ANNOUNCER:  Valentine's Day seems to be the most made up holiday ever. Grand gestures of undying love are made; proposals are offered, and everyone buys chocolate, flowers and goes out to eat. To increase your chances of a good time had by all, remember when dining out to expect slower service due to increased business. Bring your A game for conversation between ordering and food delivery. More people equal more meals. Take time to hold hands across the table and then share your food with your sweetie when it arrives.

JASON: Low lighting and small in size, Mineola in Tacoma has such a soothing feel. The make-out couch in the back is the best; you can sit side by side with your hot date, sip champagne and feed each other bites of brown sugar, cream glazed, golden pound cake after catching an intelligent flick next door at The Grand Cinema. Another option would be starting with an early pre-movie dinner at Maxwell's just down the hill - minimize travel and all that.

JAKE: It is not a make-out couch.

JASON: It can be if you're the only ones there.

JAKE: You're so classy. However, I do agree on Maxwell's. The Speakeasy & Lounge on St. Helens Ave. has perfect comfort foods. Crispy skin outside, ultra tender inside and full of amazing seasoning, the roasted split chicken gets my vote. The ladies tend to like warm bread with blue cheese butter and the cheese plate with nuts.

JASON: Since when do you know what "the ladies" like? Did your wife tell you what she and her girlfriends eat when they go there? What about Oriental Noodle and Grill on South Mildred? We went there in May. The offerings are predominantly Thai with Chinese, Cambodian, and Malaysian food. Excellent fish cakes - lemongrass, ginger, saffron - and seriously good green curry tofu. The brown rice was nutty, and I liked the décor - dark wood and great Asian art. It felt intimate and spacious at the same time.

JAKE: I think The Mark in Olympia owns the rights to intimate dining. The high booths with deep bench seats, ultra swank feel and Northwest organic grub are debonair and timeless. Oh, and the martinis, my my my. I loved the one with the ginger sugared rim. This place begs to be the location for a wedding proposal. And Valentine's? Come on, what better day to score points. Matador on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma has booths like that, but it's loud and can feel like a bustling Applebee's during peak times. The circular fire column is definitely mesmerizing, and my lovely girl's eyes look beautiful in that flickering light at night.

JASON: Never fear, it's not Applebee's fare certainly - more South American than Mexican. Still not authentic, but there are some truly tasty items - habanero prawns, bacon wrapped or goat cheese stuffed jalapeños, firehouse chili. This is a steamy joint from the red accents, tons of candles and spicy food to exceptional tequilas, great happy hour and flickering mirrors that give it such sexy appeal.

JAKE: Another joint that's sexy is old-school Verrazano's Italian Restaurant in Federal Way. Great wine list and the view is exceptional. Arrive before 5 p.m. to witness sunset. Creamy pollo involtino - stuffed chicken - is a mouthwatering dish if a little on the heavy side. There isn't a tremendous amount of privacy at the tables, but it's comfortable enough. Did I mention it has a view and is in Federal Way? Can't get over how weird that sounds.

JASON: No view here, but when you mention stuffed chicken it makes me think of duck, and that brings me back to Over the Moon in Tacoma's Opera Alley with another great wine list. The duck has always been tender, juicy and so savory. The space is small and can feel close when packed. Patience is required for the length of time it can take to be served after ordering.

JAKE: I'm going to use the 30 minutes it will take for entrees to be delivered no matter where we eat to tell my wife how amazing and beautiful she is.

JASON: Suck up.