Batifole
Chef Jean-Jacques Texier’s honest, inspired take on regional French cooking—truly superb Castelnaudary cassoulet ($18) one evening, elegant fillet of skate ($18) the next—puts the spring in any food lover’s step. The room is effortlessly elegant, with mood-setting music that tends more to Django Reinhardt than Diana Krall. A superb, affordable wine list, and servers who are expert at reading when a couple wants attention, and when they would rather be left alone. 744 Gerrard St. E. (at Logan Ave.), 416-462-9965.

Langdon Hall
Couples dining here on Valentine’s Day should be prepared to witness at least one marriage proposal. Young chef Jonathan Gushue is easily one of Ontario’s best, finding clean textures, luxurious presentations and complex but meaningful flavours in dishes—Provimi veal cannelloni with forest mushrooms ($38), say—that could make even the hardest heart swoon. 1 Langdon Dr., Cambridge, 519-740-2100.

Scaramouche
The skyline view alone is almost worth the price of a dinner here. That the truly professional service and luxurious seasonal menu—terrine of foie gras ($26), or yogurt panna cotta with fresh mango, passion fruit and vanilla ($12)—seduce as much as the setting is just a happy bonus. 1 Benvenuto Pl. (at Avenue Rd.), 416-961-8011.

Splendido
The place to take a hard-to-impress first date—if chef David Lee’s sumptuous, enthralling plates can’t do the trick, it’s time to move on. Try the butter-poached Nova Scotia lobster and legumes ($49), perhaps, or the tamari-scented yellowfin tuna tartare ($26). Consistently among the top restaurants in the city for food, wine and kind, knowing service, Splendido does little short of spectacularly well. Staff here exceed expectations with freebie surprises, almost any one of which could put most other restaurants on the map. The elegant mood here is the perfect inducement to sweet whispered nothings. 88 Harbord St. (at Spadina), 416-929-7788.

Starfish
Who says romance has to happen over French linen tablecloths and frou-frou food? Friday afternoons at this downtown oyster bed—the city’s best—see plenty of starry-eyed couples canoodling over trays of Paddy’s fresh-shucked shellfish ($30 per mixed dozen) and glasses of cool, crisp chablis. And a meal here can be as long—or as blessedly short—as the mood would have it. 100 Adelaide St. E. (at Jarvis St.), 416-366-7827.