Love is on the plate

Where to wine and dine in Dallas on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day might have been the creation of greeting card companies, but it's hard to deny the importance of February 14, even if your romance has only just begun to blossom. That is why we are here to help, so you are not relegated to the doghouse just three weeks — or even 30 years — into the romance.

Here is a list of Dallas restaurants preparing a special Valentine's Day menu. Just know this list will grow, so check back often.

Abacus
The highlights: A combo of small and large plates with soup and salads on the side. Includes Kobe beef carpaccio with toasted amaranth “pops,” wild arugula, blood orange and cacao al tartufo as well as duo of duck fennel pollen dusted breast and leg confit with ricotta cavatelli and fava bean puree.
Cost per person: $125
Reservations: 214-559-3111

Asador
The highlights: Chef Brad Phillips' menu includes Gulf of Mexico oysters or Rocky's green salad, tuna tempura or grilled flatiron steak, and warm chocolate cake or crème brûlée. Dinner will be accompanied by the romantic sounds of a solo violinist.
Cost per person: $40 per person
Reservations: Call 214-267-4815

Aventino’s Italian Restaurant
The highlights: Dishes from their special menu include focaccia mozzarella, veal scaloppini sautéed in a white wine, lemon butter sauce with mushrooms, onions and capers; served on a bed of linguine as well as salmon fettuccini with sautéed filets, onions with marinara and Alfredo served on a bed of fettuccine.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: Call 817-570-7940

The Blue Goose Cantina
The highlights: Their sweetheart deal with fajitas for two with $3 house margaritas, beers and wells.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: Not required

Bolsa
The highlights: Valentine’s specialties like duck egg custard, Diamond H Ranch quail and butter poached Maine lobster complement Bolsa’s regular menu.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: 214-367-9367 or contact@bolsadallas.com

Boulevardier
The highlights: In addition to the regular dishes, they also have George Bank scallops, lobster pappardelle and Ox heart tartar.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: 214-942-1828

Buttons Restaurant
The highlights: Enjoy classic Southern dishes like fried green tomatoes, flash fried shrimp, porterhouse pork chop, tenderloin Oscar and peach cobbler in a three-course meal prepared by executive chef Keith “Button” Hicks.
Cost per person: $50
Reservations: Online at their website or 972-503-2888 for their Addison location and 817-735-4900 for their Fort Worth spot.

Canary by Gorji
The highlights: Dishes include grilled chilled avocado with poached shrimp, traditional Caesar salad, Colorado lamb and quail with tabbouleh and tzatziki, and four-berry sorbet.
Cost per person: $69
Reservations: 972-503-7080

Chocolate Secrets
The highlights: Treat your sweetie and your sweet tooth (we’re so sorry for that line) to four desserts, live jazz, a bottle of champagne and a gift.
Cost per person: $100 per couple
Reservations: Call 214-252-9801

Cook Hall
The highlights: Enjoy a menu that includes shared plates of fresh oysters with passion fruit mignonette, cheddar jalapeno fritters and roasted Brussels sprouts accented by apple wood smoked bacon and grilled red snapper with citrus fennel salad. They’re also serving a Valentine’s cocktail kit with chilled champagne and cherry yuzu and elderflower ginger mixers as well as a basket of accouterments.
Cost per person: $52 for dinner; $15 for cocktail kit plus cost of champagne
Reservations: Call 214-397-4111 or their website

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
The highlights: Chef David Holben has created a special Valentine's Day menu that includes an 8-ounce filet and 8-ounce lobster tail. Sides include spinach supreme and potato au gratin.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: 972-490-9000 or visit OpenTable

Dish
The highlights: Specialties include oven roasted mountain trout, spatchcock game hen and bleu cheese mussels.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: 214-522-3474

Fearing’s Restaurant
The highlights: Chef Fearing is offering a fixed-price menu February 14-17, with dishes such as butternut squash agnolotti pasta with ricotta in sage brown butter, Georges Bank lemon sole, Wagyu strip loin, and dessert duo of chocolate cherry ice cream "heart" sandwich with mallow fluff and a vanilla custard shooter with passion fruit orange sauce and heart-shaped sugar cookies.
Cost per person: $95
Reservations: 214-922-4848 or visit OpenTable

The Front Room
The highlights: Four-course meal includes oysters on the half shell with pomegranate horseradish mignonette, white asparagus salad with black truffles, citrus cured salmon, blood orange and sabayon and a filet of beef with seared foie gras, blue cheese potato gratin, baby leeks and port shallot demi glace.
Cost per person: $55 with $20 additional for wine pairings.
Reservations: 214-219-8282 or their website

