Only One Minnesota Restaurant Now ‘One of Most Romantic’ in US

When it comes to candlelight, charm, and swoon-worthy vibes, Minnesota doesn’t always top national romance lists, but this year, one spot broke through the pack. Out of thousands of restaurants across the country, only one in the North Star State earned a place among the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in the U.S.

Minnesota’s Most Romantic Dining Destinations

Restaurants play a unique role in our economy and culture, both here in Minnesota and across the country. The National Restaurant Association estimates that there are currently over 11,100 restaurants in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, generating over $15 billion in sales.

Restaurants are, of course, a popular place for the most romantic day of the year-- Valentine's Day. And because Valentine’s Day lands on a Saturday this year, restaurants across the state are seeing very strong demand.

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The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that many popular spots and romantic dinner venues have already booked up weeks in advance, and remaining seats are tight if you haven’t made a reservation yet.

Baldamar Named Only Minnesota Spot on OpenTable’s Top 100 List

So, it might be tough to wrangle a reservation at Minnesota's lone entry in OpenTable's list of the 2026 Top 100 Romantic Restaurants. And that honor goes to Baldamar, a 'Modern American steakhouse for the urban suburban,' as its website notes. This Twin Cities steakhouse first opened back in 2019 and is located right next to Rosedale Center in Rosedale, Minnesota

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According to OpenTable, Baldamar is described like this:

The menu’s made with old-world craft at its core and modern-day meat eaters in mind — with flavors forged in fire and folded into pure primal perfection. It’s where every steak is aged 40 days and 40 nights for a taste of biblical proportion, and where crazy-fresh seafood means it was caught during your morning commute. At the bar sits every spirit imaginable, and someone who isn’t afraid to use them.

Top Valentine's Day Restaurants in Rochester, Minnesota

Of course, if you're just now trying to make a reservation for you and your true love on Valentine's Day, you're out of luck-- unless you want to grab lunch at Baldamar. The earliest reservation I could find on OpenTable was for 1:30 pm on Saturday, February 14th-- and even those were going fast.

Meanwhile, if you're still looking for someplace to take your sweetheart for Valentine's Day, keep scrolling to take a look at the top 10 restaurants in Rochester, Minnesota, according to Yelp.