ENCORE: Make Your Valentine's Day Reservations Now at West Des Moines Restaurants

Need help making a choice for a special Valentine's Day dinner? Let Patch help:

Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, 5990 University Ave., 221-9900. Local favorites include the lobster and crab dip, fried calamari and ravioli Romano. A big hit is the grilled pork chops with parmesan gorgonzola butter: grilled and marinated pork chops topped with parmesan-gorgonzola butter, served with garlic mashed potatoes and garlic roasted vegetables.

What Valentine's Day dining traditions do you and your sweetheart repeat every year?

Bonefish Grill, 650 S. Prairie View Drive, 267-0064: Bonefish Grill is a national chain of casual fine dining seafood restaurants and bars. Bonefish features a relaxed atmosphere and extensive menu of classic seafood items, such as scallops, oysters, tuna, swordfish, crab and lobster. Located in the West Glen nightclub district, Bonefish has an extensive wine list, as well as cocktails.    

Cooper’s on 5th, 227 Fifth St., 255-9895: Located in historic Valley Junction, Cooper’s on 5th pairs upscale dining and comfort food with intriguing menu items like Maple Butter Salmon, Cajun Meatloaf, Japanese Breaded Zuchinni Strips and Blackened Chicken Philly. Small and intimate and open just a few months, it’s best to make your reservation now at the Junction’s newest dining sensation.

Fire Creek, 800 S. 50th St., 224-0500: Fire Creek is an upscale steakhouse and bar owned by Rogers Restaurant Group of Des Moines, which also owns Legends and the Stadium Grill. Fire Creek has an elegant but casual atmosphere with a spacious outdoor patio and stone fireplaces inside. In addition to steak, it serves pasta dishes, seafood, salad, soups and appetizers, as well as an extensive wine list. Fire Creek also features live music (usually jazz) on Wednesdays.

Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, 6075 Mills Civic Pkwy., 333-5665: Part of a regional chain of upscale steakhouses, Johnny’s menu items include steaks as well as salads, appetizers, cocktails, signature seafood entres and classic Italian entrees. Chef D.J. Frank supervises the kitchen.

The Jordan Creek Town Center area has a great selection of restaurants, from Joe’s Crab Shack, (130 S. Jordan Creek Pkwy., 226-9966) to P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (110 S Jordan Creek Pkwy., 457-7772) to Bravo! Cucina Italiana (120 S. Jordan Creek Pkwy., 225-0660) to a host of others. The best fine-dining experience is at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar (150 S. Jordan Creek Pkwy., 457-2916). Part of the chain of high-end formal steakhouses co-founded by P.F. Chang owner Paul Fleming, this Fleming's, located in the Jordan Creek Town Center just south of the lake, is the sole location in Iowa. Known its top-of-the-line steaks, Fleming's also offers seafood entrees, salads, appetizers and gourmet hamburgers. Fleming's offers has a full bar with drink specials (before 7 p.m.) and a wine list of 100 varieties.

The King  & I Thai Cuisine, 1821 22nd St., 440-2075: King and I Thai Cuisine is one of the area's finest Thai restaurants. Though it offers a full range of Thai entrees, King and I specializes in seafood dishes and pho (spicy Thai soup) and has just recently begun serving sushi. King and I has many options for vegetarians as well.

Leonetti’s  Bella Cucina in the Palm, 1238 Eighth St., 223-0801: Leonetti's Bella Cucina in the Palm is an Italian restaurant with a full bar and live music performances. This establishment offers appetizers and entrees, including fried pepper rings, sandwiches, pasta dishes, pizza and salads.

Maxie’s Restaurant and Lounge: 1311 Grand Ave, 223-1463: A generational favorite currently owned by Tim Kellogg, Maxie’s has a long history in West Des Moines and a menu featuring salads, sandwiches, appetizers, pasta, seafood and entrees from the barbecue and broiler.

Mimi’s Cafe and Restaurant, 490 S. 68th St., 440-0040:  Mimi's Cafe and Restaurant is a chain of French-inspired casual dining restaurant. Though begun as a Cajun-Creole restaurant, Mimi's now offers an array of American and French-American fusion entrees. Mimi's specializes in "comfort classics," including chicken pot pie, turkey dinners, blackened chicken and chuck roast.

, 2900 University Ave., Suite A, 225-3325: “Show” your date a good time at Japanese steakhouse where the food is prepared table-side.

Samurai, 7125 Mills Civic Pkwy., 223-4888: Samurai is a sushi and hibachi restaurant located near the lake at Jordan Creek Town Center. It uses only the freshest seafood and other ingredients and prepares meals before diners' eyes. Both traditional and Japanese fusion-style sushi items are available. The menu features a variety of appetizers, including oyster sashimi, edamame, miso soup and Asian salads. For dessert, the mochi ice cream is popular. The restaurant also offers imported Japanese beer and specialty cocktails.

Saraj, 1300 50th St., 255-1133: Saraj Restaurant and Bakery is a family-owned Bosnian restaurant. Saraj is one of the most popular places in the Des Moines area to get Bosnian/Mediterranean food in part because of its expansive, on-site bakery. The restaurant serves both Greek and Bosnian-style gyros, veal kebabs, cevapi (beef sausages) and Bosnian gulash, as well as fish, lamb and burgers. Diners can also order soups, salads, appetizers, beer and wine. Most of the meat entrees at Saraj are certified Halal.

Waterfront Seafood Market, 2900 University Ave., 223-5106. This seafood market, restaurant and oyster bar is owned by two brothers with a passion for high-quality seafood. Whenever possible, Waterfront Seafood Market buys its products direct from the docks, working with small fishermen and loberstermen to ensure a fresh selection.