With Valentine's Day right around the corner, we decided to ask some of the folks in the newsroom their picks for romantic or date places. In this edition, WRAL reporter/anchors Ken Smith and Renee Chou give us their picks.

Ken Smith

My Five Faves for a romantic evening out with the Ol’ Girl: 

518 West (Raleigh) 

The Mint (Raleigh)

18 Seaboard (Raleigh) 

Rey's (Cary)  

Second Empire(Raleigh) 

Renee Chou 

18 Seaboard (Raleigh) - uses fresh local produce from the farmers market; love the contemporary décor and ambience; trendy without being intimidating; service is impeccable.

Margaux's (Raleigh) - they change their menu all the time; impeccable service; have a great fixed-price menu on Mondays and certain hours of the week that make it affordable to dine out

Second Empire (Raleigh) - I’ve never seen more gorgeous presentations of food. Service is stellar. No wonder it’s one of the finest dining spots in Raleigh.

Mo's Diner (Raleigh) - The name is deceiving – it’s nothing like a diner. It’s an elegant, distinctive restaurant operating in the framework of a house. I love the simple yet flavorful dishes here.

An (Cary) - I’m partial to Asian fusion restaurants. An does it well with amazing presentation of food and a very chic atmosphere