The Most Romantic Restaurants In The US

Before history buffs get too excited about this Washington, D.C., restaurant’s name, 1789 doesn’t refer to the eatery’s opening year. Instead, Eater reports, the restaurant opened much later in 1962, while the name 1789 marks the year when the nearby Georgetown University was founded. So what’s the draw here for those who didn’t graduate from GU? According to numerous Tripadvisor reviews, it’s all about the atmosphere. One review remarked upon 1789’s “beautiful and quaint setting,” while another admired its “rustic elegance, using beautiful old china and classic white plates to show off the food.” Still another review said it was “romantic — like having dinner in the 1920s.” 

Meanwhile, the food critic at The Washington Post was wowed by the food, even though he passed up the ambiance by ordering takeout for safety’s sake during the pandemic. He dined in solo splendor on such romantic dishes as pheasant ballotine, waygu beef tartare, black truffle risotto, and Tournedos Rossini (foie gras-embellished beef tenderloin), with a Black Forest-inspired torte for dessert. Add old-school tablecloths, fine china, and candlelight to elegant dishes such as these, and you’re sure to fall in love — at least with the restaurant, if not your dining companion.