metro >> out to eat Take your Valentine to one of these romantic restaurants. Romance is on the mind of The warm, glowing ambiance at Cafe Cortina the staff at Bacco. Share a bottle of wine at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse. Esther Allweiss Ingber I Contributing Writer L ove warms the heart, but it's especially true now when many are looking forward to a romantic Valentine's Day celebration. As Feb. 14 approaches, a few Metro Detroiters were kind enough to share their thoughts on where you should dine out with your favorite someone — on Valentine's Day or another special occasion. Make a reservation soon as seats are filling up fast. Bacco Ristorante 29410 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield, MI 48034 (248) 356-6600 www.baccoristorante.com Lunch, weekdays; dinner, Monday- Saturday Who likes it and why? Tiffany Elie of Huntington Woods: "If you are going out for a romantic occasion, you want it to be special. Bacco has the best food and service in town. The size of the restaurant is intimate. The service is always attentive, anticipating your needs before you even real- ize them. The courses are brought out slowly. You never feel rushed — you feel as though this table is yours for the entire night. The portions given are for what you would actu- ally eat so you never feel stuffed. That is what fine dining is about. For dessert, the tiramisu is to die for." Cafe Cortina 30715 W.10 Mile Road Farmington Hills, MI 48336 (248) 474-3033 Lunch, weekdays; dinner, Monday- Saturday Who likes it and why? Melissa Steinberg Brodsky of Farmington Hills: "I went there with my husband for my birthday a couple of years ago. Everything about Cafe Cortina, from the warm ambiance to the exceptional wait staff, made it special and romantic. I think a place like Cafe Cortina is the perfect setting for special occasions ... such as, a birthday, engagement and anniver- sary. The food was fabulous. The wine was wonderful. It's a true gem:' Cafe Via 310 E. Maple Road Birmingham, MI 48009 (248) 644-8800 www.cafevia310.com Lunch and dinner, Monday-Saturday Who likes it and why? belle and Mark Levine of West Bloomfield: "The food is uniquely presented. We had an intimate dinner with friends in a quiet, glass-enclosed private room that had fresh flowers:' Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 323 N. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009 (248) 723-013 www.flemingssteakhouse.com Dinner nightly Who likes it and why? Andre Douville of West Bloomfield: "I like to take my wife, Amy, here for an intimate, romantic dinner. The food is excellent, and the wait staff is very respectful of our alone time:' Inn Season Cafe 500 E. Fourth Royal Oak, MI 48067 (248) 547-7916 www.theinnseasoncafe.com Lunch, daily; dinner, Tuesday- Saturday Who likes it and why? Rabbi Jason Miller of Farmington Hills: "There's beautiful art on the walls, comfy booths and delicious vegetarian food. My wife, Elissa, and I often go to a movie right afterward in Royal Oak. We've had lots of memorable meals here:' La Bistecca Italian Grille 39405 Plymouth Road Plymouth, MI 48170 (734) 254-0400 labistecca.net Lunch, Wednesday-Friday; dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Who likes it and why? Mona Chapman of Plymouth: "It has great ambience, amazing food and a great wine list. It's one of the few places where you can get Piedmontese beef. I think my last time here was in November for my birthday:' Steven Lelli's Inn on the Green 27925 Golf Pointe Blvd. Farmington Hills, MI 48331 (248) 994-1111 lellisinn.com Lunch, weekdays; dinner, nightly Who likes it and why? Nikki Brodsky-Gartrell of West Bloomfield: "I grew up going to Lelli's in Detroit for every celebration. We had the same waiter for years. The atmosphere, food and staff made it fabulous every time. I remember being little and seeing couples in the cor- ner at a table for two, drinking wine and smiling and having physical contact (hand holding, hugging, etc.). It always stuck in my mind that the dim lighting and fine food made for a romantic evening! I like the new Lelli's in Farmington Hills, too:' Pasta Fagioli The elegant lobby at the Whitney in Detroit Who likes it and why? Eric Mintz of West Bloomfield: "It's inti- mate and the food is very good. This place is kind of tucked away, so not so many know about it. I hope I didn't ruin it for myself:' Prime29 Steakhouse 6545 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322 (248) 737-7463 prime29steakhouse.com Dinner nightly Who likes it and why? Caryn and Hersh Rothenberg of West Bloomfield: "Prime29 is truly one of our favorite dining destinations. From the minute you walk into the restaurant, you feel as if you are in NYC or Chicago. The ambiance is modern and romantic. Their menu continues to offer something for everyone, and is presented wonderfully with a twist. Every time we visit Prime29, our experience has been exceptional and that's why we keep going back:' The Whitney 4421 Woodward Detroit, MI 48201 (313) 832-5700 www.thewhitney.com Breakfast and lunch, weekdays; brunch, Sunday; dinner, nightly Who likes it and why? Mike Burda of Orchard Lake: "I'm a romantic! The Whitney is intimate with personable service. I took a former girl- friend here for our one-year anniversary, and they gave us personalized menus. People say the Whitney is haunted, so that adds a mysterious vibe' ❑ 2398 Franklin Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 (248) 332-1111 www.pastafagiolimi.com Lunch, weekdays; dinner, Tuesday- Sunday JN February 6 • 2014 43