Romantic Dining

Best Dallas restaurants for romantic dining on Valentine's Day 2017

Where to eat with your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

Photo by Malin Strandvall/Flickr

Is it too soon to have romance on your mind? Some would say never. If you're wise in the ways of love, you know that restaurants fill up on Valentine's Day, and you get your reservation in early. These restaurants are already planning, and so might you.

Here's our list of restaurants ready to serve up some romantic dining on Valentine's Day. All dinners take place on February 14, unless otherwise noted.

Americano
Specials include oysters on the half shell ($19), beet gnudi with goat cheese and hazelnuts ($20), and squid ink spaghetti with mussels, clams, and rock shrimp in San Marzano tomato sauce ($22). For dessert, Italian cream cake and pistachio-strawberry opera torte. February 10-14. 214-261-4600.

Asador
Three-course meal with oysters, kale salad, and choice of rib eye with asparagus and truffle potato or tuna with forbidden rice. Desserts include choice of passion fruit tart in a jar or chocolate lava cake. 5-10 pm. $60 or $90 with wine pairing. 214-267-4815.

Bird Cafe
Four-course dinner begins with an amuse-bouche and champagne, followed by choices such as Blue Point oysters, pork cheek croquettes, eggplant bruschetta, lobster bisque, strawberry beet salad, rack of lamb, sea bass, quail cordon bleu, and osso bucco. Dessert options include red velvet trifle, a "reversed" banana muffin, and a bourbon-glazed bacon brownie. 5-10 pm. $90, plus $30 for wine flight. 817-332-2473.

Bistro 31
Special menu includes Atlantic oysters, sweet red shrimp, potato-leek soup, lobster risotto, surf and turf, and chocolate cake with raspberry coulis. $16-$58. 214-420-3900.

Bolsa
Four-course menu includes choices from beef tartare, shrimp and grits, quail with collards, flatbread, and local greens salad. Desserts include white-chocolate rum tile and brownies. 214-367-9367.

Canary By Gorji
Four-course dinner includes choices such as mussels, venison, Caesar salad, filet with garlic-gorgonzola smashed potatoes, trout and poached shrimp, lamb and quail, wild boar and scallop, or spinach lasagna. Desserts include flourless chocolate cake or kefir cheese butterfly. 5-10 pm. $99. 972-503-7080.

CBD Provisions
Chateaubriand steak for two with frisee salad and potato gratin is $90. Other specials include pork chop, beef tartare, wild mushroom pasta, and chocolate crinkle cookie sandwich with rocky road ice cream and burnt marshmallow fluff. February 11 and February 14. 214-261-4500.

CiboDivino Marketplace
Five-course Italian-centric dinner with mezzelune ravioli filled with beets and ricotta cheese; and pan-seared scallops with cream of corn. An alternate farm-to-table menu with choices such as hangar steak is a la carte. 5:30-8:30 pm. 214-653-2426.

Cook Hall
Three-course menu includes Texas quail with mole sauce, choice of duck breast or beef Wellington, and raspberry soufflé. $80 per couple. 214-397-4111.

Cru
Four-course menu includes choices from potato blinis; vol au vent; jumbo shrimp; asparagus salad; lobster salad; filet of sole with crawfish; beef tenderloin with pommes puree; lamb loin; and sea bass with celery root puree, sautéed spinach, and shaved black truffles. Desserts include chocolate bombe, sauternes sorbet, or chocolate fondue for two. 5-10 pm. $55. 214-526-9463.

Del Frisco's Grille
Special menu includes two pairings featuring bone-in rib eye with fried oysters for $65, or crab-stuffed lobster tail with garlic grits, for $49. Raspberry chocolate ganache tart is a special Valentine’s Day dessert. Regular menu is also available. February 10-14. Dallas 972-807-6152, Fort Worth 817-887-9900.

Fearing's
Three-course romance menu includes peekie-toe crab soup with dumplings, beef wellington, and a dessert duo featuring dark chocolate cake with raspberry chocolate filling, and vanilla panna cotta with passion fruit champagne sauce. February 10-14, 6-10 pm. $75. 214-922-4848.

Grayson Social
Four-course dinner has choices such as oysters, chicken-fried quail, baked Brie, arugula salad, corn bisque, fried chicken, oscar wellington, lamb, and dessert for two. $65. 972-232-1728.

Knife Dallas
Options include steaks for sharing as well as a cherry-chocolate cocktail with Luxardo amaretto, cherry liqueur, creme de cacao, vodka, and cranberry. Special dessert is dark chocolate raspberry roulade, with raspberry foam, dark chocolate ganache, raspberry sorbet, and dehydrated chocolate mousse. February 10-14. 214-443-9339.

Pakpao
Three-course meal includes lobster roll, wagyu filet with crispy oysters and Brussels sprouts, and a chocolate cloud cake for dessert. $39. 214-749-7002.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
Three-course dinner with choices from Caesar salad, soup, filet oscar, filet with shrimp, and red velvet brownie for dessert. February 10-14, 5–10 pm. $75. 214-366-2000.

Reunion Tower
Candlelight buffet with imported and domestic cheeses and nuts; Caesar salad, chicken breast, butternut squash risotto, jalapeño macaroni and cheese, New York strip loin, garlic potato puree, rolls. Dessert buffet includes dark chocolate cake, milk chocolate hazelnut crumble, crème brulee, red velvet cheesecake with white chocolate sauce, and glass of champagne. February 11 and 14, 6 and 8:30 pm. $250. 214-712-7043.

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Three-course dinner begins with welcome cocktail and amuse. Choices include tenderloin, venison, duck, quail, lobster risotto, butternut squash tortellini, and vegetable couscous. Desserts include chocolate cake, yuzu mousse, or apple tart. Seatings at 5:30, 7:45, 9, and 9:30 pm. $150. 214-443-4747.

