaurants in Dallas. All you need is an appetite and the cool confidence you’ll get from booking your date-night table in advance.

Haywire - Uptown Dallas

4.6

4.6 (1801)

$31 to $50

American

East Dallas

About the restaurant

The second location of this restaurant with an upscale bar atmosphere just opened in Uptown, and it’s just as much fun as the Plano Haywire. Though the vibe centers on drinking, the menu is far from pub grub. Delicious Southern dishes — fried green tomatoes, cornmeal-crusted catfish, shrimp and white-cheddar grits — meet recipes straight from the Texas-Mexico border: spicy tortilla soup, charred jalapeño creamed corn, and grilled chipotle meatloaf with smoked tomato poblano salsa. Add to that a long steak menu and any cocktail you can imagine.

Top review

CoreyC

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Wow! What an incredible experience! The venue, the food, the cocktails - all excellent! A special mention about our server, Jake. Jake was outstanding! His food and wine recommendations were great, and he couldn’t have been any nicer! He truly made the experience what it was. Highly recommended!

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4.8

4.8 (1037)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

If the way to your date’s heart is through the stomach, book a table at this neighborhood favorite. Dominican chef Miriam Jimenez cooks up traditional Mexican dishes, throws in a little Tex-Mex, and adds some recipes from the D.R., too. Think house-made mole, lobster tacos on blue corn tortillas, and brisket enchiladas with Oaxaca cheese. Wash dinner down with a cold Mexican beer or a michelada, or one of the house specialty cocktails, such as the house mimosa made with prosecco, Italian bitters apéritif, orange or mango habañero juice, and fresh fruit. Colorful wall art lends the space a sleek, contemporary ambiance, and the bar itself is another work of art.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

Awesome time. The owner was there and was so kind. Super amazing night!

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Popular dish

Enchiladas Mar y Tierra

Uchi Dallas

4.7

4.7 (3905)

$50 and over

Sushi

Uptown

About the restaurant

From the most celebrated collection of Japanese restaurants in Texas, Uchi makes for the perfect romantic evening in the Arts District with its low ceilings, dim lighting, high-quality sake selection, and recipes only James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole could dream up. Inventive dishes include thinly sliced flounder with candied quinoa and olive oil, smoked amberjack with yuca crisp and marcona almond, and Japanese sea bream with Asian pear. Cole trained under sushi masters in Tokyo and beyond, and his name is now synonymous with greatness in the Texas sushi world. His restaurants in Austin and Houston are just as popular and impressive.

Top review

Ladytorlos

Dined 6 days ago

Incredible as always. Sat at the sushi bar, unfortunately the sushi chef did take a very long time between sending us pieces, so we had to rush at the end to give our seats to the next reservation which feels bad if you’re spending so much on a meal. But anything is worth getting to eat the gyutoro and fried milk.

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4.8

4.8 (389)

$50 and over

Italian

East Dallas

About the restaurant

Nothing says “I love you” quite like zipping your date up the elevator of a skyscraper to the forty-ninth floor to dine surrounded by glass walls that offer the most stunning 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the city. Award-winning chef Danny Grant’s modern Italian fare includes prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella salad and a whole menu of house-made pasta dishes (the black truffle risotto is a don’t-miss). Add wine pairings and impeccable service and you’ll see why Monarch, despite its newness, is one of the most talked-about restaurants in Dallas.

Top review

kennethvip

Dined 7 days ago

Great view ambiance and service Food was great but not exceptional for the price. Antelope was a bit chewy and not much flavor. The pasta was best

Pangea Restaurant and Bar

4.5

4.5 (2664)

$31 to $50

American

Garland

About the restaurant

Nothing spells romance quite like the unexpected, so check out this eclectic international restaurant set in the suburbs. Chef Kevin Ashade’s roots in African and Jamaican cooking fuse with recipes from all continents, rendering Pangea’s menu a round-the-world trip, all from the comfort of your table in Garland. Spacious but cozy, casual but top-quality, Pangea delivers delicacies such as snow crab scampi in creamy butter sauce, thyme- and rosemary-crusted lamb chops, and Ashade’s coq au vin that toppled Bobby Flay in Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay.

