Restaurant critic Laura Reiley dined out for nearly 200 meals this past year, so she knows where the best restaurants are in Tampa Bay.  As we roll out her Top 100 Restaurants, here are her picks for best upscale and romantic dining. Your fave's not listed? Let us know in the comments section. And if you want all 100 in a handy guide, be sure to pick up a Weekend section in Thursday's St. Petersburg Times.

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Best fine dining
Early last year I tried out the recently launched three-course tasting menu at Savant Fine Dining, a bargain at $46. Chef/owner David Miller's enthusiasm for food and flavors is infectious. Then near the end of the year I enjoyed the luxurious Floribbean palette of chef Eric Neri  at Maritana Grille. A pretty penny, but the appointments and details still shine. Chris Ponte is still turning out top-notch fare at Cafe Ponte, a kind of suave Cal-Med melange made more exciting now that the kitchen works with nearby Gateway Organic Farm to push local produce into the limelight. SideBern's had a year of change, with new executive chef Chad Johnson, turning away from former chef Jeannie Pierola's Asian touches — no more dim sum — and toward a more Mediterranean palate, with a new, affordable lounge menu in the bar.
     Savant Fine Dining, above, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater; (727) 421-9975, savantfinedining.com   
     The Maritana Grille, Don CeSar, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach; (727) 360-1882, doncesar.com   
     Cafe Ponte, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater; (727) 538-5768, cafeponte.com 
     SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa; (813) 258-2233, sideberns.com 

Best romantic
When I think romance, I think gorgeous views, fancy French words heavy on the circumflex, waiters in tuxedoes and multiple courses (for foodies, that's foreplay). Oh, and chocolate, lots of chocolate. Armani's atop the Hyatt has the views and the tuxedoes in reckless abundance, still serving antipasti and posh Northern Italian. New creperie L'Olivier and Carrollwood independent Toasted Pheasant Bistro are rich with all those French food words. Tampa's Six Tables, owned by the lovely couple Amy and Richard Bottini, sends out six courses to diners, amorous or otherwise. All four offer chocolate in plenty of guises — L'Olivier's candlelit patio is where to go when the weather is lovely, Six Tables for when it's got to be special (the evening's menu is $90, the table is yours for the night), Toasted Pheasant for fanning the flames without burning too much cash, and Armani's for when you and your sweetie need to feel on top of the world.
     Armani's, 2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa; (813) 207-6800, armanisrestaurant.com 
     L'Olivier, 111 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg; (727) 821-3846, lolivierbistro.com 
     Toasted Pheasant Bistro, 14445 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 265-6700, toastedpheasant.com 
     Six Tables, 4267 Henderson Blvd., Tampa; (813) 207-0527, sixtablestampa.com 

Best steakhouse
Colleague Jay Cridlin just wrote a manly-man's guide to the area's best steaks. In powwowing with him, it became apparent just how subjective this topic is. For instance, I like them prime and dry aged and I'd opt for flavor over texture (in a blind tasting I preferred grass-fed beef). Still, it's also about ambiance, care with sauces and side dishes and what else is on the plate. If it'€™s only blood splatters and a sprig of parsley, that'€™s points off in my book. In 2008, my most memorable steaks included a bone-in filet at the glamorous Council Oak at the Seminole Hard Rock, a Pittsburgh-rare bone-in rib eye at Malio's Prime (noise problems seem to have been worked out there) and another rib eye, this one topped with a riot of juicy sauteed sweet onions and roma tomato wedges at Bob Spoto'€™s new Grill 131.
    Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa, 5223 N Orient Road, Tampa; (813) 627-7628, seminolehardrock.com   
     Malio's Prime, 400 N Ashley Drive, Tampa; (813) 223-7746, maliosprime.com 
     Grill 131, 13079 Park Blvd., Seminole; (727) 393-1703, grill131.com