Romantic Restaurants for Valentine's Day in Tampa, Florida

Want to knock the socks off that special person in your life with a romantic dinner for Valentine's Day? If you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, here are some excellent choices of Romantic Restaurants.

My Rating Scale: $$ - Comparatively Inexpensive. $$$ - More Expensive. $$$$ - Have a pocketful of green. Upscale = dress nice. Chic = dress to kill. Come on, guys, take off those oversized shorts and flip-flops and put on something "GQ".

The View at CK's - The Revolving Rooftop Restaurant at The Marriott Hotel, Tampa International Airport. 813-878-6500. Upscale, $$$. Step out of the elevator to see scenic views of Tampa Bay from ceiling-to-floor windows all around you. The restaurant rotates slowly as you eat so you can catch every angle. Terrific European-style formal service, live piano playing at the bar after 8 pm weekends, and excellent food including the choice of a sushi bar and signature breads. Reservations are needed. If it's time to "pop the question", this is the perfect place.

The Capital Grille - International Mall, 2223 North West Shore Blvd, Tampa, FL. 33607. 813-830-9433. Upscale to Chic, $$$. Located in the New Orleans-style outdoor setting of "Bay Street" at Tampa's very popular International Mall, the Capital Grille is top-knotch for tender aged steaks, seafood and their wine selection. A modern, elegant restaurant. Stroll around afterward to see all the other restaurants with outdoor seating and entertainment at certain times. Reservations highly suggested.

The Cheesecake Factory - Also at International Mall. 813-353-4200. Casual to Upscale and Chic, $$-$$$. Nothing like its industrial-sounding name, this is a glamorous restaurant setting reminiscent of Tuscany. Share one sumptuous, thick and creamy piece of cheesecake with two forks. It's more romantic that way. Beside their approximate 50 varieties of awesome cheesecakes, they also serve a ton of hugely plated full meals. Outdoor patio option. No reservations accepted. Be prepared to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour on weekends and holidays. (Note: there are other Cheesecake Factory locations in the Tampa area, but this is the one for romance, and again, the walk on "Bay Street" afterward).

P.F. Chang's China Bistro - 219 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, FL. 33609. 813-289-8400. Upscale to Chic, $$-$$$ - But you can come casually dressed if you don't mind being shown up. A very popular dinner and drinks location. The giant terra-cotta Asian warrior horses at the front entrance are enough to impress. Chang's serves Chinese-Szechwan food in a beautiful setting with hand-painted oriental murals adorning the walls, and dark shiny woods. Generous portions with some Gluten-free menu options. No MSG. Outdoor patio option with a cosmopolitan view of three other restaurants. Reservations are needed. To be sure to get the time you want, make them 4-5 days in advance.

Bern's Steak House - 1208 S Howard Ave., Tampa, FL. 33606. 813-251-2421. Upscale to Formal, $$$$. Bern's is the place that airline employees will tell first-time Tampa visitors to go, but it can also get reviews of being overrated. However, the romantic mood is there. Bern's is known for their steaks and wine cellar selections. At one time, they had a $10,000 single bottle of wine in stock. Impress your date with that! A separate dessert room with flaming selections. Reservations are needed

The Melting Pot -13164 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL. 33618, 813-962-6936, or 2221 4th St N. in nearby St. Petersburg, FL. 33704 (separate website), 727-895-6358. Casual to Upscale, $$. Share a fondue or two together. There's nothing more romantic than dipping your fondue sticks full of scrumptious food into the hot cheese, chocolate or other choices at the same time. Sometimes portions are small. If you're going at 8 pm, have a snack at 5 pm. Reservations are suggested.

Sources:

http://www.ckstampa.com/.

http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/About/main.asp.

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/default.asp.

http://www.pfchangs.com/.

http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/.

http://www.meltingpot.com/.