Valentine’s Day is not only about what you get your date – it’s also about what you feed her.

Luckily, DeKalb and Sycamore offer great restaurants that will tantalize taste buds and score you major Valentine’s Day points with your date. Just plan on making reservations early, because these places do get booked.

So eat, drink (legally, of course) and enjoy the night of love!

The Hillside Restaurant

The Hillside Restaurant, 121 N. Second St., offers a quaint, intimate setting. The dimly-lit and seasonally decorated restaurant provides a comfortable atmosphere for you and your sweetheart.

“People want to fall in love and get married after eating here,” said owner Gavin Wilson. “You’re going to find a romantic setting that really has no equal here in DeKalb.”

For Valentine’s Day, The Hillside Restaurant offers a Sweetheart Special menu. The specials include a steak-and-shrimp meal, an Italian dinner for two that includes chicken parmesan, salmon craze three ways (blackened, Tuscany or citrus) and an assortment of crepes.

With dinner, the owners have a special, pink-colored champagne called the Cranberry Kiss, which is half cranberry juice, half champagne.

For dessert, co-owner Mary Wilson recommends the cherry-chocolate cake, but insists all of their desserts are worth trying.

“We also have other gooey, chocolatey, rich concoctions. Anything to put a love spell [on your date],” Wilson said. “And all of our food is laced with aphrodisiacs.”

Rosita’s

If you and your date desire Mexican food, don’t go to Taco Bell. Instead, opt for a fun and friendly dining experience at Rosita’s, 642 E. Lincoln Highway, which offers authentic Mexican cuisine.

While the restaurant does not have any Valentine’s Day specials, manager Jennifer Hermann says that Rosita’s is still a great place to take a date, or even a group of friends, on Valentine’s Day.

“Valentine’s Day isn’t all couples,” Hermann said. “We get the six single friends or families that come in.”

For dinner, Rosita’s server Dave Williams recommends the Mayan chicken, which is sautéed with tomatoes, zucchini, onions, green peppers, squash and corn. If you’re looking for something to share, he recommends the beef, chicken or combo fajitas.

For dessert, Rosita’s offers the apple mountain. This treat consists of a mountain of ice cream, hot apple-pie filling, caramel sauce and whipped cream. Based in a funnel cake, this desert will definitely satisfy your sweetheart’s sweet tooth.

Johnny’s Charhouse

If there’s nothing like red meat to get your date’s heart going, then stop in to Johnny’s Charhouse, 1950 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore. Johnny’s combines a romantic setting with delicious steak and is considered to be one of the best date places in DeKalb, according to Best of DeKalb 2006.

“The food is excellent, the service is great and we have more of a romantic atmosphere,” said daytime manager Sofia Alafogianis.

While the restaurant will offer their normal menu for Valentine’s Day, they are offering a twin filet special for couples to share. If steak is not exactly your thing, Johnny’s also offers a decent seafood menu. All of their food is prepared from scratch.

For dessert, Johnny’s offers a special heart-shaped cheesecake.

Villa Verone

For authentic Italian cuisine, take your valentine to Villa Verone, 219 State St. in Sycamore. In addition to its great Italian food, Villa Verone offers a fine dining experience.

“We’ll decorate, put a red rose on each table, [and] turn the lights low. We’ll make a night of it,” says bartender Mick McSharry.

For dinner, Villa Verone is offering a special meal deal for couples – $60 for a bottle of wine, appetizer, two salads, two entrees and dessert.

To drink, McSharry is offering his own special Valentine’s Day creation: a Valentino’s Kiss. This martini consists of pineapple juice, raspberry vodka and a touch of cherry juice.

AllRecipes.com

If none of these restaurants increase the process of your salivary glands, opt for a place where no reservation is required. Nothing will woo your sweetheart more than an intimate dining experience created by you.

AllRecipes.com provides recipes submitted by everyday people; not some hyped-up chef with his own TV show and cookware line. The Web site offers advice and tips on how to create a romantic evening for two.

Combine dinner, a great bottle of wine and some taper candles to create a romantic evening that will truly melt your valentine’s heart. Just make sure to blow out the candles, or you’ll also melt away your security deposit.