Beneath the romantic glow of the golden arches, students, couples and families gathered for an untraditional Valentine's Day. For some, this year's holiday was filled with roses, chocolates and Chicken McNuggets.

To offer a new spin on Valentine's Day, McDonald's, 1615 N. Atherton St., held a candlelit dinner last night from 5 to 9 p.m., complete with tablecloths, flowers, live music, battery-operated candles and employees clad in dress attire.

Students and State College community members crowded the restaurant for the event, waiting in a line that wound outside the door. The packed restaurant caught many by surprise.

"It's like dog-eat-dog out here," Lauren Riordan (senior-advertising) said. "You have to fight to the death just to find a table."

Riordan came with a few of her friends after she saw an advertisement for the event. She left happy with her choice of Valentine's Day venue, even though she was unable to get a seat in the coveted candlelit section.

"I think it was a fun way to spend your Valentine's Day if you don't have a boyfriend," she said. "It's a fun atmosphere to be in with your friends."

Other students took the dinner to a whole other level. Tristan Marshall (freshman-mechanical engineering) donned a suit for his Valentine's Day dinner. One couple showed up in full dress attire -- ball gown, sports jacket and all.

Rosemary Broome, local store manager for McDonald's Corporation of State College, said she was so pleased with the turnout she might expand the event to other stores next year to reach students downtown as well. Broome said she thought the night's festivities appealed to college students in particular.

"You can go to a place everyone loves, and it's a touch of something different to celebrate the holiday," she said. "You'll always remember the night you went to McDonald's for Valentine's Day."

A live pianist accompanied by several other instrumentalists set the romantic mood, prompting applause from the crowd. Many couples took advantage of McDonald's newly romantic setting.

For Matt Homan (sophomore-criminal justice), the night was an unexpected event.

"My girlfriend brought me as a surprise, but she told me we were going to a fancy place," Homan said.

Homan's girlfriend, Rachel Eastwood (sophomore-elementary education), said the dinner was a perfect surprise for her unsuspecting boyfriend.

"His favorite restaurant is McDonald's, so I thought it would be cute to take him here," Eastwood said. "It's candlelit and it's so crowded -- you don't really see McDonald's like this every day."

Those who went to the Valentine's Day dinner were also treated to complimentary cake, prize drawings and waiter service. While all patrons had to go to the counter to order and pay for food, employees brought the food directly to the table in light of the holiday.

For many, the night was a pleasant surprise.

"I'm going to take pictures to show McDonald's is the place to be," Geoff Fritz (junior-landscape architecture) said.

Mike Diehl (senior-athletic training) came with his Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon morale committee to celebrate the night. He said the McDonald's event not only solved his Valentine's Day dinner concerns but was one of the "coolest things" he ever did.

Jackie Fiorello (senior-crime, law and justice), who joined Diehl and the committee, agreed.

"We wanted a romantic dinner," Fiorello said. "And I'm gonna have the Number 7 with a chocolate milkshake."