FT33
The highlights: Matt McCallister is serving four- and five-course menus for diners at his Design District hot spot. Customers for the five-course menu receive a glass of Champagne.
Cost per person: $75; $115 with wine pairings at 6, 6:30 and 7 pm (four courses). $90; $140 with wine pairings at 8, 8:30 and 9 pm (five courses).
Reservations: 214-741-2629 or info@ft33dallas.com

The Gin Mill
The highlights: Sip on Dallas beers like Peticolas and Deep Ellum Brewery or samples from Times Ten Cellars while enjoying a four-course meal. Dishes include ratatouille bruschetta, orange and fennel salad, pork with celery root and pear puree, and chocolate cherry torte.
Cost per person: $60
Reservations: 214-824-3343

Goodfriend Beer and Burger Garden
The highlights: Beer and dessert event featuring Brewery Ommegang will offer flights of 3 Philosophers, Art of Darkness and Chocolate Indulgence, each paired with a dessert. Local rock band Dead Flowers performs. Doors open at 5 pm; the band plays at 10:30 pm.
Cost per person: $25
Reservations: 214-324-3335

Highland Park Cafeteria
The highlights: Enjoy a special menu with plates including beef tenderloin with spinach and mushroom sauce and loaded mashed potatoes and grilled salmon with pineapple salsa and honey glazed carrots. Enjoy live piano music and a free glass of Merlot.
Cost per person: $15.99
Reservations: None

Hotel St. Germain
The highlights: On February 9, celebrate early with a five-course wine dinner. On February 12, enjoy a Valentine's Day dinner with a Mardi Gras flair, including oysters Rockefeller and king cake. February 13-15, it's a multi-course Valentine's menu.
Cost per person: $95 on February 9, 12, and 15; $125 February 13-14
Reservations: Call 214-871-2516

Jack Mac’s Swill & Grill
The highlights: Enjoy a four-course meal that features pairings with Texas spirits infusions. Several of the dishes will use the Texas spirits in their recipes.
Cost per person: $50
Reservations: Call 972-267-2782 or their eventbrite site.

Jasper’s
The highlights: Four-course dinner includes dishes like wild mushroom-black truffle risotto with broccolini and shaved young pecorino and Atlantic lobster with forbidden black rice, stir fried vegetables and lemongrass miso butter.
Cost per person: $125 per couple.
Reservations: 469-229-9111

La Hacienda Ranch
The highlights: Three-course meal for two begins with table-side guacamole, followed by filet steaks, with salad, potatoes and Texas Toast. For dessert, share hot apple pie on a sizzlin' platter with brandy butter sauce and cinnamon ice cream..
Cost per person: $60 for two
Reservations: 972-248-2424

Landmark Restaurant at the Warwick Melrose
The highlights: Enjoy a four-course meal with dishes including Thai bouillabaisse with clams and mussels, lobster & prawn risotto with smoked gouda, fava beans, charred cauliflower and lemon oil as well as filet mignon with block-cut potatoes, broccoli rabe and hunter sauce.
Cost per person: $75, including one-half bottle of sparkling wine
Reservations: Call 214-224-3152 or their website

Mariano's Hacienda
The highlights: Three-course meal for two begins with table-side guacamole, followed by filet steaks, with salad, potatoes and Texas Toast. For dessert, share hot apple pie on a sizzlin' platter with brandy butter sauce and cinnamon ice cream..
Cost per person: $60 for two
Reservations: 214-691-3888

Mariano's Mexican Cuisine
The highlights: Begin with margaritas and queso Mariano – queso with spicy taco beef, guacamole and sour cream – followed by fajitas for two with steak, chicken and shrimp.
Cost per person: $50 for two
Reservations: 817-640-5118

NYLO Dallas South Side
The highlights: Chef Jerry de la Riva is preparing a three-course meal with dishes such as potato rosti, lamb osso buco, honey-soy glaze quails, and hot chocolate bourbon with meringue. Includes a complimentary glass of champagne.
Cost per person: $60; $80 with wine pairings
Reservations: 214-421-1080 or visit the website

Oak
The highlights: Four-course meal with options including diver scallop carpaccio, beet fetuccini and venison.
Cost per person: $80 with $40 additional for wine pairing.
Reservations: 214-712-9700 or info@oakdallas.com

Ocean Prime
The highlights: Their ‘berries and bubbles’ concoction with Belvedere citrus, Crème de Cassis, housemade sour, Domaine Chandon brut and dry ice. Feast on their lobster-stuffed Gulf flounder with roasted Brussels sprouts, warm fingerling salad and champagne beurre blanc.
Cost per person: A la carte.
Reservations:Here or 214-965-0440

People's Last Stand
The highlights: Valentine's Day craft cocktail class invites couples and singles to join head bartender Alex Fletcher to learn the art and craft behind some of PLS' favorite drinks, plus complimentary bites.
Cost per person: $40
Reservations: 214-370-8755 or plsdallas@gmail.com

Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen
The highlights: Four-course dinner with dishes including hickory-grilled organic pork tenderloin with crispy pork belly, house spaetzel and cherry gastrique as well as oysters on the half with blood orange sorbet, champagne mignonette and house yuzu.
Cost per person: $55
Reservations: 214-890-1103

Samar by Stephan Pyles
The highlights: Four-course menu, with multiple shared dishes per course, from 5-11 pm
Cost per person: $50; $75 with wine pairings
Reservations: 214-922-9922

Second Floor
The highlights: Three-course menu, with dishes such as shrimp bisque, George’s bank scallops, lamb loin and strawberry shortcake with chantilly cream. Each table gets a complimentary rose at the end of dinner. February 14-16 from 5:30-10:30 pm
Cost per person: $55; $85 with wine pairings
Reservations: 214-450-2978

Shinsei
The highlights: Oysters on the half shell, jumbo prawns with forbidden rice and yellow curry, Australian Wagyu strip loin with Japanese sweet potatoes and red velvet donut holes with cream cheese dipping sauce.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: 214-352-0005

Sissy's Southern Kitchen
The highlights: "Bottle & Bucket" special features 10-piece bucket of fried chicken and bottle of Moët for $75 (or Moët 2002 Vintage Rosé for $155). Also, a six-course tasting menu with Louisiana boudin balls, fried green tomato with shrimp remoulade, oysters Rockefeller, lobster over Creole risotto, pork belly with butternut squash and red cabbage. Desserts include chocolate custard with red velvet shortbread, strawberry Frangipane tart and a "candy box" with gingersnap, nutty goodness bar, salted caramel truffle and mint julep truffle.
Cost per person: $80, or $150 with wine pairings
Reservations: 214-827-9900

Stampede 66
The highlights: Four-course menu, with multiple shared dishes per course, from 6-11 pm
Cost per person: $60; $85 with wine pairings
Reservations: 214-550-6966

Stephan Pyles
The highlights: Four courses, with choices, from 5-11 pm
Cost per person: $75; $125 with wine pairings
Reservations: 214-580-7000

Urban Taco
The highlights: Half-off all desserts throughout February; from February 11-17, frozen margaritas will be $10 for two.
Cost per person: $10 and up
Reservations: 214-922-7080

Wild Salsa
The highlights: Three-course with choices like lump crab stuffed avocado salad with chipotle vinaigrette and pan-roasted half chicken with a poblano tamale pudding and cumin roasted baby carrots.
Cost per person: $35
Reservations: Their website or 214-741-9453

Zen Sushi
The highlights: Four-course menu, curried-kabocha squash soup, Kumamoto oysters, steamed pork buns, sushi, and lobster tails with Angus New York strip and roasted vegetables. For dessert, a passionfruit crème brulee. Two seatings at 6 and 8:30 pm.
Cost per person: $169 for two, with floral arrangement and choice of margaritas, sangria or bottle of wine
Reservations: 214-946-9699

Stephan Pyles is doing a special four-course meal at Stampede 66, as well as his other spots, Samar and Stephan Pyles.

Stampede 66 by Stephan Pyles, restaurant

Photo by Brandon Ramsey of Brilliant Pixel Photography

Stephan Pyles is doing a special four-course meal at Stampede 66, as well as his other spots, Samar and Stephan Pyles.

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Hot cross buns and Easter treats sweeten this Dallas restaurant news

Empire

Empire Baking Co. hot cross buns

This edition of Dallas restaurant news has a dose of Easter sweetness in the form of holiday-themed baked goods including the signature of the season: hot cross buns. That's in addition to a spring menus, new dishes, one closure, and four gratifying new openings around town.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news right now:

Waters Edge Winery & Bistro is now open at 6750 Abrams Rd. in the former Fireside Pies space in Creekside Village. The winery was founded by founded by husband-and-wife Ken and Angela Lineberger and carries more than 50 wines plus a bistro-style menu with appetizers, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, bowls, paninis, and desserts.

Outback Steakhouse opened a Prosper location at 840 S. Preston Rd. on April 1. The Aussie-themed chain is known for its fried Bloomin' Onion and low-cost steaks. The space also features a unique piece of art representing the Prosper community, including a kangaroo enjoying the town’s love for football and nods to local ranches and farmland.

Graze Craze, the charcuterie store, recently opened a new location at 3755 S. Lake Forest Dr. #300 in McKinney. The brand specializes in charcuterie boards with customizable food displays including fruits, vegetables, cheese, gourmet sweets, jams, dips, and more.

