Marisa Christensen, Holland America's associate vice president of food and beverage operations, directs guests to the line's Dive-In burger. 'It's made fresh to order, incredibly satisfying, and so easy to enjoy right after embarkation when you're settling in.'
Solo dining is up 32% year-over-year among Gen Z diners, according to Tastewise's 2026 trend forecast. Consumer interest in solo dining is growing overall, according to industry trend reports from TouchBistro and Yum Brands. As interest in this type of dining increases, establishments are adapting their spaces and service to attract solo customers.
Valentine's Ball at the Embassy of Italy Get glammed up in your best ball attire for a romantic night in Verona. Waltz with your date across the ballroom floor, and then view a Roméo et Juliette opera performance. After the show, you can continue dancing to top 40 hits played by a DJ, and dine on Italian cuisine, including cannoli at the dessert buffet ($106+).
At first glance, you'll think it's a tourist trap. Le Petit Châtelet is right next to Shakespeare & Co. in the 5th arrondissement, but this restaurant is as authentic as they come. Located in a very old building, Le Petit Châtelet is small, cozy, and warm. And when we say warm, we mean it: there's a stone fireplace inside and they'll cook your meat right over the flames. The food is excellent, and the price point is reasonable for such good fare and location.
When I think about love, beer is never far behind, and one of the great pairings of culinary history is beer and chocolate. The two work so well together, though the idea of pairing them came about largely after the craft beer movement became more popular in the 1980s and early '90s. With so many different, new kinds of beer suddenly available, chefs and brewers were looking for new ways to showcase the versatility of craft beer.
Can food exist without love? And, inversely, can love exist without food? The answer to both is yes, of course, but the two are so intertwined that it's hard to imagine a romantic date without dinner, or a form of care greater than cooking a loved one their favorite meal. With Valentine's Day approaching, we at New York Times Cooking took a spin through our reader comments and found many tales of courtship and connection, of partings and proposals.
The front of house team were the embodiment of hospitality, making us feel comfortable and special, and happy to explain the aspects of the menu that felt unfamiliar. The dining room layout has a few nooks and corners but instead of feeling cramped, it is cosy and intimate.
