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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Dining and Cooking