Washington:
After a rough and busy week, President Barack Obama wined and dined First Lady Michelle on Saturday to mark their belated 20th wedding anniversary.
The Obamas, whose two-decade milestone fell on the same day as Wednesday's first presidential debate held in Denver, Colorado, set out on a crisp evening by motorcade to Bourbon Steak restaurant in Washington's Georgetown neighbourhood.
An energized Mitt Romney delivered a surprisingly strong performance in the first of three televised confrontations opposite a lethargic Obama, injecting new momentum into his campaign ahead of the tight November 6 election.
On stage, Romney joked: "I'm sure this was the most romantic place you could imagine, here - here with me ..."
Obama, who wished his wife a happy anniversary at the start of his debate remarks, is out to prove him wrong.
The couple spent about two hours at the restaurant and returned to the White House at about 9:50 pm (0150 GMT Sunday).
The restaurant, which is located inside Georgetown's Four Seasons Hotel, features contemporary American fare with a focus on seasonal ingredients, as well as award-winning butter-poached meat and poultry and classic seafood dishes, including a wide selection of mega burgers and seasoned French fries.
Remarkably, few items on the restaurant's menu square with the first lady's public crusade for healthy eating, during which she urges Americans to lose weight by focusing on so-called "healthy food" that includes mostly fruit and vegetables.
The restaurant's menu could be viewed at www.bourbonsteakdc.com.