• What's more romantic than a beach at sunset? Catching the view from a special Sarasota restaurant?sunset on the beach image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  The sun, the sand, the sparkling Sarasota Bay. It's all here in this upscale Florida resort city. In addition to its natural beauty, Sarasota offers entertainment, nightlife and, of course, dining. For travelers on romantic getaways, Sarasota has a host of special restaurants to cuddle up to that special someone.
  
  

Verona

• Verona at the impressive Ritz-Carlton Sarasota offers a spectacular view of the bay from an opulent gold-and-pastel dining room. The menu is organic and regional and includes items such as pan-roasted Florida black bass with organic spinach, pineapple confit and red wine jus, and roasted organic veal Bolognese with house-made papardalle and heirloom tomatoes. Desserts include Key lime pie with cilantro-lime sauce, passion fruit tuille and grilled pineapple sorbet.
  
  Verona
  1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive
  Sarasota, FL 34236
  (941) 309-2000
  ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Sarasota/Dining/Vernona
  
  

Café L'Europe

• Fresh flowers, aged brick walls and original artwork set the stage for a romantic dinner at Café L'Europe. Sarasota magazine, calling Café L'Europe "Sarasota Magazine's Best Elegant Restaurant," writes, "it has always been a destination restaurant...for anniversaries, engagements and, of course, the prom." Along with an award-winning transcontinental wine list, the restaurant offers European-inspired entrees such as crisp duck roasted with oranges with a bing cherry and cognac sauce. To finish? Nothing says romance like chocolate cake or crepes Suzette flambe for two!
  
  Café L'Europe
  431 St. Armand's Circle
  Sarasota, FL 34236
  (941) 388-4415
  cafeleurope.net
  
  

Bijou Café

• Near theaters and the city's opera house, the Bijou Café features an award-winning wine list and a French menu (plus a few Italian, American and Asian surprises) to match its charming French country decor. Dinners include a salmon fillet encrusted in grain mustard and dill with a tomato-tarragon sauce, and a lamb shank braised in red wine and served with wild mushrooms and the "mashed potato du jour." The restaurant's signature is a side dish meant for sharing: potatoes baked with cream and bubbling brown Gruyere cheese.
  
  Bijou Café
  1287 First St.
  Sarasota, FL 34236
  (941) 366-8111
  bijoucafe.net
  
  

Michael's On East

• Michael's On East is both romantic and hip. Curvy lines and lush draperies define this luxurious Sarasota restaurant. "Sharing plates," such as a chilled seafood platter encourage romance. Dinners include braised veal ravioli, and boneless Cornish game hen with roasted corn, sautéed escarole and heirloom tomato salad. After dinner, the attached EastSide lounge serves up live piano music and vintage cocktails.
  
  Michael's On East
  1212 S. East Ave.
  Sarasota, FL 34239
  (941) 366-0007
  michaelsoneast.com
  
  

Cork

• As the name suggests, wine lovers are sure to find lots to sample at this award-winning---and romantic---Sarasota restaurant. The dining room is Scandinavian and modern, but warm touches like leather and wood, intimate tables and live piano music set the stage for romance. There are upstairs and downstairs dining rooms and on both levels, outdoor seating that overlooks swanky St. Armand's circle. Artistic plate presentations will impress one's date. Starters include fois gras for sharing, and entrees include a Bouillabaisse made with local fish and a saffron-fennel lobster broth.
  
  Cork
  29 N. Boulevard of The Presidents
  Sarasota, FL 34236
  (941) 388-2675
  corkonthecircle.com