Whether or not you buy into the Valentine's Day hype, the fact is that there are many great dinners to be had around town on February 14. For those looking to have a romantic night out on the town, there is no shortage of restaurants with prix fixe menus for Saturday night. Some are even stretching V-day over the span of a week, although it's hard to imagine the person who is both into the holiday while also totally cool with being taken out on the 13th, instead of the 14th.
• At Zot, visiting Chef Francis Devillier is presenting a three course, Provencal-inspired menu. It's far tamer than the infamous Flintstones dinner (no lion on the menu!) and will run you $40. Full menu and details here.
• Kanella, one of 2008's darlings, is serving four courses for $55, and per Meal Ticket, tables were still available for Saturday night. One of the entrees is venison osso bucco (venison osso bucco, people!), so it shouldn't come as a surprise if it's all booked up.
• Although Chifa is the Jose Garces restaurant that everyone is talking about, Tinto is the one to keep in mind on the 14th. Garces' Basque spot is bringing it with four courses (plus an amuse bouche). At $75, it's a little pricier than some of the other Valentine's Day dinners out there, but it also had us at wild striped bass with "spiced lobster escabeche". Full menu at Tinto.
• Ms. Tootsie's Soul Food Cafe is "Spreading the Love" this whole week, with a $40 prix fixe menu. It's a sprawling menu that (from what we can tell) gets you a salad, two main courses, two sides, ice tea, red velvet cake, and a glass of champagne, and if this is the case, it's definitely the best deal of the bunch. The menu and details on reservations are here.
• If you're not looking for a prix fixe, Ansill has a sharing menu for two on both Friday and Saturday. Think $15 surf & turf appetizer, $50 rib-eye, and so on.
• London Grill is another place starting things off a few days early: beginning the 12th, they'll serve Yard’s Love Stout and oysters at the bar. As for dinner, their four course prix fixe is $100 per couple, and will be available Thursday-Sunday.
Up next: less traditional ways to celebrate (or hate on) the most romantic day of the year.
Killer V-Day menu at Kanella [Meal Ticket]
[Photo: LOVE cookie from Whipped Bakeshop via Whipped Bakeshop/Flickr]
