Five sizzling restaurants to win over your hot date

When it comes to restaurants for couples, Charles Village and the surrounding Baltimore area seem to fall a little short.Varieties range from Subway to Chipotle and from chicken korma from Tamber's to a krabby pattie from Rocky Run. Let's face it: none of these places really get the ambiance right.There are many perks to half-priced burger night, but romance isn't one of them. If you really want to wow your date, take them to someplace that will make them feel special. Check out these places -- they are closer than you think and ideal settings for a romantic night for two.

Akbar

Tamber's has been a staple for Hopkins students for its convenient location. However, the rumors of the quality of Akbar's cuisine have spread via word of mouth.One menu item to try is "A Special Akbar Dinner" which consists of a mix of tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, dal, onion kulcha and more. This dish would give any curious gourmand a great sampling of Indian cuisine.

Amicci's

This little restaurant is located in the heart of Baltimore's Little Italy by the Inner Harbor. It goes under the title of a "very" casual eatery, so it's a perfect place to feel comfortable on a first date. The prices are also in a good range. The stand-out dish is Shrimp Fra Diavlo which is a decadent spicy dish made of jumbo shrimp, hot marinara and cream sauce. Make sure you have someone to share it with, because it is too rich even for the most enthusiastic Italian cuisine aficionado.

Caf8e Zen

Located just around the corner from the Senator, Caf8e Zen is a prime spot for someone to enjoy dinner and a movie. This is a quaint Chinese restaurant with great prices.

Petit Louis

The French are proud of many things: their language, their art and most especially their food. Finding great French cuisine is easier than you might think.Petit Louis is a small bistro located on 4800 Roland Ave. Though the dinner menu tends to be on the expensive side, their brunch is affordable and offers great French breakfast foods such as cr90pes with roasted chicken and mushrooms topped with cognac cream.Plus it's a good excuse to wear that woolly beret that's been collecting dust in your closet.

Gertrude's

If you're looking for an intimate restaurant that is close by, go to Gertrude's at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Normally prices run on the higher end, but every Tuesday, the restaurant offers a special "Tuesdays with Gertie" menu with a wide variety of $10 and $12 gourmet meals.These meals run more on the comfort-cooking side of things with everything from "I Can't Believe it's Not Crab" cakes to turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes and veggies.The tables are situated under a glass roof that opens up the restaurant to the Baltimore sky.