Valentine's Day February 14, 2010 falls on a Sunday and it's Presidents' Day weekend. This gives reservation seekers who are not sticklers for celebrating on the exact date more options. It also creates the possibility of a weekend-long celebration.
Click Here For Our 2012 Post On Valentine’s Day Dining
You can opt to dine with your divine companion on Friday or Saturday, or indulge in a long an leisurely sweethearts brunch on Sunday. And, since Monday is not a "school day" an official Valentine's Day dinner out doesn't have to end early.
With more days to dine, you have a better chance of snagging a reservation at a popular place or of avoiding the "prix fixe only" situations that pop up on holidays like this. Links to resources for reservations and listing of what area restaurants have planned are in the "Details:" section below.
Romantic Dining from Around the World
Since tight budgets might derail your foreign travel plans this year, how about a Valentine meal at a restaurant that offers an authentic taste of the cuisine they serve. A place where the decor, music and food all bring you to another land.
Trattoria Toscana (map ) in the Fenway is an escape to Tuscany. The food is lovely and a good value. They don't have a website but here are a couple of posts we wrote about this charming place.
http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/11/trattoria-toscana-menu---fall-2008.html
http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/05/trattoria-tosca.html
La Voile (map) on Newbury Street offers moments in the South of France to the winter weary. Click flutes of one of their delicious French sparkling wines over a shared plate of "La terrine de campagne et oignons caramélisés, pain grillé" (House country pate & caramelized onions with toasts) and finish with a florish of Le moëlleux au chocolat (Warm chocolate cake.) It's a mini-escape – a romantic rendezvous that you may find yourself planning a few times a year.
If Spain is on your love's wish list, you have a couple of great choices. Taberna de Haro in Brookline (Map) has been serving tapas from Madrid and other regions of Spain since 1998. What's more romantic than sharing food and ordering special treats for one another? And, you'll find their list of Spanish wines superb.
Your second Spanish get-away is Estragon (map) in the South End. It's on our list of places to visit soon, because it's had raves from food lovers we trust.
For a visit to Portugal, we recommend Atasca in Cambridge. (map) Our favorite Portuguese menu items are "Pork and Clams" and custard tarts. We constantly search for the perfect versions of each one after years of living in the midst of Rhode Island's Portuguese community. And for wine, a slightly frizzante Vino Verde.
Time in the Land of Luxury and Excellence
And, if a visit to the land of luxury is on your agenda, but you need to find a way to do this at a lower price, we have a suggestion.
Brush off your Tux or don your fanciest dress and don't say where you're going. Reserve the wing back chairs at the Salon at L'Espalier. (Map )
From warmer days in Westport MA, order two glasses of Westport Rivers RJR Brut and then ask the staff to choose cheeses for you to share. You'll have the service that makes any visit to L'Espalier special, but at a price that won't make either of you unhappy when the credit card statement arrives.
More Romantic Adventures Coming Up
Stay tuned, because we plan to tell you about some even less expensive ways to treat your favorite date to a special Valentine adventure without breaking the piggy bank.
Update February 2, 2010
Here's a link to Romantic possibilities at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum!
http://www.bostonzest.com/2010/02/romance-at-the-gardner-museum-valentines-weekend-destination-.html
Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: © 2007 Penny Cherubino
Open table has a list of restaurants and note if they have a special menu or if their regular menu is available.
http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m=7&pid=102
Gayot has a great list of their Best Boston Valentine Restaurants
http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/best-boston-ma-valentinesday_12bo.html
http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/05/trattoria-tosca.html
Boston Chefs list is at this link.
http://www.bostonchefs.com/news/2010/1/11/valentines-day-boston-restaurants/
The Boston Convention and Visitor's Bureau has added a page of Valentine Dining options
http://www.bostonusa.com/visit/bostoneveryday/be/wheretoeat/valentines-day-dining
We'll add to this list as we find more information posted. Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to the comment feed for this post to be notified of updates.
