16 Date-Night Dinner Recipes for a Romantic Meal at Home There's no better way to impress that special someone than by whipping up one of these unforgettable dishes. By Megan Passaro Megan Passaro Megan Passaro is an Editorial Director for Food & Wine, focused on kitchen product reviews. She joined the company in 2015 and has over 12 years of experience writing and editing food, entertainment, and lifestyle content. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann is an editor, baker, and confectioner with more than 15 years of experience in content creation, recipe development, and pastry production. She's obsessed with the fine details and ingredients that take dishes from tasty to outright otherworldly. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 6, 2026 Add Us On SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: Justin Walker Whether you're serving a succulent steak or silky, rich pasta, a romantic dinner for two can make an ordinary evening a little more special. Go big with pan-roasted lobster or braised short ribs, or try your hand at homemade pizza. For a special holiday, anniversary, or a spur-of-the-moment surprise, add these romantic dinner recipes to your arsenal; you'll come back to them time and time again. Keep all of your recipes at your fingertips. With the MyRecipes app you can easily save and organize your favorites from anywhere, including Instagram and TikTok, in one convenient place. Get the free app. 01 of 16 Cola-Braised Short Ribs with Risotto Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Ideal for a cozy date night in, these fall-off-the-bone short ribs simmer slowly in a wine-and-stock braise subtly sweetened with cola. Spoon them over creamy Parmesan cheese risotto and you have a dish that’s equal parts elegant and indulgent. Get the Recipe Save 02 of 16 Slow-Roasted Salmon with Citrus-Olive Relish Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Silky, slow-cooked roast salmon fillets are adorned with a bright, briny citrus-olive relish for a sophisticated dish that takes just under an hour to prepare. Serve it over a bed of couscous or another grain to soak up all the juices from the relish. Get the Recipe Save 03 of 16 Spaghetti with Mussels Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen In this lemony 30-minute pasta dish from Andrea and Daniele Zazzeri, fresh mint and white wine help lift the briny flavors of mussels. It's at once easy and elegant. Get the Recipe Save 04 of 16 Steak au Poivre Jacket Potato Food & Wine / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Prop Stylisng by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling For this classy yet approachable mashup dish from F&W recipe developer Renu Dhar, twice-baked russet potatoes become the base for pepper-crusted strip steak and a luscious pan sauce. Get the Recipe Save 05 of 16 Pan-Roasted Lobster with Chive Beurre Blanc Justin Walker "Be sure to serve the lobsters on a warmed large platter so the beurre blanc stays hot," says former F&W editor Mary-Frances Heck. "I love to line the platter with hot cooked linguine before topping it with the roasted lobsters and lemony sauce. The pasta soaks up some of the sauce and makes for a decadent second course once all the lobsters have been eaten." Get the Recipe Save 06 of 16 Rosé-Braised Pork Belly with Lentils Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Pork belly, olive-studded lentils, and an herbaceous basil pistou come together for this bright, melt-in-your-mouth dish full of bold flavors. Get the Recipe Save 07 of 16 Mushroom Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle Homemade ravioli are stuffed with fresh and dried mushrooms enveloped in a creamy blend of ricotta and mascarpone, then coated in a rich brown butter–sage sauce for this stunning dish. Drizzle truffle oil into the filling for a lavish touch. Get the Recipe Save 08 of 16 Steak Frites with Black Garlic Butter Victor Protasio Nothing says romance like a perfectly cooked steak and crispy fries. This one with black garlic butter is matchmaking material. Get the Recipe Save 09 of 16 Proposal Chicken Parmesan Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Nicole Hopper / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle Tasty enough to garner a marriage proposal, breaded and fried chicken cutlets are blanketed in mozzarella and served over a delectable sun-dried tomato cream sauce. Get the Recipe Save 10 of 16 Petite Beef Wellington Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen You know love is in the air when these Wellingtons are on the menu. The single-serving format feels especially extravagant; a higher ratio of crackling puff pastry and earthy mushroom duxelles envelops juicy roast beef to delight your guest of honor. Get the Recipe Save 11 of 16 Shrimp Fra Diavolo Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle Plump, sweet shrimp are simmered in a spicy tomato sauce for this simple Italian dish your partner will love. Don't forget to soak up all that sauce with crusty bread or polenta, or serve the entire combination over pasta. Get the Recipe Save 12 of 16 Potato Pizza with Crème Fraîche and Bacon Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Made with crème fraîche, caramelized onion, and bacon plus soft confit garlic cloves, thin slices of potatoes, and baby kale, this sublime pie borrows from the flavors of classic Alsatian pizza. Get the Recipe Save 13 of 16 Coq au Vin Blanc Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel Food blogger Anina Belle Giannini's version of the timeless French chicken and vegetable stew leans on a dry white wine like Chardonnay instead of the traditional red. With browned chicken pieces, bacon lardons, and a rich, buttery sauce, it remains wonderfully indulgent. Get the Recipe Save 14 of 16 Crisp Paupiettes of Sea Bass in Barolo Sauce Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Risha Carnes Classic, elegant, and utterly delicious, this dish from Daniel Boulud features a symphony of perfectly tender fish swaddled in thin, crisp potatoes atop a luscious layer of melted leeks and rich red wine sauce. Get the Recipe Save 15 of 16 Caramelized Onion and Bread Soup with Brûléed Blue Cheese Greg DuPree This reimagining of traditional French onion soup keeps things bright, flavorful, and balanced with nutty oloroso sherry, mixed caramelized onions, and crumbly Stilton cheese. Get the Recipe Save 16 of 16 Rack of Lamb with Mustard-Shallot Sauce © Kate Mathis A rack of lamb is the right move for a special dinner for two — it's the perfect portion of meat to split and works with almost any side dish. Shallots, white wine, chicken broth, mustard, and thyme mingle with the pan juices to create the accompanying sauce. Get the Recipe Save Explore more: Food Holidays & Occasions Valentine's Day Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit