Thank you CreditCards.com for sponsoring this post. Visit CreditCards.com today to find the right card for you.

Since having a baby, my husband and I still try to find time to hang out together. We make sure to have at least one date night every two weeks and I am all about booking that babysitter in advance 😉 .

There are so many restaurants in Chicago, that it can be a bit overwhelming when deciding where to go. I’m a creature of habit and tend to gravitate towards a lot of the same places over and over again. I feel like if the food, vibe, and service are all great…then why not…right?

We recently celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary {details of the story on how we met seen here} and decided to celebrate at one of my favorites: Maple & Ash. They did not disappoint and treated us extra special for the occasion too!

Since we like to plan date nights at least two times a month, we also like to budget and set aside money for our fun nights of splurges. Smart spending habits can lead to even bigger rewards when using your favorite credit cards. With the help of CreditCards.com, we can get expert tips and tricks to help us with not only our saving, but also learning about the right card with the right perks. CreditCards.com’s goal is to help people seize great opportunity through smart spending.

I’m a huge fan of the Cash Back Credit Card and currently use a Chase Visa Freedom Card. I love the idea of cash back because you can ideally spend it on anything, including fun date night dinners with your husband. You can get all the help you need at CreditCards.com. They rate and review credit cards to provide objective, useful comparative information to help you choose the right card for you.

So today I teamed up with CreditCards.com to share what I believe are the 10 Best Date Night Restaurants in Chicago, along with what I like to order. I love them all equally and I have them in no particular order. As I stated  above, I am a creature of habit and don’t always venture outside my own neighborhood too often, but I will always do it for the right restaurant or occasion 😉 . So let’s get to it! Shall we?

1. MAPLE & ASH // GOLD COAST

So as I said above, this restaurant is not only super swanky, but also the food and service are spectacular! They always make things extra special and bring out fun appetizers, sides, and even desserts to share. They really know how to treat their customers well and always greet you with the season’s signature cocktail in the cutest mini martini glass. Some of my favorite dishes from their menu include: the Roasted Beet Salad, Meatballs, Classic Steak Frites, Agnolotti Pasta, and for dessert their Sundae Service which is super fun for big groups and celebrations!

2. PICCOLO SOGNO // RIVER WEST

This restaurant is located in River West and has the most beautiful outdoor garden in back. It honestly makes you feel like you are in Italy itself. They have the most amazing homemade pastas and pizzas. Some of my favorite dishes include the Spaghetti Neri, Margherita Pizza, Bianca Con Rucola, Paglia E Fieno, and the Branzino {usually a special}.

3. GEMINI BISTRO // LINCOLN PARK

This place is a classic little gem located in the heart of Lincoln Park. They also recently redid the space to give it a bit of a more modern look. I love the Mini Wedge, G Burger, Steak Frites, and Lobster Pasta. It is cozy and perfect for a delicious weeknight out.

4. HUGOS FROG BAR // GOLD COAST

Hugos has such great classic food. They have the most amazing Crab Cakes and all their entrées come with either a salad or soup to start. Also their desserts are gigantic and they always love getting all the waiters together to sing happy birthday as loud as they can. Their steaks are amazing, but I also really love their Grilled Marinated Wild Caught Shrimp, Alaskan King Crab Legs, Double Baked Potato, and Garbage Salad. Also don’t forget to try the Crab Cakes! They are the size of hockey pucks and come with the most amazing spicy pink mayonnaise sauce.

5. SWIFT & SONS // WEST LOOP

The ambiance is always fun and the room is beautiful! We like going here for special occasions because it is a bit on the pricey side compared to my other selections, but I promise you that you won’t be disappointed. Besides their amazing steaks, I also love the Crispy Rock Shrimp, S&S Onion Soup, Beef Wellington {expensive, but meant for two!}, and the Crispy Fingerling Potatoes.

6. MON AMI GABI // LINCOLN PARK

This classic French bistro has been around for awhile and whenever I’m craving French food, this place always comes to mind. They have great food, amazing service, and a relaxing classic atmosphere. We also love the pretty outdoor area in the summertime. It is also always a fun spot for double dates. Some of my favorite dishes include the Steak Frites of course, as well as the French Onion Soup, Mussels, Chilled Seafood Platter, and Caramelized Sea Scallops.

7. RM CHAMPAGNE SALON // WEST LOOP

This restaurant is super sexy and located in the heart of the West Loop. I love both the romantic outside as well as the cozy inside. They have fun cocktails and a great menu for sharing. Some of my favorites include the Steamed Mussels, Lobster Deviled Eggs, Steak Tartare, and Coq Au Vin. Also if you are ever in the neighborhood for dinner, it’s a great place to stop by afterwards for cocktails and desserts!

8. RL RESTAURANT // GOLD COAST

The decor of this place is exactly how I want my living room to look one day: cozy plush chairs, gallery walls, and casual elegance. A girl can dream right? I love the clothing brand so of course I would love the restaurant too! The menu has a lot of amazing classic foods including their Escargots, Avocado & Crab, Lobster Bisque, Caesar Salad, RL Burger, and Dover Sole.

9. KATANA // RIVER NORTH

This place is a newbie to the Chicago scene and opened a few months ago. I love sushi and currently Katana is my favorite. I love the vibe of this restaurant and they have a fun outdoor area as well. Can you tell by now that I love a good restaurant with outdoor space?! Anyways, the food is great too and my favorites include: Truffled Edamame, Popcorn Rock Shrimp Tempura, any of the Skewers from the Robata Grill, and also all of their Sushi Rolls.

10. LUXBAR // GOLD COAST

If you’ve ever followed me on Insta Stories, then you should already know that I’m a HUGE fan of this place. If I’m doing a favorite restaurant roundup then obviously LuxBar would make that list. This place is pretty casual, has a huge menu, and also a great low-key vibe. When it comes to cheeseburgers, this place has my favorite. Their LuxRoyal burger is kind of amazing and well worth the calories {that is always how I justify it}. I also love their Truffle Fries, Buffalo Chicken Salad, Moscow Mules, and Dirty Martinis.

Don’t know what to wear on your date night? No problem… I’ve got that covered for you too. My go-to pieces are always a LBD {little black dress}, a lightweight jacket {since it is currently fall and has been so hot in Chicago lately}, a clutch, and some heels. Once it gets a bit colder, I like to break out the leather leggings, faux fur coats, cute tops or embellished sweaters, and OTK boots.

For all you Chicagoans out there… What are some of your favorite date night spots? I would love to hear!

SHOP THE POST
c/o Dress // c/o Handbag // Denim Jacket // Sandals // c/o Sunglasses

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.