Diners' Choice: Romantic restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated 05 May 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the most romantic in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Geja's Cafe

4.9

4.9 (5681)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Lincoln Park

About the restaurant

For over 60 years, fondue dining at Geja’s Café has been a favorite indulgence for Chicagoans as well as out-of-towners. It’s a perfect way to kindle romance, celebrate a special occasion or simply join family and friends for a fun and unforgettable dining experience.
To start we offer a Swiss Gruyere cheese fondue, served with fresh breads, fruits and vegetables for dipping. Our crisp house salad, dressed with tangy Dijon vinaigrette, offers a counterpoint to the rich, warm cheese fondue appetizer.
Next, you’ll cook your choices of Australian lobster tail, Gulf shrimp, beef tenderloin, fresh sea scallops or boneless chicken breast in a pot of sizzling soybean oil or broth. The main course is served with fresh vegetables and eight gourmet dipping sauces.
Our famous chocolate fondue is flamed table-side, and presented with marshmallows for roasting and other delectable dippers.

A 4 % operational fee is added to all checks to work in concert with Chicago's One Fair Wage Ordinance.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The wait staff is outstanding. Food is consistently good.

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Popular dish

Belgian Chocolate Fondue

Popular dish

Prince Geja's Combination

Popular dish

Cheese and Chocolate Fondue

The Alderman

4.9

4.9 (233)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Pilsen

About the restaurant

Winner of the 2022 Jean Banchet Award for Best Bar, THE ALDERMAN is an intimate, 16-seat cocktail bar tucked away, behind closed doors, within Pilsen Yards. The cocktail list rotates some of its original cocktail features, while the twists on American classics are staples of the cocktail list.

With a plush velvet banquette and a 4-seat counter, it’s the perfect room for a night cap, a date, or a casual evening of one to several astonishingly good cocktails.

Top review

AveriletteVIP

Dined on 4 May 2025

We had such a great experience! It’s absolutely a treat - we went there mid afternoon and literally got lost in time 💜. Roger was absolutely the best. He knew exactly what to make us without asking - who does that???!! Roger does! Im into speakeasy’s and this is hands down my favorite.

Francesca's on 95th

4.7

4.7 (1375)

$30 and under

Italian

Oak Lawn

About the restaurant

Francesca’s on 95th is located in vibrant downtown Oaklawn. A restaurant with a contemporary, casually sophisticated trattoria ambiance, rustic cooking, friendly service, and fair prices.

Top review

Deziree

Dined 4 days ago

Great foods, great drinks, great service. I always enjoy Francescas and will continue to return. Highly recommend requesting DeLaina as your waitress!

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Experience

Happy Hour

A Tavola

4.7

4.7 (711)

$31 to $50

Italian

Ukrainian Village

About the restaurant

Founded in 1995, a tavola is one of the city’s best restaurants, bringing Chicago an intimate and authentic dining experience. At a tavola the emphasis is, appropriately, on the food. Authentic dishes from Italian regions are re-created using Italian cooking methods and the finest imported Italian products.

a tavola is the culmination of professional cooking experience by Daniel Bocik, a versatile chef from Chicago, who brings back home the knowledge and experience of an education at the California Culinary Academy and the finest restaurants of San Francisco, Paris, and Milan. To ensure the freshest food at a tavola, fresh fruits and vegetables are selected from a local organic farmer, meats and seafood are personally selected by Chef Dan from local markets.

Top review

LindaVIP

Dined on 3 May 2025

Love this place. It's cozy inside and lovely outdoors. People who work there are lovely. One of my favorite places to eat and fell relaxed.

The Violet Hour

4.7

4.7 (204)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

This James Beard award winning bar program, serves seasonally-driven libations amongst candlelit tables and a sprawling marble bar. Centrally located in the heart of the vibrant Wicker Park neighborhood, surrounded by delicious restaurants and boutique shopping. Cocktails are inspired by trailblazing head mixologist Toby Maloney.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined on 7 May 2025

I had been wanting to check this bar out for a few years. I had high expectations and my expectations were greatly exceeded. Amazing spot. Great cocktails. Attentive bartender. And what I did not expect was absolutely amazing food as well. Come for the cocktails. Or the food. Or both. Excellent spot for a fun evening.

Grapes & Grains

4.6

4.6 (42)

$31 to $50

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

West Loop

About the restaurant

GG, as it is affectionately referred to in the neighborhood, is a piano bar located in the heart of West Loop, featuring Chicago's top talent.

