Readers Picks: Most Romantic Restaurants For Valentine's Day

NORTHERN CHICAGO SUBURBS, IL — Valentine's Day is Friday, and many local lovebirds will be heading out to dinner for the special occasion.

With that in mind, we asked readers to share in recent weeks their favorite restaurants for a romantic dinner near their town. Here is a look at readers favorite picks for romantic restaurants in Patch towns across McHenry and northern Lake counties:

• 1776 Restaurant, 397 W. Virginia St., Crystal Lake

Here's what readers had to say: "Beautiful ambiance, delicious food, entirety gluten-free menu" and "cocktail bar, talented kitchen, skilled and attentive servers all with a wine and spirit collection that can fulfill the most demanding request."

• Nirvana Wine & Grillerie, 701 N Milwaukee Ave #280, Vernon Hills

Here's what readers had to say: "Exquisitely prepared food, with expert wine pairings"

• Milwalky Trace, 545 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville

Here's what readers had to say: "Food is for sure the best in town. The atmosphere and staff are also some of the best around."

• D&J Bistro, 466 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich

Here's what readers had to say: "Great food, great service, been there for decades."

• The Tavern, 519 N Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville

Here's what readers have to say: "it has a great ambiance, wonderful plates to share, and phenomenal cocktails!

Meanwhile, the runners up from the Most Romantic Restaurant survey are:

• Da Buffone Italian, 111 N. Main St., Crystal Lake
• Wilfire Restaurant, 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire
• The Board Room of Libertyville, 137 Lake Street, Libertyville
• Churros y Chocolate, 2533 W. Algonquin Road, Algonquin
• Winestock, 136 Cass St., Woodstock
• Jimmy's Charhouse, 1413 Peterson Road, Libertyville
• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 960 Milwaukee Ave, Lincolnshire
• Francesca's Intimo, 293 E Illinois Road, Lake Forest
• Doves Straits Seafood House, 890 E. US Highway 45, Mundelein
• Taste of Paris, 161 N Seymour Ave., Mundelein
• Firkin,515 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
• Coppolillo's Italian Steakhouse, 160 E. Cook Ave, Libertyville
• The Vine Martini & Wine Bar, 101 Cty A27, Grayslake
• Cellar 26, 13860 W. Rockland Road, Green Oaks
• Vine & Plate, 414 W. Virginia St, Crystal Lake

Nuevo Italiano, STC
Villa Verone, Geneva
Bien Trucha

Great food and drinks with a downtown feel.
small, cozy, romantic and personal.
Food, drinks, cozy booths
Incredible food, perfect ambience, top notch service!
Food is for sure the best in town. The atmosphere and staff are also some of the best around.
Authentic, amazing food, fair prices, outstanding service
The ambience is seductive, the cuisine is fresh and innovative, and the servers are invested in assuring a memorable experience. The owner, Liz, makes you feel welcome and appreciated.
Excellent food! Very cozy and romantic, you feel like you are in a Paris bistro. The entire waitstaff is very attentive to your dining needs.
Beautiful ambiance, delicious food, entirety gluten-free menu
Great food, great service, been there for decades Not sure why this is asking about Libertyville, since we don't live anywhere around there. The article we responded to was for Algonquin/LITH
It's a dessert restaurant but churros and drinks are 100% good!!
Cozy small independent Wine shop and cocktail lounge. No televisions, great local people and tasty drinks
It is uniquely beautiful and quiet. Tables are spaced so a couple can feel almost like they have the place to themselves. The service is excellent and unintrusive, and the food is wonderful.
Consistency, service,
Great food, quiet
Very quaint, romantic and the service is outstanding and personal
Cocktail bar, talented kitchen, skilled and attentive servers all within a wine and spirit collection that can fulfill the most demanding request
Exquisitely prepared food, with expert wine pairings
Yummy tasting food at reasonable prices, nice ambience and live music and dancing on the weekends.
Food/drinks and vibe
It has a great ambiance, wonderful plates to share, and phenomenal cocktails!
A perfect atmosphere where hand crafted cocktails and shareable plates allow you to have the night you deserve
The food is wonderful with plenty dessert choices

Il Primo
Firkin in Libertyville
Bien Trucha
Coppolillo's Italian Steakhouse (Libertyville)
The Vine in Grayslake.
1776
Triple beery breakfast Crystal Lake
Squire on the Square
Cellar 26 in Rondout or Lake Bluff
The Tavern, Libertyville
Main Street Social Libertyville
Vine & Plate
Cheesecake Factory
West Side Ramen
Destino in Gurnee

Food, atmosphere, cozy booths
Food here is top notch and the atmosphere is fantastic!
Best Mexican food around, great ambiance
Reliably tasty food and expert bartenders! Also, the GM Gerald is awesome. He works hard to ensure an outstanding evening.
Very good food and ambiance.
great food, farm to table
Really good food to start the morning
Nice historical building and cozy setting
Great atmosphere, interesting cocktails and food, and an excellent singer- piano duo on weekends.
great food, and wine list, intimate
Food is outstanding and the wine choices are amazing
Causal setting to focus on the reason going out, enjoy one another’s company
Food and vibe
Tasty food, attentive staff, and cozy date night vibes!
Italian food with a super club vibe with great food