Looking for a nice restaurant for a Valentine's Day dinner. Any suggestions? Prefer American or Italian cuisine. Thanks!

I don't know if Canyon ranch will let you eat there if you aren't staying there but you could try that. or in Great Barrington there are several "nice" restaurants. Nothing around that I know of that would be considered fine dining. but alot of nice little character type places with good food (sorry I forgot the names)

Wheatleigh's dining room is open to the public and is delicious with beautiful service. Cranwell also has surprisingly good food, and the Gateway Inn is also nice.

Check this board or even post your own question. Posters have great knowledge of the Berkshires..

http://www.chowhound.com/newengland/index.html

I have a house around 20 miles southwest of Lenox, and know the restaurants in that area well. My favorite is Old Mill in Egremont, which is around a 20-25 minute drive south of Lenox. A couple of miles west Egremont, on Rt. 23 is John Andrews. Both are excellent restaurants. In Great Barrington Painted Lady is a nice choice. For breakfast Martins in Great Barrington is great.
In Lenox there are three or four restaurants all on the same block, all good.

Cramwell is ok, but the best restaurant and bar is Zinc, located right "downtown" in the shopping village, the food is terrific and the amibiance is quite nice.

I've stayed at Cranwell a couple times. LOVE the new spa! But that's a different post... In regards to the Mansion restaurant: I thought the food was very good and romantic atmosphere, superb. 16 feet high, hand carved ceilings. Nice upholstered chairs, fireplace, etc. Plus I think the ambience of the place would be appropriate for Valentine's dinner. You drive up to the mansion (few rooms there, so doesn't look like hotel at all.) and park really close, either in the circular drive or nearby parking lot. Then you walk up to this big mansion; it just seems like a bigger event than just a regular old restaurant experience.

I have a project in the area and have been in most of the downtown Lenox restaurants several times a month for the last four years. The best currently is Cafe Lucia, followed by Church Street Cafe. Roseborough Grille is currently closed and will not be reopened by Valentines Day, and Laura is making noises about staying closed for some time. Spigalina is closed for the season. Antonio's is not at the same level as the others, but has improved considerably in the last year. I respectfully disagree about Bistro Zinc, which has served me (but only twice - I may be slow on the uptake at times, but not totally stupid) some of the worst food I have eaten anywhere, accompanied by some of the worst attitude. It's too bad that the same guy that does their publicity doesn't cook the food. In fairness, others think it's great - but others think that Dakota and South Mountain Grill in Pittsfield are also great and the less said about them the better. Wheatleigh and Blantyre are the real class in the area, and are priced accordingly, but I have no personal experience with either. John Andrew is excellent, but otherwise I have no knowledge of the Great Barrington/Egremont area. You will not be disappointed at Cafe Lucia.