Two Hands, a fast casual Korean hot dog restaurant, has opened in the Hong Kong Market at 9780 Walnut St. #360A. They're known for creations such as a potato dog coated in potatoes or a half mozzarella, half meat corn dog. It was founded in Virginia in 2020 before expanding across the country. Five other DFW locations are in Grand Prairie, Mesquite, Irving, Arlington, and Murphy.

Lost Colony, a Tulum-inspired Mexican restaurant in Highland Village, will close at the end of May. According to a post on the restaurant's site, the closure is a result of new property ownership, which is "intending to open their own concept in our space." They'll continue hosting holiday specials and meals until the last day.

Ollio Patisserie has Easter specials including a macaron box with six pastel macarons, decorated with hand-made designs in flavors such as vanilla, Nutella, strawberry, pistachio, lemon, and lavender; and Easter Nest Danish, a flaky pastry filled with Nutella cream, topped with edible candy grass and Cadbury mini eggs. Available for pre-order until April 18.

Empire Baking Co., the Dallas bakery chain that's home to the best bread in town, has brought back one of its most popular seasonal specials: hot cross buns, the sweet roll spiked with dried fruit and decorated with a white frosting cross. They'll be at the chains three locations — Inwood Village, SMU/University, and West Village — through Saturday April 19.

Breadhaus, the Grapevine bakery, is doing a a whole suite of seasonal specials that include hot cross buns, Portuguese sweet bread, Portuguese cookies, and Easter cookies. The hot cross buns will be available through April 20.

Ravelin Bakery hot cross buns Hot cross buns at Ravelin Bakery in Denton.Ravelin

Ravelin Bakery, the acclaimed bakery in Denton, is doing hot cross buns, available April 18-19, plus Easter cookies, plus Italian Easter bread, baked in the shape of a dove, made with candied citrus and a special almond topping.

Fearing's at The Ritz-Carlton has launched a pre-show menu featuring Dean's tortilla soup, Novia Scotia halibut, BBQ spiced beef filet & chicken fried Maine lobster, and Granny Fearing's banana pudding. Prix-fixe menu starts at $79 and starts at 5:30 pm daily.

Cafe Momentum has a new spring menu featuring coffee-rubbed New York strip, served with sautéed oyster mushrooms, turnips, spinach, and finished with roasted garlic and miso butter; black lentils dish is a combination of mixed spring vegetables, local greens, and grilled lemon tahini; and rabbit ravioli, filled with rabbit, cheese, and oyster mushrooms, topped with a white wine velouté. Desserts include pineapple carrot cake, avocado cheesecake mousse, and seasonal fruit sorbet.

Reggae Jerk Hut, a Jamaican-Haitian fusion restaurant in McKinney, is launching daily brunch. Menu items include oxtail and grits, jerk fried chicken & waffles, and oxtail scramble every morning starting at 10 am.

The Charlotte has a new weekend brunch withcinnamon roll pancakes, breakfast Benedict, French toast bites, chilaquiles, and a cereal bowl with choices like Trix and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Saturday-Sunday 11 am-4 pm.

Tacodeli has a new taco on the menu: the al pastor taco features pork marinated in house-made adobo, topped with jalapeño escabech. Available for a limited time for $6.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub has a new spring menu featuring Mediterranean meatballs, spicy sausage and ground beef with Harissa and panko, garden power bowl, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, and miso & orange glazed salmon for $12-$26. They've also added a Southern peach crisp with cinnamon glaze, orange zest, pecan oat streusel, passion fruit caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream for $12.

Logan's Roadhouse has a new Real Deal value meal starting at $12. It includes an entrée, one side, a salad, a drink and bottomless rolls. Entrees include peppercorn bacon chicken sandwich, All-American cheeseburger, wood grilled chicken dinner, and beer-battered fish.

El Chico has new Mama's Flavoritos cocktails featuring a sangria swirl and a guava 'rita, each for $7.50. April 15 through July 14 at Rockwall, Richland Hills, and Pantego locations.

World of Beer Bar & Kitchen has a new spring menu featuring three items: Caprese burger with flame-grilled Angus beef patty melted mozzarella, roasted grape tomatoes, and peppery arugula, finished with creamy pesto aioli on a toasted brioche bun; mango habanero wing sauce; and Ruby’s Grand Dreamsicle, a blend of Skyy Vodka, Aperol, Grand Marnier, orange juice, ruby red grapefruit and Stiegl Radler.

Jimmy John's has a new Toasted Hot Combo, or the T.H.C. Box, in honor of 4/20. It features the choice of one of Jimmy John’s new crispy and gooey toasted sandwiches such as the chicken bacon ranch or roast beef and cheddar, paired with any flavor of chips, a Jimmy Pickle spear, and a sweet treat starting at $13.

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