Tacoma restaurant, plus 4 others in WA, make list of 100 most romantic in the nation
A Tacoma restaurant joined four other Washington eateries on Yelp’s 2025 ranking of the best date-night destinations across the country.
Over the Moon Cafe, the intimate 23-year-old Opera Alley mainstay in downtown Tacoma, broke the Top 50, landing at No. 40 on the list.
Yelp released its compilation, based on user-review data, over the first weekend in February. Valentine’s Day is still two weeks away, but it might not be enough of a heads-up to snag a reservation.
It’s a double-whammy for restaurants this year, as Feb. 14 falls on a Friday in 2025.
Over the Moon appears to be fully booked Feb. 13-15. On Monday, there were a couple of remaining reservations for two people on Wednesday, Feb. 12 and more availability on Tuesday, Feb. 11, if you’re up for celebrating earlier in the week.
The unique two-floor space has been a go-to choice for celebrations and romantic evenings since 2001. The ambiance has always been a draw, described by guests as “cute and intimate,” “adorable, very romantic!” A succinct menu offers a little something for everyone, from steak and fish to duck, sometimes scallops and often a signature pasta, alongside wine and classic cocktails.
Other Washington restaurants considered similarly romantic were ranked in the 50-100 range.
Montlacino Ristorante Italian in Issaquah hit No. 51. Owners Rick and Riesa Ragan operate out of a brick-walled building in Issaquah’s historic downtown. Diners describe the candlelit atmosphere as “charming,” and many reviews compliment the service.
Von’s 1000 Spirits in Woodinville came in at No. 62. Known for cocktails, sourdough pizza and “the city’s largest collection of spirits,” the family-owned company also operates a distillery called Northwest Spirits. There is another Von’s next to Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle.
At No. 65, Vancouver’s Elements Restaurant was close behind. The menu blends chef-owner Miguel Sosa’s Mexican heritage with classic French techniques, such as a cocoa-chile tenderloin on the current seasonal menu. Visitors have commended the “inviting and cool” ambiance, friendly staff and consistent quality.
Wrapping up the Washington spectrum was Can Can Culinary Cabaret in Seattle at No. 86. The Dressing Room Bistro and Bar, as the restaurant is known, regularly hosts burlesque shows, cabaret dinner theatre and brunch. It has also earned accolades from local polls, including “best date-night spot” and “best place to take visitors” from Best of the PNW.
To build the list, Yelp analyzed restaurants with “a large concentration of reviews” dotted with mentions of “date night,” “romantic,” “valentine” and “anniversary,” according to the website. Those selections were then ranked by several factors, including the volume of reviews and frequency of those keywords from Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 1, 2024.
Additionally, Yelp capped the number of restaurants from a geographic area to three.
Yelp frequently compiles similar best-of lists for specific categories such as barbecue, vegan, brunch and more.
This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 5:10 AM.