Exposed brick, vintage chandeliers, chesterfield couches, and intimate lighting pay sexy homage to Old Chicago. The main floor boasts 2,500 square feet of gorgeous lounge space complete with a baby grand piano and sabrage room providing the most lively of atmospheres. Guests can reserve a live music experience on select evenings or learn the nuances of whiskeys and wines at one of our monthly masterclass events.

Experience live music performances at GG Wednesday through Sunday. Be entertained on Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM, Fridays 7:00PM-1:30AM, Saturdays 7:00PM-2:30AM, and Sundays 6:00-9:00PM, with no minimums and no live music fee. First come first serve seating and standing room available after 9pm on Fridays & Saturdays.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 1 Mar 2025

didn’t eat there. music was great. service and crowd work were great. i’m gonna be coming back

Mirabella Italian Cuisine

4.3

4.3 (672)

$30 and under

Italian

Avondale

About the restaurant

Mirabella is an Italian steakhouse in the same location where Mirabell Restaurant once stood in the heart of Irving Park. Mirabell, a local staple for nearly 40 years, could not be easily ignored or forgotten; so when the new Owner, Chef Arturo, left his career of 20 years as Head Chef at one of the best steakhouses in downtown Chicago, he felt it was important to recognize Mirabell's unique and longstanding contributions to the community. Mirabella is proud to honor the history and integrity of the former restaurant, while serving the cuisine that Chef Arturo is so passionate about. We welcome you to join us in the celebration of life, love, happiness and delicious food from our famous Grilled Calamari, Chicken Mirabella to our most popular dessert Banana Foster. Mangia!

Top review

gennaVIP

Dined on 3 May 2025

The staff was wonderful! They were so on top of everything and accommodating for various allergies. We will definitely be coming back.

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Popular dish

Risotto with Mushrooms

4.2

4.2 (111)

$30 and under

Italian

Downtown / Loop

About the restaurant

La Bella Trattoria is a bold Italian restaurant in the heart of Chicago’s Loop, located inside a historic landmark building at 120 W Monroe, the restaurant pairs historic elegance with modern style.

Our restaurant serves traditional Italian and Italian-American dishes, specialty cocktails, and fine wines in a lively, stylish setting. Join us for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, after-work happy hour, or for our pre-theater menu before a show.

Parking validation is available for guests dining on weekdays after 3 p.m. and weekends at the 172 W Madison St. parking garage—just $5 for 5 hours of parking, ideal before catching a show in the Theatre District.

For Private Dining & Catering Inquiries please visit our website!

Top review

Mary

Dined on 7 May 2025

Margherita pizza was great. Branzino fish entree was exceptional, but don't order if you don't like bones.

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Experience

$39- 3 Course Theater Prix-Fixe Menu

Experience

Deluxe Glenfiddich Tasting Flight

Experience

Wine Wednesday Special

Revolver

4.1

4.1 (45)

$30 and under

Speakeasy

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Co-owners LeQoinne Rice and Chris Scardina (also behind The Duplex in Logan Square) have invoked speakeasy-style concept, drink menu laden with pre-Prohibition classics like Amaretto sours and dirty martinis alongside contemporary cocktails.

Top review

Chad

Dined on 30 Mar 2025

I wish they’d brand themselves as more than a speakeasy, they craft phenomenal classic cocktails and I think they transcend their theming. The service was stellar, the cocktails are fundamentals defined to a fascinating science

Fulton Market Kitchen

3.3

3.3 (711)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

West Loop

About the restaurant

Inspired by the 1980s NYC art scene and the Wynwood Walls in Miami, Fulton Market Kitchen offers guests the rare opportunity to enjoy dining, drinking, and the work of incredible artists in a single, truly unique setting.

Executive FMK presents a refined, contemporary American cuisine with a global influence. We offer seasonal presentations with ingredients sourced from regional farms, local markets, and our neighbors from Fulton Market Street.

FMK's Bar Team, delivers one of the West Loop’s most innovative cocktail programs, executed with fresh ingredients and small batch spirits pulled from a carefully curated collection. Together they have developed an impressive spirit list that boasts over 650 bottles with a special focus on hand-selected barrels, limited allocations, and rare vintages.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined on 1 Mar 2025

Beautiful food. Really friendly staff. Highly recommend

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