Making reservations for romance this Valentine’s Day

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The diners have spoken – nothing says I Love You better this Valentine’s Day than dinner reservations at your favourite restaurant.

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And Canada is home to some of the finest, most romantic eateries in the world.

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So states a recent survey on Valentine’s Day dining data, as reported by OpenTable provider of online restaurant reservations (and part of Booking Holdings Inc.), who, after analyzing more than one million diner reviews, recently released its 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in Canada for 2023.

The results are guaranteed to have you fall in love this romance season.

Ontario tops the list with 46 establishments, followed by British Columbia (20), Alberta (16), Quebec (14) and Atlantic Canada (4).

Cuisines of choice for such a happy occasion? Italian (25%), steakhouses (16%), and contemporary Canadian cuisine (14%) came out on top as Valentine’s Day favourites.

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And reservations are being made a minimum of one week in advance of the most romantic day of the year – which marks Feb. 8 as the perfect day to book those reservations in time for Valentine’s Day.

Simple steps to keep the romance going

Want to keep the magic in the romance? Be polite, mind your manners and don’t eat with your mouth open!

Minding one’s manners is just as important as choosing the right restaurant when it comes to date-night success, according to the recent OpenTable Canada survey, designed to uncover top dating no-nos. The survey found that being rude to servers, frequent texting at the table, excessive drinking, talking about exes and – gasp! – chewing with one’s mouth open are all deal breakers at the dinner table this romance season.

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“Our survey revealed it’s as important to be your best self with your date as it is with the restaurant team taking care of you,” said Matt Davis, country director for OpenTable Canada, in a recent media release. “We want to inspire Canadians to pack their charm along with their passion for romance and dining out this Valentine’s Day.”

The survey also found the following:

– Splurging on love: 72% of those celebrating are enthusiastic about splurging on local restaurants and plan to spend over $41 per person.

– The bill: To split or not to split? The survey reveals two-thirds of Canadians are comfortable with bill splitting for a Valentine’s Day date.

– The Great Divide: Generations are still divided when it comes to splitting the bill. For Valentine’s Day 2023, nearly 80% of Gen Zers and Millennials believe it’s fine to divide the dinner bill evenly compared to 50% of Baby Boomers, signaling shifting attitudes toward dating and finances.

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Top Canadian Restaurants

Some of the dining spots that stand out for their exceptional service, artistic presentation and exquisite meals include Alessa Trattoria, in Magog, Que., Auberge du Pommier and Canoe in Toronto, Cafe Lunette in Halifax, and Chairman’s Steakhouse in Calgary. For a complete list of restaurants, check out opentable.ca/lists/most-romantic-restaurants-canada-2023.

Most Romantic Restaurant Views in Canada

Between the ambiance, the company and the food – a restaurant’s view can be a real deal-breaker on any date, especially one in which a proposal may be on the menu!

And Canada is home to some of the most spectacular views in the world, a real feast for the eyes according to HawaiianIslands.com travel website, which recently crunched TripAdvisor data to reveal restaurants which with the most jaw-dropping scenic views. We’re talking everything from a city’s stunning skyline to sun setting over the ocean. Here’s a Top Ten list to whet your appetite this coming Valentine’s Day.

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1. 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower in Toronto comes in as Number One for its most picturesque views of any Canadian restaurant
2. The Skylon Tower revolving dining room in Niagara Falls
3. Sky Bistro in Banff
4. Prime Steakhouse in Niagara Falls
5. Watermark Fallsview Dining in Niagara Falls
6. The Juniper Bistro in Banff
7. Lakview Lounge in Lake Louise
8. Five Sales Restaurant in Vancouver
9. Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake
10. Cactus Club Cafe in English Bay, Vancouver

What Not To Do On A First Date

Let’s face it – first dates can be palm-sweaty affairs, regardless if it’s a speed-dating event, or a slowly evolving romance. If Valentine’s Day is also a first date day, you may want to keep the following tips in mind, courtesy of slowdating.com:

• Don’t talk about yourself endlessly
• Don’t quiz them
• Don’t dismiss them because they’re not your type
• Don’t talk about your ex
• Don’t talk about work
• Don’t avoid eye contact
• Don’t wear something uncomfortable
• Don’t put too much pressure on yourself
• Don’t drink too much alcohol