Charlotte Restaurants: Valentine menus for everyone

While plenty of peope choose to make Valentine's the occasion of a Big Splurge, others take a more individual approach. Here are some unusual offerings for Valentine celebrations at Charlotte restaurants, plus some budget suggestions, and a few alternate options to help you find your perfect sweet spot.

Best Budget Deal:

Our nominee for best deal this Valentine's Day is Sullivan's Steakhouse where a 3-course dinner for two, including two starters, two sides, two desserts, and two entrees including an 8-oz. Filet, a 12-oz. New York Strip, or triple cut Lamb chops, will set you back just $89 per couple. Available Feb. 11-14.

More budget suggestions:

Get to Blue Restaurant in the Center City early for the Sweetheart 3 Course Dinner includes entrees such as grilled flat iron steak with Moroccan spice rub, slow roasted pork shank, roasted Scottish salmon, and mushroom Bolognese. First seating 5-6 pm only. Feb. 10-11 and 13-14. $34.95 per person.
The Liberty in South End does its usual gourmet thing with a 3-course Couples Menu priced at $60 for two. Feb. 14 only.
Red Rocks at Strawberry Hill has a four-course Valentine's menu for $38; the Red Rocks at Birkdale has a la carte specials priced from $24-$45 (lobster and filet). Both special menus are available Feb. 10-14.
The Wine Shop at Foxcroft: Two seatings on Feb. 14 for a four-course menu with vegetarian options, plus a complimentary glass of bubbly. $45 per person.
Blu Basil's Day of Love menu includes five courses, including your choice of a pepper-crusted Filet Mignon or San Francisco style Cioppino, plus a glass of champagne or wine and a couple of palate cleansers between courses. $40 per person. Available Feb. 11-14.
Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse in Davidson offers a 3-course Valentine's menu that includes steak and oysters or pan-fried flounder. $45 per couple. Feb. 14 only.
Order a la carte at Waldhorn on Valentine's Day for specials such as Pork Tenderloin medallions & shrimp with a wild mushroom ragout, herb-crusted Prime Rib, or Cod Succotash, all priced at $18.95 per dish.
The several locations of Hickory Tavern offer two entrees, plus an appetizer and a dessert to share for $34.95 per couple. Add $15 for a bottle of wine.
Kennedy's Bar & Grill in Elizabeth has a real Valentine's deal: two salads, two entrees, and two desserts for $29.99 per couple. Entrees include grilled salmon and ribeye with blue cheese crumbles.
D'Vine Wine Cafe goes a la carte for Valentine's with a number of special menu items, including a Petite Filet and Maine lobster tail surf & turf for $20 and dark chocolate S'mores ($7). Specials available Feb. 10-11 and Feb. 13-14.
Firebirds offers special "Kiss of the Flame" Valentine specials for both lunch and dinner.
In Davidson, Campania Italian Trattoria plans a special 4-course Valentine's menu full of Italian specialties. $35 per person includes a glass of wine. Available Feb. 10-14.
In Huntersville, Kabuto Japanese Steakhouse serves a Sweet Heart Hibachi Meal of grilled steak, shrimp, and chicken, plus shrimp appetizer, soup, salad, and your choice of dessert or champagne. $59.95 per couple. Feb. 10-14.
Nefelie's in Brevard Court uptown offers a Greek-tinged Valentine's special of one appetizer, two entrees, two desserts, and a bottle of wine. $30 per couple. Daily through Feb. 14. Closed Sundays.
More Best Best for Valentine's below...

For Families:

The best Valentine's deal we've seen for couples who can't find or afford a babysitter comes from East Boulevard Bar & Grill. For $30 per couple, the special Valentine's menu includes two appetizers, two entrees such as shrimp and grits or lemon roasted chicken, and a dessert to share. Plus kids ten and under eat free.

For Beer Lovers:

RiRa hosts a Valentines Day Sweetwater "Sweetheart" Beer Dinner, a 5-course meal paired with beers from the Sweetwater Brewery. Feb. 14. $45 per person/$80 per couple. The pub also offers a more traditional a la carte Valentine's menu featuring goodies such as Beef Wellington, available Friday, Feb. 11-Tueday Feb. 14. All bottles of wine are half-price.

For Chocolate Lovers:

Bar Cocoa in the Ritz-Carlton uptown extends its regular Saturday night 5-course Chocolate & Champagne Dinner through Valentine's Day. Indulge in five desserts, each paired with its own bubbly. Feb. 11-14. $125.

For Vegetarians:

Fern in Plaza-Midwood will serve a four-course vegetarian wine dinner featuring a fig and carmelized onion tart with housemade (vegetarian) "bacon", and a mushroom and artichoke winter stew with wine pairings. Feb. 14 only. $45 per person.

For Pasta Lovers:

Table 274 offers dinner for two with two glasses of wine and two large plates of pasta for $49.95 per couple. Make it a bottle of wine for $10 more. Available nightly through Feb. 14.

For Grazers:

Mimosa plans a Bubbles & Bites menu, Tuesday, Feb. 14 only, featuring small plates of Fennel Dusted Sea Scallops, Smoked Rock House Farm Pork Brisket, Champagne Cake Pop and more, each paired with a different "bubbly." $60/person. Regular menu also available.

For Locavores:

Harvest Moon Grille's Valentine's menu features locally sourced foods including pork from chef/owner Cindy Parsons' own farm. $90 per couple.

For Seafood Lovers:

Upsteam's Valentine's Tasting Menu includes oysters, seafood ceviche, shiitaki-crusted ahi tuna or cashew-crusted mahi mahi, as well as meatier dishes for landlubbers. $45 per person/$80 per couple. Available Feb. 10-14.

For Francophiles:

Georges Brasserie celebrates Five Days of Love Feb. 10-14 with raw bar and champagne specials, live jazz, and a strolling violinist on Valentine's Day.

For Meat Lovers:

Make your way to Halcyon in the new Mint Museum uptown on Feb. 16 for the Bitter Beer Dinner featuring a variety of meats paired with beer. The 5-course menu includes Lamb Heart Ramen, mussels steamed in beer, pimento cheese fondue, BBQ lamb, and, for "dessert," chicken and waffles paired with a firkin of Midnight Madness from the NoDa Brewing Company. $55 per person.

For Better Late Than Never Valentines:

Alton's Kitchen in Cornelius extends its 4-course Valentine's menu from Friday Feb. 10 through Saturday, Feb. 18. $35 per person.

Low Rent Rendezvous:

Purchase an adult entree at McAlister's Deli through Feb. 14, and receive six free Valentines, each good for a free kids' meal with adult purchase through March 31.
Valentine specials at Fatz feature Prime Rib with various add-ons such as shrimp or crabcakes beginning at $14.99. Soup or salad is complimentary with your meal, and a slice of Red Velvet Cake is an additional $3.99. Available through Feb. 14.
Pig out on all-you-can-eat babyback ribs for $13.99 at Sonny's BBQ locations. Feb. 11-14.
P.F. Chang's offers a four-course menu for two of Chinese favorites including two soups, one starter, two entrees, and two mini or one full-sized dessert for $39.95 per couple.
Quaker Steak & Lube features a "Kiss and Tail" $14.99 special Steak & Shrimp dinner, Feb. 11-14. All daquaris and pina coladas come with a rose.
Buy a dozen doughnuts at Krispy Kreme and you'll receive 12 free Valentine cards, each good for a free doughnut for your sweetest friends.