Best Romantic Dining in Reno

Lulou's is the place in Reno where you take your favorite date or demand to have your birthday dinner. From both locals and visitors, LuLou's is said to serve the best food in town. It is one of the most expensive places in the city, but the dishes are made with fresh, local ingredients and the service is unsurpassed. The atmosphere is chic and modern with a hip interior. The building itself stands out in this part of Midtown with its clean lines and bright colors. Their appetizers like the Crab Cakes and the Heirloom Tomato Salad are small, but the main entree such as Filet Mignon, wild game like Boar and Venison are generous. Other main dishes include Quail, Tuna Tartare and Ribeye Steak with Swiss Chard.

The Shore is located at the Renaissance Reno hotel in Downtown Reno. With views of the city and the Truckee River, you can enjoy the Mediterranean-inspired menu while sitting in a hip, contemporary space. The Shore serves brunch, lunch and dinner and the menu features a variety of items such as Brioche French Toast with warm syrup ($12), Fish Tacos with hapanero-chipotli aioli ($14), and Beef Moussaka with pickled romanesco ($18). Their cocktails (and mocktails) are fabulous and include classics such as the Howard Hughes with gin and sour cherry liqueur ($14) and the Truckee River Green with fennel juice ($10).

La Vecchia has been serving some of the best Italian food in the area for over 20 years. By using local produce and meat in their fine-tuned dishes, the restaurant is a great place for a romantic meal for any special occasion â€" and it won't break the bank. Each meal is served with a complimentary crusty bread. Along with that comes various entrees such as Pumpkin Ravioli with sage, butter, sausage ragout ($16.50) or Crispy Seared Salmon with capers and roasted fennel ($22). Also try their variety of wood-fired pizzas including Proscuitto and Calabrian with fresh, local meats and salami.

The Steak House is located in the lower level of Harrah's Hotel & Casino in Downtown Reno. Voted consistently as one of Reno's top restaurants, their offerings include top prime beef, steaks, fresh seafood, chops and chicken. Romantic candlelight and cozy booths add to the ambiance of the overall wonderful dining experience. The Steak House desserts are well known, many of them are served flambéed by your tableside. The dress code is dress casual, but customers tend to dress up for the Steak House and this is where a lot of Reno's elite will meet up for lunch or dinner.

Located on the Riverwalk in Downtown Reno, Wild River Grille is a contemporary restaurant with nature-inspired influences, a full bar and expansive riverside patio. Situated in the Historic Riverside Artist Lofts Building just across Virginia Street from the Pioneer Theatre, the menu features both traditional and innovative cuisine. The bar prepares incredible hand-crafted cocktails featuring fresh squeezed juices and liquor infusions. Dinner menu items include Ahi Poke ($14) with seaweed salad, Pan Seared Idaho Trout ($24) with herbed buerre blanc and pearl couscous with quinoa, and Grilled Pork Chops ($25) with apple brandy sauce. Try the seasonal selections from the Great Basin Co-Op, just down the street.

Built inside a historic brick building in Midtown, Calafuria serves up classic dishes from Tuscany with an elegant twist. Many of the items on the Calafuria menu use locally sourced ingredients as well. Start off a romantic night with appetizers like Fried Calamari and Sage with lemon and capers ($14) and Vegetarian Tartare with seasonal vegetables ($14). Entrees range from rich Cioppino ($35) to housemade Tuscan sausage from the grill. Of course, don't forget pasta such as homemade cheese ravioli or gnocchi ($20-$24). For dessert, try the homemade Tiramisu with a dash of lavender ($9) followed by an authentic Italian espresso.

When Reno locals are looking for a romantic or special occasion night out, they head to Johnny's. This Italian staple has been in the Reno area since 1966 and serves some of the most authentic food in the area without breaking your wallet. The high-quality meals include signature dishes like Pollo al Raggio ($20) and Penne alla Vodka ($17). There is a large pizza menu and don't forget to order antipasti such as Fried calamari with spicy marinara and caper dipping sauce ($14). Johnny's also has an extensive selection of wines from both Italy and other regions including nearby California.

This popular little restaurant in the Arts District of downtown Reno serves excellent French food in an atmosphere of white tablecloths, brick walls, small, intimate tables and French bistro art prints in a 100-year-old building. The service here is excellent and the staff really know their food and wine. For starters, they usually suggest Onion Soup a la Gratin followed by Mushroom Ravioli or croque monsieur. Other dishes include Coq au Vin with Cinnamon Noodles or Filet Mignon with Port Wine Truffle Sauce. Beaujolais Bistro also offers over 100 bottles of wine including Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir and Beaujolais from France.

This over-21 restaurant and craft cocktail venue was inspired by the World's Fair and is livening up South Reno. The menu is designed by an award-winning chef and features shareable dishes, street food and small plates such as ceviche and tacos made with consciously-sourced ingredients. The craft cocktails include creative spins on margaritas and other classic drinks. There is also a curated wine and spirits list. The Zeppelin venue is intimate and features contemporary design and artwork such as a lacy representation of a zeppelin and attractive, warm lighting. This is a place for couples as well as small groups.

Designed to look like you are dining in a stylish, underwater palace, the Atlantis Steakhouse is one of the top steakhouse experiences in the city. This cosmopolitan dining establishment features Allen Brothers of Chicago meats as well as fresh seafood, chef's specials, cocktails and over 336 selections of imported and domestic wines. Seasonal menu items include California Red Abalone ($30), French Onion Soup $11), Pan Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with garnet yams ($40), and Lamb Chops from Colorado with ratatouille ($48). The various steaks such as American Kobe Strip Loin can be paired with lobster tail, shrimp scampi or even the restaurant's Creamed Corn with a Kick.