Chocolate Lab

No food is more associated with love than chocolate, the traditional gift for romantic celebrations. Any restaurant specializing in chocolate is clearly a destination for lovers, but Chocolate Lab goes beyond "traditional" to woo couples with a multi-course menu featuring cocktails, wine, beer and culinary surprises. This combo shop-restaurant is the passion of owner Phil Simonson, special-ed-teacher-turned-self-taught chocolatier. The shop has all you expect, from truffles, toffee and turtles to triple-chocolate brownies, but also a party platter of cheese, chocolate and charcuterie for romantic indulgence at home. Nearly everything on the restaurant menu includes chocolate, such as pear flatbread with gorgonzola and chocolate balsamic, and pork or chicken with bourbon-chocolate BBQ sauce. For cocktails, there are chocolate Manhattans and mimosas, among others. Chocolate Lab may not offer the traditionally romantic ambiance of some other restaurants, but for chocolate lovers, it is the go-to and an ideal first-date option.