Salum
Three-course dinner includes a "three-heart" salad with artichoke, palm, and strawberry hearts, and surf and turf with lobster tail and beef tenderloin. Dessert is a chocolate-themed confection with "chocolate pets de nonne," dark chocolate mousse, chocolate-caramel tart, and a shake with white chocolate and Licor 43, accompanied by a glass of Ruinart blanc de blancs. February 10-14. $75. 214-252-9604.

Second Floor
Three-course dinner with choices from corn bisque, tenderloin, diver scallops, chicken, or mushroom ravioli. Vanilla bean creme brulee for dessert. 6–9:30 pm. $125 or $200 with wine pairings. 972-450-2978.

SER Steak + Spirits
In addition to à la carte classics like tartare deviled eggs, 28-day aged black rib-eye, and diver scallop purloo will be a menu of special "for two" dishes including oyster and tequila pairings ($36), porterhouse, and tomahawk steak. A dessert lounge will feature an array of confections for $12. Live music and dancing will be available in a special “speak easy lounge” featuring top-tier champagne selections. February 10-14. 214-761-7479.

Theodore
Three-course menu includes oysters, baked Brie, lobster bisque, short ribs, salmon with quinoa, pork osso bucco, and roasted chicken. Desserts include choice of cheesecake, crème brûlée, or ice cream. February 10-18. $80 for two, with champagne toast. 469-232-9771.

Toulouse
Special menu includes petit oysters; salad with smoked salmon, crispy avocado, arugula, goat cheese, grapefruit, blood oranges, and olives; Nova Scotia halibut; beef wellington; and spicy Valrhona dark chocolate fondue. $12-38. 214-520-8999.

Whisk Crepes Cafe
Three-course meal with choice of two savory crepes and one dessert. Options include French copa with parmigiana, mozzarella, fig, and hazelnuts. Desserts include the Parisian pink with raspberry whipped cream, lemon sorbet, raspberries, and white chocolate. 5-10 pm. $50. 469-407-1899.

Y.O. Ranch
Dinner for two with prime rib and lobster tail carved tableside. $99 for two. 214-744-3287.

holidays

a family friendly destination

Family-owned whiskey distillery opening in the Texas Hill Country

Photo by Hayden Walker

Briggs Distilling Co. will open its doors on October 17.

A new family-owned distillery is joining the vast landscape of breweries, wineries, and other spirit-makers in the Texas Hill Country. Briggs Distilling Co. will start serving cocktails, mocktails, and more at its spacious facility at 121 Brownson Ln. in Driftwood on Saturday, October 17.

The 9,000-square-foot distillery is owned and operated by the Briggs family. It was founded by R.S. Briggs with longtime family friend Davis Tucker serving as its president. Master distiller Colton Weinstein is in charge of production and distilling operations.

The distillery has developed three expressions for whiskey drinkers to try neat or in a cocktail. Each is made with Texas rainwater and bottled on-site. From a press release, look out for the following flavor profiles:

Straight Rye Whiskey: spice and bright herbs with lingering sherry notes to finish
Heritage Reserve Bourbon: caramel, candy, and leather notes with hints of spice and cherry and a medium finish
Wheated Bourbon: described as "sweet and fruity, with tobacco notes that coat the mouth and a medium-short finish"

Briggs Distilling Co. whiskey and bourbon products Patrons can buy a bottle of Briggs whiskey or bourbon on-site to take home. Photo by Hayden Walker

The spirits will be available to try in individual tastings ($10 each) and flights ($15), as well as draft, frozen, and house cocktails priced from $10-$14 each.

Briggs Distilling will also serve mocktails, a frozen Texas Two-Step (lime, orange, and house cane syrup with a choice of strawberry, mango, coconut, or passion fruit), and other non-alcoholic options like soda, ginger beer, and coffee from neighboring Driftwood café Sonder Coffee Lounge.

Beyond the whiskey-making operations and the tasting room, the property will feature a treehouse-inspired children's area, family- and dog-friendly amenities, and an on-site food truck. Live music from local musicians will also be a regular occurrence on Fridays and Saturdays.

Above all, the Hill Country distillery is envisioned as a "community gathering place" that aims to make all visitors feel at home.

"For generations, this part of Texas has brought people together around good food and conversation under wide-open skies," R.S. Briggs said in the release. "We wanted Briggs Distilling to carry that spirit forward while adding one crucial component: good whiskey."

Briggs Distilling Co. interior The distillery was designed by Texas-based M. Elliott Studio with contemporary furniture that visitors can rearrange as they see fit for their gatherings.Photo by Hayden Walker

Briggs Distilling will host community events throughout the year, engage in sustainability initiatives such as recycling bottles through local businesses, and pursue additional giveback opportunities to demonstrate a commitment to the Hill Country area.

Bailey Briggs, R.S.'s daughter and vice president of marketing, said the land the distillery stands on has been in their family for generations, and their "family-first philosophy" is the heart of their business.

"Briggs Distilling was born from family and built for families," Bailey said in a release. "For more than twenty years, our family has called the Texas Hill Country home, spending holidays, birthdays, and long summer days on the river together. Those memories shaped our lives and inspired us to create a place where other families could make their own."

Following the grand opening on October 17, Briggs Distilling Co. will be open from 4-10 pm Wednesdays through Thursdays, 11 am-10 pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 am-7 pm Sundays. Happy hour will run from 3-6 pm Wednesdays through Fridays. Kid-friendly specials will also be offered on Sundays.

Photo by Hayden Walker

Briggs Distilling Co. will open its doors on October 17.

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