Restaurants are a popular place for marriage proposals, especially during this season of love. The Burlington Free Press asked readers to send us their most romantic dining destinations. We heard about sleigh rides before dinner, attentive service on special occasions, and mood-enhancing soft lighting and mellow music.

Readers chose Emily's Restaurant at the Stowehof in Stowe, Fire and Ice Restaurant in Middlebury, Hen of the Wood in Waterbury and Lago Restaurant in Newport. Look in today's Weekend section for more on these restaurants' Valentine's Day menus and pricing.

Reader Larry Bohen of Richmond provided us with a long list of his favorite romantic dinner destinations based on the following criteria:

Seating is such that two people can "get away" from the crowd and talk at normal conversational levels.

Lighting is mostly indirect, soft, perhaps with a lamp on the table.

Flowers add a nice touch.

Background music appropriate for a quiet dining experience.

Romantic tip: Bohen recommends asking for a "quiet/romantic" table location, as some of these restaurants have large rooms that might not be quiet on a busy night.

Bohen's picks (in alphabetical order):

Cafe Shelburne (5573 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, 985-3939, www.cafeshelburne.com). For 19 years, chef Patrick Grangien and his wife and co-owner Christine have been offering their classic French menu in an intimate and elegant setting. "We always have people who propose on Valentine's Day," Grangien said, recalling having arranged rings on dessert and in drinks. This year the restaurant will offer a five-course prix fixe menu for $56 per person (not including tax and tip) starting with hors d'oeuvres and concluding with housemade chocolate truffles. Appetizer choices include lobster bisque and snails in puff pastry, moving on to entrees such as salmon baked in pastry with a sundried tomato sauce or duck confit with a white wine sauce. For dessert: chocolate-drenched profiteroles and heart-shaped raspberry mousse with fresh raspberries.

Chow! Bella (24 N. Main St., St. Albans, 524-1405, www.chowbella.us). On Valentine's Day, "you've got to have lobster," says chef-owner Connie Jacobs Warden, who will offer both her regular menu as well as "sweetheart specials" like heart-shaped ravioli and lobster with pappardelle under a light vanilla-leek cream sauce. ("We don't want to make anyone sluggish on Valentine's Day," she says.) The restaurant has often been asked to plate a dessert with a ring. Its special heart-shaped desserts for two like strawberry cheesecake make the perfect backdrop, as would the evening's final touch: a little bag of Lake Champlain Chocolates. Regular menu entrees range from $10 to $22 and specials run $19 to $28.

The Kitchen Table Bistro (1840 Main St., Richmond, 434-8686, www.thekitchentablebistro.com). There are always oysters on Valentine's Day at The Kitchen Table Bistro, says chef-owner Steve Atkins, although he demurs on the question of whether they're really an aphrodisiac. "If people think they are," he says, "does it really matter?" Joining fresh-shucked fried oysters and oyster-stuffed filet, other dishes might be quail in rose petal sauce inspired by the book and movie "Like Water for Chocolate," or a red beet and veal stock reduction anointing fresh fish with a Valentine's blush. Desserts, created by Atkin's wife and restaurant co-owner pastry chef Lara Atkins, will feature elegant treats such as champagne sorbet or passion fruit tart with blood oranges and vanilla cream. Entrees range from $20 to $32 (some Feb. 14 specials may be slightly more).

Leunig's Bistro (115 Church St., Burlington, 863-3759 www.leunigsbistro.com). In addition to the regular menu, Leunig's will offer a limited number of seats in the rear dining room for a special Valentine's Day champagne and sparkling wine dinner in which each of seven courses will be matched with a wine. Course three, for example, pairs a rose bubbly from Napa with a warm lobster and roasted fennel salad; and course six presents Veuve Clicquot with truffle-stuffed quail. $125 per person including tax and tip. Regular menu entrees $18 to $28.

Mary's at Baldwin Creek (1868 North Vermont 116, Bristol, 453-2432, or 888-4242432, www.marysatbc.com). From Feb. 6 through 17, Mary's will offer an extended Valentine's celebration with both its annual Chocolate Festival and the 15th year of its Pen a Love Poem contest. Chef Doug Mack will offer his normal menu as well as a prix fixe menu of choices, which will include options like an appetizer of corn cakes with smoked mushroom mousse and hot pepper jam and entrees of cider-braised Vermont rabbit with parsnips or pasta with lobster and scallops in a lobster and sorrel sauce. Dessert is the famous chocolate festival buffet with a smorgasbord of choices from chocolate Aztec creme brulee to mousse to chocolate-chestnut cheesecake. Entrees cost $19 to $28, and the prix fixe menu cost $40 to $55 not including tax and tip.

While you eat, you can team up with your honey to win another meal or even a night's stay at the cozy inn by penning this year's winning ode to love. Every year, Mack reports, he receives about 200 submissions, and he remembers particularly one young couple of college students about four years ago who got into a fight while writing their joint poem. "She went into the bathroom in tears," he recalls, "but then came out and they patched it up over another bottle of wine. They kept writing, left arm in arm, and then they won. I think they're married now."

Smokejack's Restaurant & Bar (156 Church St., Burlington, 658-1119, www.smokejacks.com). In addition to its regular menu, Smokejack's will offer Valentine's specials like appetizer of oysters "three ways" over arugula with Meyer lemon vinaigrette or mushroom bruschetta with truffle oil and entrees, including "Surf and Turf" grilled beef tenderloin with warm lobster salad and Misty Knoll chicken breast stuffed with Does' Leap goat cheese. Desserts will feature passion fruit and dark chocolate mousses and Red Velvet cake. There will be more than the usual number of sparkling wines and "romantic reds" available by the glass. Entrees from $24 to $32.

Trattoria Delia (152 St. Paul St., Burlington, 864-5253, www.trattoriadelia.com). With its warming fireplace and private nooks, Trattoria has provided a setting for at least one proposal every Valentine's Day of its 15-year life, says chef Tom Delia, who owns the restaurant with wife Lori. The staff has helped place rings in breadbaskets, wine glasses and desserts, he recalls. On Valentine's Day, he will offer the regular menu and Valentine's Day specials such as oysters, probably a dish with Oregon truffles, and "something chocolate for dessert: very rich, very decadent," he says. "It should be for Valentine's Day." Pastas from $13.50, entrees $19.50 to $29.50.