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Tink

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

This place has a nice, cool vibe. I’ve gone for dinner and Sunday brunch and it hasn’t been noisy but it’s very lively- especially with the decor. Young & old come here, so I think it keeps it nice and balanced. They play a variety of music that most people would ask for and they have really good drinks. The portions are decent but my waffle on my chicken n waffles was a little dry so I was a bit sad about that. I love the chef’s infused flavors so if you looking to have a worry-free good time I think you should try them out

Ocean Prime - Dallas

4.7

4.7 (5495)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Uptown

About the restaurant

America’s favorite upscale steak and seafood chain from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is among the gems of Dallas’s Uptown fine-dining scene. If you want a romantic night out on the town, this white-tablecloth restaurant almost makes it too easy, delivering classic elegance complete with flawless wine service and mix-and-match steaks and “accessories.” That translates to dishes such as filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, blue cheese crust, or even a whole lobster tail. Like any steakhouse worth its salt, Ocean Prime’s sides — smoked gouda tater tots, black truffle mac and cheese, bacon creamed spinach — steal the show, and they’re perfect for sharing.

Top review

Beckyvip

Dined 5 days ago

Our first time at Ocean Prime was memorable. Food was outstanding - especially redfish and salmon.. Francisco was an excellent waiter -- cocktails and Merry Edwards San Blanc great. What more can I say. Drove up from Austin, stayed at the Melrose. Watched the Longhorns destroy okie state -- won Big 12 and are now one of four teams in College Football Playoffs. Wish you had an Ocean Prime in Austin. We are believers.

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Popular dish

Chilean Sea Bass

Popular dish

Truffled Deviled Eggs

Popular dish

Sea Scallops

Tulum

4.3

4.3 (1108)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

Turtle Creek / Oak Lawn

About the restaurant

Free your senses from the ordinary and discover the alluring culinary escape of Tulum. Allow yourself to be transported to the breezy, bohemian coast of Mexico, where exotic flavors and rustic elegance meet. Tulum is a place to feed the body and soul with a menu of fresh, organic land and sea fare. Every dish is something new that extends beyond the bounds of traditional Mexican food. Enhanced by an extensive wine list and inspired cocktail program, Tulum’s culinary collision of tastes is designed to capture your imagination and carry you away to a dining experience unlike any other. Come and experience our Tulum Nights every Friday and Saturday from 10PM to 2AM.

Top review

DFWTomvip

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Always delicious

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4.8

4.8 (388)

$30 and under

Middle Eastern

Uptown

About the restaurant

If you can’t swing a romantic getaway to Morocco, you can at least book a table at Baboush for Moroccan and Lebanese dishes served in a space modeled after a Marrakesh marketplace. Moroccan lanterns light the ceiling, brightly colored poufs accent the more conventional furnishings, and mosaic patterns throughout the restaurant complete the Eastern Mediterranean vibe. Share some hummus, kebabs, and tagines while sipping a blackberry cocktail. For dessert, the baklava is a standout.

Top review

MarioC

Dined on 26 Nov 2023

We went for a date night. Superb food, atmosphere, and service. Highly recommended.

Reata

4.7

4.7 (7605)

$31 to $50

Regional American (Southwestern)

Fort Worth Downtown

About the restaurant

For a one-of-a-kind cowboy dining experience, bring your date to Fort Worth’s most iconic restaurant and enjoy the Texas-centric fare, from chicken-fried steak with cracked-pepper cream gravy to jalapeño- and cilantro-crusted Texas red fish to dessert tacos with caramelized bananas and chocolate “gravy.” Since 1996, locals and tourists alike have flocked to Reata for its famous steaks, distinctly Fort Worth vibe, and fun cocktails. Try a cowboy cosmo (orange vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry, and lime), or, if you really want to impress, go for the billionaire margarita (añejo tequila, cognac, simple syrup, and lime).

Top review

JeffS

Dined on 2 Jan 2023

We have been going to Reata for years now and always have an amazing experience. Everyone is so personable and friendly; the waiters/waitresses are very knowledgeable. My wife has a gluten allergy and they had a lot of options for her. We will be back again!

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4.7

4.7 (5884)

$50 and over

Regional American (Southwestern)

Uptown

About the restaurant

Situated in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the swankiest restaurant in Dallas is romantic year-round, not just on Valentine’s Day when there’s a “lover’s menu” on offer. Couples can get cozy in plush booths or belly up to the Rattlesnake Bar, as local celebrity chef Dean Fearing cooks up his famous Southwestern cuisine. Split Fearing’s version of surf and turf — barbecue-spiced beef filet and chicken-fried Maine lobster over whipped potatoes and spinach tacos with smoked tomato gravy — and don’t skimp on the wine pairings.

Top review

TomHvip

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Excellent experience.

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