The Best Date Night Options Part 1

My husband is a total foodie! So our date nights usually consist of trying new restaurants. I have narrowed down my top 5 absolute favorites, that we have become repeat customers.

1. Luca Italian- We originally went here for a friends birthday and were skeptical based on the menu. But afterwards we loved it. Don't let the menu fool you. The menu is very eclectic and has some weird combinations, but they work really well together. When the food arrived, we were all sampling each others dishes and everything was phenomenal. I loved it so much, that I decide to celebrate my birthday back at this great restaurant. It has a romantic feel and the patio is to die for. You get some pretty awesome views of downtown and the lobster risotto is to die for. There isn't a specific dress code, but it is not the type of place to wear jeans and tee. If you are looking for an intimate spot to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, engagement, etc, Luca is definitely the way to go.

2. Mia Bella- This little gem of a restaurant is tucked away in Little Italy. By far some of the best pasta I have ever had. I always order the cheese tortellini without the prosciutto (I recently became a pescatarian. So I have removed all meat from my diet). If you are a meat lover, they will let you add or substitute any meats to their pastas to fit your liking. The atmosphere is way more casual then Luca. The patio gives you a great view of little Italy. It's the perfect little place to meet up for lunch or Sunday dinner. We will be going back here to taste the pizzas!

3. Jekyll's Kitchen- Found in lovely Chagrin Falls. This has always been my fave prior to us getting married. We used to love going here. Unfortunately a few years ago it caught fire and burned down. Luckily they rebuilt it and made a few changes to the menu. The menu became a little smaller but it is still just as good! The restaurant is built right over the falls. So the patio has some insane views of the water falls. It is pretty romantic, especially at night when it is all lit up. This is another place where literally everything on their menu is delicious! After dinner, skip dessert and you can walk to any of the ice cream or sweets shop for an after dinner treat. Jeni's ice cream is by far my favorite and right down the street. The brown butter almond brittle flavor is so good I cant even explain it. This restaurant is perfect for a date night, because it doesn't have to end after dinner. You can walk the falls, get some ice cream, stroll the shops, or just hang in the park.

4. Lobster and Pho- We have only went here once, but this was the best Lobster Roll I have ever tasted! An inexpensive option to go for drinks and a quick bite to eat. You would never really find this, because its tucked away in shopping plaza, so at first it appears as a store. The service is excellent. We both ordered the lobster roll and got cajun fries. The food was so mouth watering good and is so filling. I was stuffed but not to the point where I felt bad. I just felt satisfied and full. The next day I was wanting more, so we will be back!

5. XYZ Tavern- Found in Ohio City, this is a casual "hey lets meet up" type of restaurant. The food is delicious and super affordable. If you are low on cash, but want to hang or just get some great food. XYZ is the place to go. They also have a weekend brunch menu. It's super casual and if you don't feel like getting super dressed up, need a post workout meal, or just a lazy day outing, head here, there is no dress code. You are guaranteed a good meal. This is another place where the date doesn't have to end after the meal. It's in the heart of Ohio City, so plenty of places you can walk to.

I hope this helps with your date night planning. Look for part 2 to come. Have a great week!