If you’re planning on taking your special someone out to dinner for Valentine’s Day this Friday, make sure you plan ahead. You don’t want to call your favorite restaurant on Thursday night, only to be told they’re all booked up. Some of the best spots for romance require a reservation, so call well in advance if you don’t want to end up looking like a fool.

My go-to date night restaurant is Marco’s Bistro on Everett Avenue, next to Goodman’s Convenience Store on the corner of First Street. I already reserved the best table for a big Valentine’s Day dinner with my girlfriend. Their ravioli is outstanding, and nothing can beat Marco’s homemade tomato and mushroom sauce.

Another great option for a romantic night is Candelabra, a new fine dining restaurant with outdoor seating on the roof. It’s still a bit too chilly to spend the evening out in the open, but keep it in mind for when the weather warms up. They have a mushroom risotto that has to be tasted to be believed.

If you and your date bundle up tight, you could score some major points by taking them on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Lindelmann’s Carriage offers a slow, intimate ride around Van Sutton Park. Make sure you go just after dusk, when the sky still has a tinge of blue, and the soft, white-gold streetlights have been lit.

For those of you who have to watch every penny, don’t fret! You can still impress your date without spending a dime. Take a drive up to Roscoe Point. The overlook lets you see over all of Emerson Valley and Blackwood Forest. It’s a time-honored tradition to park there on a date night and enjoy the view.

Whatever you’re planning, make sure to do it soon. Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it. The fastest way to ruin a relationship is to have to tell your date, “Sorry, I couldn’t get us a reservation anywhere. Looks like we’re having ramen tonight.”

-Martin Fitzgerald, Activities, Emerson Valley Gazette