Cincinnati’s Top Valentine Venues

If your perfect Valentine’s Day dinner means spending a quiet, relaxing evening staring into your sweetie’s eyes, try one of these romance-rousing restaurants:

• If you are looking for a dinner full of bling, look no further than Pigalls! This Parisian-style restaurant is the region’s only Four Star Mobile and Four Diamond AAA restaurant. Even with all that sparkle and shine, this fine dining establishment isn’t stuffy! Pigalls’s Web site says you have your choice between couture and casual. Part of the Jean-Robert Group of restaurants, it boasts a New York ambiance with Cincinnati charm. Jean-Robert is also a noted philanthropist, so you’ll feel even better about splurging on your honey.
• If a romantic, candle-lit dinner – worthy of “Lady and the Tramp” – will get you in the amore mood, check out Barresi’s in Deer Park. Enjoy traditional Italian food, seafood, veal or beef entrees. Every dinner comes with zeppoles, one of Barresi’s most delectable treats. Fried dough with a dash of salt is the perfect mate for your Italian dinner!

Maybe a view of the sparkling city skyline is just what the love doctor ordered this Valentine’s Day. These restaurants boast some of the best views in the city!:

• Get a view of the Levee and Cincinnati this V-Day at the Chart House Restaurant! Some of the menu items they are best known for include the Snapper Hemingway, Shrimp Fresca and the slow roasted Prime Rib. And don’t forget the Chocolate Lava Cake! Check out the menu and make your reservation online.
• Take a peek at what you could see this Valentine’s Day! Primavista boasts the city’s best panorama view of Cincinnati, day or night. The Italian menu is a bit pricey, but the high-class atmosphere, glass tabletops and breathless view make it more than worth it!
• If it’s seafood you want, and you’ve got your sea legs, visit Mike Fink’s on the river! If you can take your eyes off your dreamy date this Valentine’s Day, you can enjoy the breathtaking Cincinnati skyline as you dine on an authentic paddle-wheel riverboat.

If you’re not into candle light and quiet and want a little more excitement this year, check out one of these red-hot hotspots:

• Want to lock up your love this Valentine’s Day? Well, now you can at Teller’s of Hyde Park. The former Hyde Park Savings and Loan plays off if its banker’s heritage by incorporating teller windows and putting a single table in the old bank vault.
• In the mood to get up and move it? Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year, meaning it’s Ladies’ Night at Havana Martini Club! There’s no cover charge and specialty martinis are only $4. The only craziness at this Cincy hotspot is on the dance floor; other than the drinks, Havana is best known for its class.
• Try something completely different this V-Day with the Argentine Bean! Enjoy drinks like The Naked Blonde, My Latin Lover and El Diablo. More of a coffee or wine connoisseur? The Bean’s got you covered. They also offer tango and salsa lessons, so you can get the full Argentinean feel.

Looking for something completely different? Maybe some sushi or an island respite from winter? Check out one of these:

• Want a little spice to take you away from a cold Cincinnati winter? Check out Cactus Pear Restaurant in Clifton, which is known for its Southwestern, Caribbean and Tex-Mex dishes. Go for the drinks, go for the spicy food and you just might find there’s more than one way to warm up on Valentine’s Day!
• Been wanting to try sushi but not sure where to go? Try the Dancing Wasabi at 1018 Delta Ave. in Mount Lookout. Although it offers a casual atmosphere, it’s one of the premier sushi restaurants in Cincinnati.
• Maybe some authentic Japanese dining is what you’re looking for this V-Day. If so, check out Soho on 7644 Voice of America Drive in West Chester. Teppanyaki chefs prepare your feast before your eyes in the main dining room while a wall-sized waterfall helps provide a relaxing atmosphere. If you want to go traditional Japanese, reserve a tatami room where you can eat bare-footed and on the floor.

Maybe you just want to get some dessert to accompany your main dish? Try out one of these yummy sweet shops to sweeten up your special night:

• It doesn’t have to be your wedding to get some of Bonbonerie’s famous opera crème torte. You can get an entire cake, cookies, scones, pastries, cake candy, bon bons…well, just about any kind of sweet thing imaginable!
• You’ve heard of the battle of the bands, well now there’s the ice cream clash! You can either enjoy ice cream and chocolates at an authentic ice cream parlor in Oakley Square at Aglamesis Brothers or enjoy a Cincinnati staple in Graeter’s handmade ice cream with impossibly huge chocolate chunks packed into every pint.

All right, all you single women out there. I didn’t forget about you! If you’re not into spending Valentine’s Day alone, gather up a bunch of your girl friends and head to The Melting Pot. This fondue restaurant doesn’t just offer couples a fun-filled dinner together! It allows you to cook your own dinner at the table. They offer chicken, beef and seafood, and dark chocolate fondue and strawberries for desert. It takes a little longer to finish your meal, but that’s even better for catching up on all the gossip! What more could a group of sexy singles ask for? Check out the special Valentine’s Day menu and make your online reservation.

Or get dressed up for an evening at Via Vite downtown. Not only does it offer a great view (of the city and people), it's a great place to enjoy a yummy dish while dishing about your best dating horror stories, disastrous embarrassing moments and online dating drama.

Although we tried, it’s impossible for us to list all Valentine’s Day outing ideas, so if there’s somewhere great that we didn’t list, post it in the comment section below. We (and all the Cincy Chic readers) would love to learn about your beloved locale.