Valentine's Day dining in Houston 2011

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, that day when you get to show your special someone just how special you really think they are.  Some people celebrate with gifts of largesse, but I think the best to way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach. Here's a guide to help you plan your Valentine's Day dining in Houston.

Start the romance early this year. Book the Sweetheart Sunset Tour and Wine Bar Valentine’s Party on Friday, February 11th from 6-9 p.m at Messina Hof Winery and Resort, or take part in their special Murder Mystery Dinner full of intrigue, suspense, and a gourmet meal paired with award-winning wines on Saturday February 12th at 6:30pm.

For a gourmet yet budget-conscious celebration, take your special someone to Phoenicia Deli over the weekend and order a Berries and Cream Cappuccino. The specially created “capp-smooch-ino” is a frothy concoction with a kiss of lavender and a heart, served with shortbread heart cookies, made fresh daily now through February 14th.  While you’re there, pick up some items like the delicious muhammara dip to make a gourmet meal at home with a romantic movie, or a gourmet picnic lunch at Discovery Green.

For that morning person with a sweet tooth, surprise your honey with CRAVE Cupcake’s “Breakfast in Bed” special. For $38, you and your loved one can share four breakfast cupcakes, two “I CRAVE U” coffee mugs and a container of freshly brewed coffee. Pre-order by Feb 12th online or by calling CRAVE Cupcakes.

Surrender to opulence by booking a table at the glamorous Voice at the Hotel Icon on Saturday, February 12th, or Monday, February 14th and enjoying a sumptuous four-course meal in one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city.  For $85 per person plus $35 for wine pairings, Executive Chef Greg Lowry offers a mouthwatering array of choices like butterscotch and bacon bisque, pan seared scallop and hudson valley foie gras, sake soy braised kobe short rib, and white chocolate rose mousse cake. 

Enjoy a decadent three course meal with wine for $120 per couple at Bistro Alex in the CityCentre with choices like black angus beef bourguignon, white truffled yukon potatoes, sweet English peas & baby carros and shaved black truffles.  Then head over to the gorgeously appointed Monnalisa bar next door for a drink where if you’re lucky, you can snag one of their white cabanas and gaze at the stars while cuddling next to the beautifully lit pool.

For dinner in one of the most extravagantly decorated dining rooms in the city, book dinner at America’s River Oaks during their "Four Days of Amor," February 11th through February 14th, and receive a $20 dining certificate.

Take a trip to Paris without buying a plane ticket by indulging in true French fine dining at Restaurant CINQ at La Colombe d'Or.  Chef Jeramie Robison has created a $95 five-course lover's menu with aphrodisiacs like Island Creek oysters, European sea bass, butter poached Maine lobster and prime beef filet. Wine pairings are an additional $40.

Can't get a table at Cinq? The French chef-owners at Au Petit Paris offer a romantically inspired three-course prix-fixe for $59 without wine, or $79 with wine, and includes choices like Homemade Maine lobster ravioli covered with lobster bisque to start, or lamb shank “cuit a la ficelle” served with creamy Reggiano parmesan cheese polenta with sautéed broccoli and glazed carrots. 

If the weather is nice, enjoy dinner al fresco on the lovely patio at Backstreet Cafe, or cozy up at an intimate table near one of their fireplaces while enjoying live jazz music by Bob Chadwick. Chef Hugo Ortega will offer a three-course Valentine’s menu from February 11th through February 14th. Choices like sweet potato vichyssoise, seared halibut with grapefruit buerre blanc, asparagus and hasselback potatoes, and deep dark chocolate cake with Frangelico ice cream are available for $59. 

At Hugo’s, the "Feliz Dia De San Valentin" $59 menu will start off with Piernas de Codorniz, quail drumsticks with tomatillo sauce to share, followed by choices like Varitas de Camarón, skewered shrimp with guajillo peanut mole, small salad; Cola de Langosta, lobster tail bathed in smoky mojo de ajo and served with refritos, arroz blanco and fresh flour tortillas; and dessert platter to share.

For souffle lovers, the sweet corn and crab souffle on the three course $65 prix-fixe Valentine’s menu at Mockingbird Bistro is sure to be a big hit. Entree choices like the filet of Angus beef and Key West prawns with potato leek cake, creamy black trumpet mushrooms and Béarnaise sauce, or the potato-crusted pacific sea bass with baby vegetable ragout, blood orange beurre blanc and Louisiana bowfish caviar will definitely score points as well. 

Plan to do a romantic group outing? Benjy's will provide the bubbly for groups of five or more with a complimentary bottle of Roederer Estate Champagne to go with their three-course $50 Valentine's menu.

Want to get flowers but just don’t have the time?  For guests making Valentine’s reservations the weekend from February 11th through February 14th, McCormick and Schmick’s offers their “above and beyond” service.  With this service, roses will be delivered to the table upon the guests’ arrival for dinner.  Diners can also choose to add a unique touch by having a special personalized message included on their dinner menu or a personalized note card on the table at arrival.  

Sullivan's Steakhouse also offers a "special gift" option of red roses, a box of chocolates, and a split of champagne for $35 as a supplement to their unbelievably priced four-course feast for just $89 per couple in the main dining room the entire Valentine's Day weekend.  For Valentine's Day itself, Sullivan's turns up the romance by offering limited ringside lounge seating where couples can enjoy live music and a split of champagne during their four-course meal for $150 per couple, and the "special gift" for just $25. 

For some, nothing says "I love you" more than a big fat juicy piece of steak, and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse has just the recipe for romance with their Valentine's filet and lobster tail feature at $69 per person, offered from February 11th-February 14th.  

For those wanting to savor the flavors from Italy, choices are numerous.  An aphrodisiac-themed $80 four-course menu will be served at Quattro at the Four Seasons Hotel from Saturday February 12th through Monday February 14th.   

Damian’s Cucina Italiana will offer a $50 three-course menu with choices linguini di amore, linguini with shrimp, asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes with pesta cream or marinata.

Prego will offer a $55 four-course menu with choices like grass-fed Texas beef carpaccio with chopped arugula, tomato salad, hint of white truffle oil; wood-grilled grass-fed Texas beef tenderloin with truffle butter, creamed spinach and scalloped potatoes; or fresh Maine lobster ravioli tossed in fra diablo sauce.

Trevisio is offering a three-course prix-fixe menu for $40 with choices like Aragosta, Lobster soup with cream fraiche and fresh chives; Granseola, Crab cake with jumbo lump crab, shitake mushrooms and spinach with bianco sauce;  Quaglia, wood-grilled quail, broccolini, polenta, wild mushrooms and truffle jus; and Fileto, wood-grilled petite filet, potato ravioli, asparagus and Chianti veal reduction.   

Fratelli's Authentic Italian Cuisine will be hosting a special $55 per person prix-fixe five-course dinner Valentine’s Day with items like gulf blue lump crab cakes with a lobster cream sauce, and filet of beef tenderloin with foie gras and a demi glace of chianti wine sauce, served with green beans, carrots and mashed potatoes.

Finally, for an after-dinner interlude, head on over to the new 88 Keys Piano Bar, where you can order one of their special “Love is Blue” cocktails large enough for two, snuggle up to a loved one on a cozy couch, and enjoy the live piano music. The luscious dark red walls, softly lit chandeliers, and impressive wall art create a romantic ambience to enhance any amorous endeavor.  

If you're dressed to kill and want to impress, another option is Hudson in Rice Village, where you can see and be seen amid chic low-slung white minimalist interiors. 

**Detailed menus available for viewing/download in the slideshow