Awwwww: restaurant reservation site Open Table has named Baltimore the 17th most-romantic city in America. That means we’re more romantic than Las Vegas (not difficult) and less romantic than Columbus, Ohio (hmmmm….).
Open Table’s method for discerning romance is somewhat questionable — they scanned their special restaurant seating data to find the cities where many restaurants were rated “romantic,” where diners requested tables for two, and where folks dined out on Valentine’s Day. So it’s not surprising that their list of the city’s 10 most romantic restaurants is similarly uninspired:
Louisiana Restaurant (Fells Point)
Aldo’s (Little Italy)
Charleston (Harbor East)
Kali’s Court (Fells Point)
Ciao Bella (Little Italy)
Da Mimmo Finest Italian Cuisine (Little Italy)
Fleming’s Steakhouse (Inner Harbor)
The Prime Rib (Downtown)
Sotto Sopra (Mt. Vernon)
Ruth’s Chris (Inner Harbor)
If a paramour tried to take me to a steakhouse in the Inner Harbor for a special occasion, I would probably break up with him immediately. Italian food? Snooze. Honestly, most of my favorite Baltimore restaurants probably aren’t listed on Open Table because they’re small and ethnic and (gasp!) cheap. (I like this “romantic restaurants” list from Urban Spoon much better.) But that’s just me — readers, where do you go to dial up the romance?
Oh Jesus. Is Open Table looking at BSO program ads from 1996? They ought to be horsewhipped for suggesting these overrated eateries. (Kali’s Court is especially guilty here.) Maybe if your spouse has been reluctant to put out for some time and you think a wildly overdressed and overpriced meal might get her or him to open his or her legs for a change–and you’ve got the money to burn–by all means, be their guests. Otherwise, save your pennies, Baltimore.
I don’t know. I think Charleston deserves to be on the list. Yes, it’s pricey but it is romantic (and it is a special occasion). The Prime Rib too. It has that perfume-and-high-heels vibe. Those two definitely get my vote. But I would love to hear what others think.
Birrotecca, Woodberry Kitchen, Formerly the Chameleon (sniffle, sniffle), Stang of Siam, Ze Mean Bean…and…not romantic, but seems to get us in the mood…Sticky Rice!! (I know, I’m bad)
Ambassador Dining Room is number 1 on my list.
Okay. Now I’ll be nice. Ambassador is very romantic, winter or summer. Though noisy, Petit Louis is as echt French as Baltimore gets. b bistro on a slow night is lovely and cozy, especially in the banquettes. We love Chameleon Cafe–hope it hasn’t changed too much.
I just can’t get romantic over a forty-dollar undressed whole fish [my partner can] or a fifteen-dollar side order of creamed spinach [you know who you are].
I’m cheap and old and my diet pill is wearing off.