La Palma Ristorante, Coral Gables

At La Palma, the air is full of so much romance that it seems possible to pluck the moon from the sky with your fork. This is doubly the case if you order the popular Meze Lune Ripiene di Zucca—a pasta dish of moon-shaped, pumpkin-stuffed tortellini glazed with a butter and sage sauce. Even if you don't, though, the restaurant's scenery is enough to make a date memorable: the historic building was designed as a hotel in 1924 by George Merrick, whose Mediterranean architecture dots much of Coral Gables. Inside, fine art curated by the owners draws the eye. Outside, trees swathed in lights and a burbling stone fountain evoke an Italian courtyard. And on Wednesdays through Saturdays, live music adds to the dreamy quality of the setting.

The Northern Italian food also transports diners to Europe. Homemade pastas mixed with seafood and meat sauce abound, including spaghetti with fresh clams and crab-filled ravioli. Entrees of braised veal shank, grilled tuna in a gorgonzola cheese sauce, and New Zealand rack of lamb make for satisfying dinners. There's also a prix fixe chef's special menu, which concludes with a homemade treat you get to choose from a dessert trolley, as long as you don't hop on and demand to be taken to Candyland post haste.