I visited the most romantic restaurant in the US. We spent $126 on a delicious dinner for an amazing value.

Penumbra was located on a block of brick apartments, so my boyfriend and I initially drove past the entrance.

From the outside, the storefront looked small and unassuming. Maroon curtains and twinkly lights prevented outsiders from seeing inside the windows.

The vibe inside the restaurant was a complete 180, with dim lighting, sultry Latin jazz music, and sheer blue draping and fairy lights along the ceiling.

The entrance had a charming waiting area with bottles of wine, candles, fresh bouquets of flowers, and couches. Prints with quotes about love hung along the wall.

We arrived right after Penumbra opened, so the hostess immediately seated us in the mostly empty dining room.

Many of the dining tables were separated by sheer gold curtains, which added a romantic vibe and some privacy. Customers could reserve those completely private tables in advance.

Gold curtains didn't surround our dining area, but I appreciated the bouquet of pink tulips on the table.

Except for one family, the diners at Penumbra were mainly couples who looked like they were celebrating a special occasion or on a date night.

My boyfriend and I ordered glasses of red wine for $14 each and browsed the online menu, which we pulled up via a QR code on the table. I usually hate looking at menus on my phone, but this one had helpful pictures and detailed descriptions.

The menu included appetizers like shrimp and bocaditos, main courses like steak, lobster, and salmon, and a few vegetarian options.

As we browsed the menu, our waiter brought us complimentary soup made with roasted poblano peppers and potatoes. It tasted creamy, like corn chowder, but had a hint of spice.

The perfectly seared scallops were topped with a spicy green serrano-avocado sauce and came with a mango salad.

They tasted fresh and paired well with the spicy sauce, mango salad, and acidic lemon. The scallops cost $19.

I was surprised by how much I liked the bocaditos, a quesadilla-style tomato-basil tortilla stuffed with tangy white cheese, scallions, parsley, and diced peppers.

The avocado crema on top of the bocaditos perfectly complemented the otherwise garlicky dish. This appetizer was $14.

Based on our waiter's recommendation, we ordered a 10-ounce medium-rare rib-eye steak and shadow shrimp, which cost $53. However, the steak, shrimp, potatoes, and salad platter weren't plated as nicely as the appetizer was.

The succulent, juicy jumbo shrimp was brushed with garlic butter and seasoned with spices that reminded me of Old Bay. I just wished our dinner had come with more than six pieces of shrimp.

Penumbra is a Latin-inspired steak house, so I had high expectations for our rib eye. It was good, but the meat wasn't as flavorful as I'd hoped, and it needed more chimichurri sauce drizzled on top.

The sliced roasted potatoes were OK, but nothing about them stood out. However, we enjoyed the house salad made with a fruity vinaigrette, apples, clementines, and cheese.

Throughout dinner, I fell in love with Penumbra's ambiance. The restaurant was unlike any other steak house I'd been to. I liked how the curtains and strategic decor created little pockets of privacy.

Our meal, including tax, cost $126. It felt appropriately priced, especially since we got a big steak, two appetizers, wine, and complimentary soup. I thought the steak could've been better, but it was still tasty.

Overall, this dining experience was a good reminder not to judge a book by its cover. I feel like I stumbled upon a hidden gem, and my boyfriend and I will definitely return for an affordable date night.