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Valentine’s Day, named for Saint Valentinus, has been celebrated in the West since the 14th century. Known as a day of love and romance, it can also be stress inducing if you don’t know where to go for a date. These classy restaurants offer some unique and romantic dining experiences as well as fabulous food. Read on to discover some of the hottest Valentine’s Day spots in Tampa.

Armani’s offers guests an authentic northern Italian dining experience. On Valentine’s Day, couples can get an incredible four-course meal for $125 per person. You can start by sampling and tasting your way through its famous antipasto bar, which includes over 30 choices of delicious favorites like fresh marinated vegetables, seafood, meats and cheeses. Italian specialties like ossobuco, cozze saltate and vitello scallopini can be shared or ordered individually. The extensive wine list includes red wines, white wines, sparkling wines, champagne, dessert wines and more. For a romantic evening, Armani’s has everything you need.

In the elegant Vinoy Hotel on the beautiful waterfront of St. Petersburg Florida is the stylish Marchand’s Bar & Grill.  This historically preserved (circa early 1900s) dining room is the most beautiful, elegant and romantic place to dine this Valentine’s. The Sweetheart’s dinner specials for Valentine’s is $140 per couple and consists of a 4 course meal with 2 entree choices. Dinner Includes a Champagne Toast For Two . Marchand’s is food to be savored, not merely experienced. To view the menu click HERE.  Reservations are strongly recommended and complimentary valet parking is provided.

For $38 per person, you can get a three-course prix-fixe menu from Timpano. The first course is a choice of soup or salad, followed up by a hearty second course of steak or duck. Last but not least is a sweet and sensational dessert. You also have a choice of wine pairings or martinis. For something a little different, request a table in the Starlight Lounge and enjoy live music and fantastic cocktails with your meal.

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If you are looking to make this Valentine’s breathtaking and special, try Bon Appetit on the Dunedin Causeway. Bon Appetit is a spacious restaurant with an elegant interior and stunningly romantic deck that offers Tampa Bay’s most stunning water views. On Valentine’s Day – 4pm – 10pm – they will be serving a four course dinner with a choice from five entrees for $49.95 per person. If your really want to turn up the heat try a romantic over night stay; Bon Appetit is also a waterside Inn.

If a relaxed atmosphere and old world charm are more your style, Pizziaolo Bavaro is perfect for you. This restaurant specializes in wood-fired pizza, but also offers homemade pasta and decadent desserts. What’s truly special about Valentine’s Day dinner is the heart-shaped pizza you can order to share with your sweetie.

Nothing is more romantic than dinner on the water, and Aqua’s restaurant experience is just that. For $99 per couple, you can enjoy a four-course prix-fixe menu of the freshest seafood flown in daily from around the world. You can sample Aqua’s lobster man ‘n’ cheese or blue crab cakes for an appetizer, and follow it up with wild caught swordfish or gulf mahi. Check out the extensive drink selection, including wines, cocktails and martinis.

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The Palm has been rated as one of Tampa’s best steakhouse restaurants. For $49.95 per person, you can share a four-course dinner featuring filet mignon. If you prefer, the a la carte menu is still available. Steak, seafood, lobster and classic Italian dishes are all up for grabs. Be sure to save room for dessert with options like creme brulee or flourless chocolate cake. And if you love wine, check out the wine list and purchase your favorite either by the bottle or by the glass.

Amanda Mole has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil and cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She believes that food provides more than just vital nutrients: it is an irreplaceable part of countless cultural and social activities. As a Tampa Bay resident for the past 21 years, she is well acquainted with the incredibly diverse range of restaurants, bars, and food festivals that the area has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.