There are hundreds of restaurants in the Twin Cities that are ideal for spending a special Valentine’s date. One of them, right in the U’s back yard, is the Loring Pasta Bar.

The Loring’s décor sets the mood for romance. The main dining room’s two plus-story ceiling opens the room, allowing guests to view the magnificent decoration; yet the seating setup—oversized moon-shaped booths and generously spaced tables—keeps each party’s dining experience private. Heavily dimmed lighting is set off by disco balls reflecting teal and fuchsia rays. Live trees, some 12 or 15 feet tall, positioned throughout the room cause diners to forget the university-bound traffic outside.

The women’s bathroom itself is reason enough to visit the Loring for first-timers. Holes in the walls serve as garbage bins, while French doors and (for the not-so-modest) beaded curtains cover the stalls. Asymmetrical lines and patterns, common throughout the restaurant, keep the ladies lingering in the powder room even longer than usual.

The employees’ service contributes to the atmosphere. When I visited Loring, my encounter was friendly and professional. While our server appeared a little uneducated about the menu, his willingness to find the answers trumped his lack of memorization.

And we haven’t even gotten to the food.

There was certainly not a lack of choices or variety. The Artichoke Ramekin ($7.95), praised by the staff, the press, and the owners, was phenomenal. Huge artichoke chunks were plentiful in the creamy, not-too-greasy sauce, and served with warm, buttered French bread. I was not so impressed with the Dynamite Tuna Sushi Roll ($6.95). It included tuna and it was sushi, but it lacked any dynamite. The sushi itself was bland, and the edamame, or steamed soybeans, served on the side were overcooked.

Pastas of every shape, size and texture are available at the Loring. Highly recommended is the Seafood Linguini ($13.50), with generous amounts of shrimp, mussels and scallops tossed in a simple yet tasty olive oil.

For vegetarians, or those just looking to eat lighter, the Asparagus and Artichoke Heart Orzo ($10.50) is a good choice. The bed of orzo, a short-grain rice, is seasoned with aromatic truffle oil. Whole artichokes and fresh asparagus and tomatoes accompany the flavors very well.

The cream and Parmesan sauce on the Fettucini Carbonara ($9.95) needed some more…something. But with the addition of salt, this classic Italian dish with bacon, peas and garlic was very substantial and very satisfying.

My guest raved about the Szechuan Salmon ($14.95) that came served with shredded vegetables. The salmon flaked at the touch of his fork, the heat was not too fiery (but spicy enough) and the veggies were complementing and cooling.

The Loring Pasta Bar clearly aspires to bring its customers a unique and unforgettable dining experience they won’t soon forget. They have mastered the art of ambiance. They are so close with their service. There are so many incredible dishes it is hard to see them be mediocre on ones that are a stretch from their typical repertoire—sure, sushi is trendy, but I recommend sticking with the pastas.

And for diners that are not within walking distance from the U, the Loring Pasta Bar offers valet parking ($5.00). Of course, pulling up to a restaurant and getting a valet can only impress that very special someone on a very special Valentine’s Day.

Tags: Dinkytown, relationships