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
Chef Matt McCallister and crew are doing four- and five-course meals for Valentine's Day at FT33.
Panini at Killer JoeKiller Joe