THE WOODLANDS. Romantic, elegant evenings are a given at this north Houston establishment, and diners regularly make their way to The Woodlands for incredible northern Italian cuisine. Whet your appetite with calamari or beef carpaccio before sampling capellini with crawfish, lobster risotto, or a main course centered on seafood, steak, chicken, or veal. Among the options are seared sea bass with sweet parsnips, veal piccata, a NY strip, and seared rainbow trout with sea scallops and grappa lime citrus jus. The second-floor piano lounge is a weekend mainstay for drinks and dancing.

GALLERIA. Whether you dine in Arcodoro's casual grill area or in its white-tablecloth dining room, you can be certain of spectacular Sardinian cuisine. An offshoot of Italian fare, it's the rustic, simple cooking of farmers and shepherds, but it's delicious enough for folks of all classes and inclinations. Homemade pastas enlivened with wild boar, roasted vegetables, and black truffles are wonderful, as are veal medallions, broiled lamb chops, roasted chicken, and a host of gourmet, wood-fired pizzas. Italian wines allow the restaurant's culinary heritage a chance to shine.

MONTROSE. For authentic northern Italian cuisine, savvy diners head to chef Marco Wiles's cottage-like Montrose restaurant. Decked out in orange, yellow, and red hues, Da Marco dazzles diners with distinctly Tuscan ambience and gastronomy. Featured entrees run the gamut: chianti-braised pork ribs, roasted Texas quail, braised rabbit cacciatore, sea bass with grapefruit, and raviolo with ricotta, egg, and truffles. Regional Italian wines fit the theme admirably, and desserts range from panna cotta to chocolate Genovese. A wonderful cheese selection also pleases.

DOWNTOWN. Its pale exterior enlivened by ivy, this romantic restaurant offers elegantly-appointed tables, subdued lighting, dark wood accents, a hand-painted mural, and terra cotta-hued walls. House specialties include lobster tail and lump crabmeat in tomato cream sauce over spaghetti, grilled snapper with basil butter and fresh mint, and a veal rib chop with pine nuts and mozzarella. Nightly specials expand the possibilities further, and the chef's table is a 6-course culinary extravaganza that permits glimpses of the kitchen at work.

CLEAR LAKE. This cheery Mediterranean-style café is family-owned and family-operated, and the two Caprisian brothers in charge make special efforts to see that patrons have a wonderful time. Although the intimate tables may be arranged a bit closely, delicious homestyle pasta dishes more than make up for any perceived loss of privacy. Fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood is the specialty and has been for almost 20 years. Friendly, professional service adds to the experience, and reasonable prices make Frenchie's a favorite. Space is limited, so expect long lines on weekends.