With the coming of Valentine’s Day, the time is now to start thinking about how to spice things up with your better half. What better way to do this than to plan a special dinner out with drinks, a leisurely meal and stimulating conversation. And why restrict the occasion to Valentine’s Day? We’re all about making date night a regular thing. No matter what you like to eat, from sushi to Italian-inspired pastas, there’s a local option to please your palate and your partner.
Braised Short Ribs
If you and your Valentine’s date have an enthusiasm for chef-driven menus, seasonally focused ingredients and the perfect wines to pair with them, then Nectar Wine Bar and Bistro is the place you should be making your date-night reservation, hands down. Chef-owner Kevin Nordeen changes the menu every two weeks, so you can be sure you’ll find something new on every visit, but some of his winter favorites include braised short ribs, pumpkin-squash soup, grilled quail with risotto, cioppino and lamb shank with creamy polenta. Entrees range from $14–$26. On Valentine’s Day, Nordeen will offer a fixed-price menu with wine pairings. The dining room is small and intimate, holding just 12 tables, but you can order off the menu in the bar and lounge area as well. Call the restaurant to make a reservation and get further details. If you’d rather keep your date night low-key and avoid the Valentine’s Day madness altogether, try Nectar on a Tuesday night for half-priced bottles of wine (not offered on Valentine’s Day), Wednesday night for all-night happy hour in the bar and dining room, or Thursday and Friday for live music in the dining room (closed Sunday and Monday). Not a wine drinker? No worries. Order up one of the house-infused vodka drinks with a house-made mixer (sour, lime cordial, bitters and fresh squeezed juices).
Volcano Roll
If sitting in close proximity to one another at the sushi bar to enjoy your favorite sushi rolls doesn’t set the scene for romance, then what will? At Kyoto Sushi, couples can count on the volcano roll—made with shrimp tempura and spicy tuna—to spice things up. At $24.99, the all-you-can-eat menu offers one of the cheapest nights out you can find. In addition to sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls, the selections include appetizers like edamame or chicken wings, tempura, teriyaki dishes, soba or udon noodles and a teppanyaki menu. And while you might fear that an all-you-can-eat doesn’t have much to offer in the ambiance department, Kyoto Sushi is actually rather nice inside, with dark wood accents, a cozy, fully-stocked bar and colorful tile throughout.
Seared Diver Scallops
Pittsburgh Blue is a go-to spot in Maple Grove for occasions like Valentine’s Day. Featuring deep booths and accented with dark woods and a fireplace, the interior lends itself to a romantic evening for two. On the menu, dry-aged steaks selected by master butchers, hand-trimmed chops and day-boat fresh fish, along with an extensive wine list, will have your mouth watering from the get-go. The special Valentine’s menu this year will include a pan-seared diver scallops appetizer with bourbon vanilla buerre blanc ($11.95), crab-stuffed jumbo shrimp ($24.95), and for the lion-sized appetites, a 22-ounce cowboy steak (bone-in ribeye) with roasted vegetables and an ancho espresso sauce ($48.95). In addition to the a la carte-style menu items, there will be two prix-fixe dinner-for-two options, crab cake chopped salad, surf and turf with a 6 oz. filet and sea bass plus dessert and champagne for $89.95 and shrimp cocktail with spinach and goat cheese salad, and surf and turf that includes a 5 oz. lobster tail and 16 oz. ribeye, plus dessert and champagne ($120). Call the restaurant for prices and further details, as the menu is subject to change. There’s no dress code, so you can choose to get gussied up for a night on the town or keep it casual and comfortable.
Three-course Valentine’s Day Meal
With its special Valentine’s Day drinks menu, Houlihan’s scores points for humor. Catering to the Valentine’s Day lover or hater, there’s the love potion, made with Pinnacle whipped cream vodka, Bailey’s and a kiss of strawberry, or the haterade, made with Pinnacle, Maker’s Mark, triple sec and a bland of juices. For eats, try the three-course dinner for Valentine’s Day or any night in the weekend preceding Tuesday, February 14. Priced at $19.95 per person, it includes a soup or salad, your choice of Georges bay scallops with lemon asparagus risotto or top sirloin with seasonal vegetable and choice of potato, plus a mini dessert.
Fish Tacos
At 3 Squares, Tuesday night is a big draw for date night, when bottles of wine are sold at half price. The fish tacos ($13.50)—with blackened tilapia, guacamole, black bean and corn salsa, Napa cabbage and chili lime sour cream— are easy to share and they are one of the best-selling dishes. Other favorites include the barbecue salmon, a black-bean-and beer-marinated salmon filet, farro risotto, tomato and asparagus ($16), or the turkey burger ($11), topped with pepper jack cheese and a poblano peanut pesto aioli. Grab a booth or one of the high top tables on the dimly-lit bar side of the place.
Chang’s for Two
On Valentine’s Day, P.F. Chang’s offers a “Chang’s for Two” menu that allows couples to savor a special holiday dining experience for just $39.95. Start with two soups and an appetizer, like Chang’s lettuce wraps or salt and pepper calamari. Follow it up with two signature entrees, like the Kung Pao chicken or Szechuan beef. The obvious choice on the sweet side is the red velvet cake, a seasonally fitting red-colored layer cake with cream cheese frosting. Couple it with carrot cake, apple pie tiramisu or creamy cheesecake. The environment at P.F. Chang’s combines the influence of Chinese and American cultures, and the restaurant offers an interesting list of cocktails using premium spirits and mixes.
Penne san Remo
Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year for Buca di Beppo. Anything on the menu is made to be shared, like the popular penne san Remo, chicken in a white-wine cream sauce with artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes and peas ($18.95/small or $29.95/large) or a spicy penne arrabbiata, made with spicy Italian sausage, red pepper flakes and marinara sauce ($17.95/small or $27.95/large). Start with an order of bruschetta ($10.95/small or $13.95/large), loaded with diced tomatoes, fresh basil and Parmesan cheese, served on toasted Italian bread. Keep in mind that desserts—like the homemade cheesecake with raspberry hazelnut sauce, sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts ($10.95)—are also made to serve 2 to 3 people. Let your server in on the fact that you’re out for date night or a special occasion, and they’ll likely return to table with a little candlelight.
