Valentine's Day

Our Ultra Mega Super Colossal Valentine’s Day Roundup, Pt. 1

Roses are red, violets are blue, our inbox is full with things for you to do… on Valentine’s Day. Of course, if you really cared, you’d have planned this weeks ago, but here at least are some last chances to salvage your relationship. Lots of them, though we will point out that we did screen them to only include places that are actually doing something for the holiday; sending out a press release that you’re the perfect spot for romance with your standard menu did not actually qualify as news here. We have so many we’re breaking it into multiple posts; here’s part 1.

• Let’s start with the place that has made romance synonymous with boiling fat: Geja’s will extend Valentine’s Day from Sunday, February 10th to Sunday, February 17th, with a double anniversary discount for couples married in double digits of years (i.e., 15 years = 30% off) on Monday; Love Note Tuesday (share your love note with them and the one judged the best will win dinner for two, once a year for the number of years the note is old (limit $150 per visit). The writer of the second most tender love note, will win a dinner for two (limit $150), and the third most touching love letter will receive a $75 gift certificate. All other participants will be e-mailed a $25 gift certificate. And so on, all of it involving molten cheese and chocolate; more details here.

• Fish Bar Chicago will do a four-course menu ($52) built around foods traditionally used as aphrodisiacs. Yes, oysters are involved.

• The Boarding House will host a Wine Lovers’ Soiree at which singles are encouraged to mingle and enjoy appetizers and Alpana’s most romantic wine picks. Go here; tickets are $40.

• Terzo Piano will have a special four-course menu for $110, while its sibling Spiaggia will offer a four-course menu for $145 and a seven course black truffle tasting menu for $175 ($325 with pairings).

• Carriage House will have a five-course prix-fixe for $85 with $50 wine pairing, which is worth checking out just to read the gleeful haute cuisine-low country mashup of dishes like “Smoked grouper brandade, hush puppies, corn nut crust and pickled pepper aioli” or “Seared scallops, pork belly and shrimp pirloo, fermented onion and apple chips.” Call for reservations at 773-384-9700.

• Lula has two seatings, a $50 3-course at 6:30 and a $75 5-course at 8:30. See the menu here.

• Embeya will have a 4-course menu for $68, featuring two dishes per course served family style, while mixologist Danielle Pizzutillo will make two special cocktails, one based on cognac, the other on gin. Check it out here.

• Bread & Wine will do up a whole lamb from Catalpa Grove Farm, with a la carte specials alongside the regular menu.

• Tavernita will have a special sharing menu for two including a choice of one raw bar item, two specialty flatbreads, three small plates, one entree and dessert tasting for the table; $45.

• Tesori offers three courses that look pretty posh for the very reasonable $48; check it out here.

• For $100, iNG offers what can only be described as a trip through its own twisted sensibility, since it runs the gamut from Prawn Nuoc Mam to Venison Bratwurst, with two desserts and pairings (alcoholic or non, we assume, since they always do interesting non-alcoholic offerings).

• After Vettel, Grace’s special menu may have gone fast, but if it’s still around, it’s them at their luxe-ist with the likes of veal cheek and grilled wagyu on the menu. It’s $185.

• Acadia has a Valentine’s dinner, followed by a special tasting menu Friday and Saturday for $150 per person, $75 for wine pairings; see it here.

• Leopold’s three-course $50 menu will run through the weekend and includes 1) Seared Scallops with spaghetti squash & foie gras vinaigrette, 2) Braised Short Ribs with cherry-cognac syrup and 3) Olive Oil Cake with chocolate mousse and pomegranates. Reservations at 312-348-1028.

• Osteria via Stato has a $75 prix fixe including antipasti, a lobster and shrimp risotto, ribeye for two and cheese course and dessert, through the weekend.

• Feast & Imbibe is an underground dinner club that will be having a series of popups in Evanston featuring a seven-course menu with pairings for $195, including tax and gratuity. Book them on Table Host.

• Del Frisco’s is offering an eight-ounce filet and an eight-ounce lobster tail special for $79; after that wash it down with Godiva Chocolate Mousse cake ($12). It runs through the weekend.

• Rockit Burger Bar invites you to dine Lady and the Tramp style on their sweetheart burger for two. This runs through the weekend, too.

• Casual farm to table spot Prasino will have a $65 four-course dinner… and the restaurant will be duded up as, and we quote, “eco-chic love shack complete with cozy tables for two, candlelight, all natural table arrangements and strolling musicians to fuel the romance.” Call 312-878-1212.

• West Town Bakery & Diner’s new pastry chef Chris Teixeira, formerly of Sixteen, has a whole list of sweets from a heart cake to macarons and truffles; check them out here.

• Come in for Hub 51’s prix fixe menus (as a couple) and enjoy a half bottle of Veuve Cliquot Yellow with your meal. Call 312-828-0051.

• Ada Street will have two special tasting menus, one standard ($115) and one pescatarian ($85), both served by candlelight.

• Farm to table/sustainable sandwich shop Sandwich Me In will offer a free heart-shaped scone and flower with any sandwich purchase on V-Day.

• Roka Akor will offer a $95 per person menu, a Sparkling Around the World Wine Flight at $50 per person, or get both, a box of truffles and a carriage ride in their $350 per couple Roka Romance Extravaganza.

• For quality to price ratio, one of the best has to be Telegraph’s three-course menu for a mere $35, plus a tribute to wines of northeast Italy for just $20 more. Check it out here.

• Another very reasonable one: Quay’s three course, $45 farm to table menu.

• Deep pink risotto… coming from the restaurant that invented the Puppy Bowl party, how can we resist. It’s part of Filini’s $75 prix fixe menu; go here to see it all.

• Here’s one of the only ones we got that mentioned one common outcome of romance, children; the whole family is welcomed for Eggy’s Diner’s cookie decorating table at 5 p.m., and dinner is served until 8:30.

Our Ultra Mega Super Colossal Valentine’s Day Roundup, Pt. 1