Children know that dipping food in ketchup is a surefire way to improve everything from fish sticks to bananas. Today's deal gives grown-up palates a chance to re-imagine dipping as way to complement and enhance flavors, instead of a savvy coverall. For $25, you get $50 worth of fondue, fine wines, and romantic atmosphere at Geja's Cafe in Lincoln Park. The skewer-wielding, dip-and-eat fondue process inspires communal conversation, sampled snacking, and even the greatest hit of classical composer Freak Nasty, "Da Dip."

Geja's has a wide selection of fondue dinners and smaller cheese or chocolate fondue dips. All dinners start with the famous cheese-fondue appetizer, a Geja's salad (romaine lettuce with cucumbers, drizzled with dijon-mustard vinaigrette), an assortment of fresh vegetables, and eight classic dipping sauces to complement your entree of choice. Entrees range from the fresh vegetable medley ($27.95 per person) to the epic Prince Geja's Combination (aged beef tenderloin, lobster tail, jumbo shrimp, plump Atlantic sea scallops, and boneless chicken breast, $48.95 per person), with numerous platters of land and sea meats in between. After you optionally douse your dining partner with a celebratory vat of fondue, the experience draws to a satisfying conclusion with the included flaming dessert fondue and a steaming cup of Geja's freshly ground coffee. You can order any premier fondue dinner frill-free with just the dips and dippees for $9 less.

After dinner, go for the flaming chocolate fondue served with a smattering of seasonal fruits and sweets such as pound cake and marshmallow ($11.95 per person). Or order a few glasses of wine and pair it with the melty cheese fondue served with apples, grapes, and numerous bread types ($13.95 per person). There are more than 300 wines (50 offered by the glass) to partner with the cheeses in tiny mock wedding ceremonies presided over by a skeptical pepper mill.

The romantic atmosphere at Geja's makes it an ideal date destination. A candle-lit interior complete with curtained booths and self-playing flamenco guitars (made from real flamencos) create an escape worthy of illusionist David Blaine. Tables for more than two are more than welcome to share the fondue love. Squads of ballroom dancers, members of the Polar Bear Club, and other groups of big and little dippers have all been known to get their fix at Geja's.

Reviews

The Chicago Reader and Centerstage Chicago discovered the romance at Geja's Cafe, and Check, Please! doles out four forks out of five:

• Geja's is often touted as the most romantic restaurant in town. There are dissenters, but I'm among those who find it a wonderful evening out. The candlelit basement feels like a Spanish cave, with wine bottles, curtained booths, and a live guitarist. And the fondue dining experience is a welcome change from the usual restaurant routine. – Rachel Klein, Chicago Reader

Citysearchers give Geja's 4.5 stars, OpenTable diners give 4.4, Metromixers give 3.9, BooRah fans give 359 rahs of approval, 230 Yelpers give 4 stars, and 77% of Urbanspooners like it:

• The fondues were outstanding - cheese and chocolate fondues were to die for! It's a real event, not just a dinner out. – OpenTable user who dined on 02/12/2010
• This is one of the most romantic places to go. It not only has romantic ambiance, but it also has some great tasting food. – fischy221, Metromix