My husband and I love to go to Chef's Expressions Valentine's Dinner..(they are on the 12th and 13th this year)..and its at Gramercy Mansion..six course wine dinner and it's always beautiful and very first class.

so I thought I'd just publish a picture of a chocolate caramel cashew tart instead. Just as sexy, right?

Well, perhaps not as sexy as a lingerie-clad actress licking a pumpkin. But I digress...

I can not understand why there are so many Melting Pot options on the list. I realize this is Open Table's list and not your's EL. I think your list would include more local, non-franchise places.

On the Melting Pot... I will say this opinion is based on a very poor experience at one in Washington. We were seated in what was called the "Lovers Lane" section which contained booths for two. However the room was insanely small, lit by mini halogen spotlights, and overheated (when it's summer and you are wearing a "barely there dress" to begin with and you are sweating like a race horse... not too romantic).

That experience left a bad taste in my mouth despite being at other locations for group dining. I've not checked to see if others offer tables for two for romantic dining. Do they? Are they nice, romantic, and comfortable? Because I like playing bopping for shrimp with a sharp stick on a romantic date. I'm being humorous there. Almost everything fell off my skewer on one occasion and I was reduced to using the scoop spoon to locate my food.

I've never been to Chef's Expressions Gramercy Manor Events, but I hear wonderful things from those who have.

I vote for Kali's Court's next-door sister, Mezze.

How about a Top 10 places to avoid at all costs on 2/14? (obviously Melting Pot is number 1)

Is that a hockey puck on that plate?

Our holiday is the penultima of St. Valentine's day. On Feb 13 in 1981 -- a Friday that year -- I drove from Westbrook, CT, to Stevenson, MD, with a dozen red roses (I had given other numbers and combinations before) and my grandmother's engagement ring to have dinner with my then and always beloved. She cooked (and actually it was one of the last times she ever did in our house, since the kitchen is MY ROOM!) beautiful bay scallops and sweet, short grain brown rice. There was probably a salad on the table too. And there was a too cute Valentine on my plate as we began.

We have reenacted some variation on that scenario ever since (it seems more interesting than our actual anniversary), with yours truly always bringing the flowers and my SO&O with a card. It will be 28 years this month.

All of which is to say, we have never gone out on Valentine's day! It is, after all, a day late, and we have always been a dollar short.

The boy and I went to Della Notte's last year for our anniversary, and the staff went out of their way to make it all special and romantic...but our anniversary is at the end of March. Given how the restaurant is laid out (one or two large, high-ceilinged rooms, it looked like) I imagine it would be a nightmare on a big date day like valentine's day.

I also do not see the big deal about the Melting Pot. Trying to break off strings of melted fondue cheese is not exactly my idea of sexy. Ugh. Fondon't.

Ms Misha, welcome back. Haven't seen you in a while. Maybe I should start a rumour that you were away with OMG; but then Ms Bourbon Girl might be unhappy.

I suspect the Melting Pot is just somewhere couples are more likely to feed each other off their two-pronged forks. ga-ross.

Went to the Melting Pot in Columbia once. I would not consider it romantic. Over priced and small portions. I like fondue at home better.

Based on several experiences I simply don't get the rave for Tersiguel's. You get seated in a former bed/sitting room with a couple of other tables and either no one talks because the conversation echos to all or some loudmouths blab away. As for the food it's just as good at several bistro style restaurants in the area and you don't get the snooty attitude.

that list- some one should look up romantic in the dictionary before they post a list like that one. might as well have put panerra bread on it. boo..... id hope as the food critic for a major usa. city you could do better than that!!!!
btw whats will all the adds for wolf's rest. group all through this site, makes you wonder.

Makes you wonder what? Does it confuse you that a restaurant group would pay to advertise on a food blog in a major US city? I don't know Mr. Briskie, it sure makes sense to me. And just to be clear, it's not EL's list, that's what the link is for!

I have to defend Tersiguel's here. The food is sometimes hit or miss, but I have never once, in the twelve or so years I've been dining there, had anyone be snooty or give me any other sort of bad attitude. More often than not, we are greeted by Fernand Tersiguel himself at the door with a smile and a handshake. Our table has always been ready when we arrive, and the staff is always always always kind and gracious.

On one occasion, the servers figured out that every one of the eight or so couples in that dining room was celebrating an anniversary. Fernand brought out bottles of champagne and served everyone in the room personally. I've celebrated birthdays there as well, and even the other patrons were kind and warm enough to wish me a happy birthday.

The food may not be any better than any other place, but the atmosphere could not be more friendly or inviting.

Believe it or not everyone's favorite Miss Shirley's in Roland park has a beautiful Valentines day dinner with low lights, table clothes, candles and fresh flowers. The food is wonderful and tables are by reservation only. I was there last year and the homemade mushroom bisque was the best I've ever tasted and the filet melted in your mouth!

i understand it was a list from open table,i would think that the balt sun food critic would post her own, and to the paid advertising on this site i do find it strange that it appears on a web site were said product is reviewed, call me old fashioned but i miss the day of the mysterious critic ,unlike today where restaurants have on staff bloggers to support themselves and hurt others.

I did post my own. Did you click on the link? EL