Best of NYC – Valentine's Day Dining

For some, the fourteenth of February brings fear.  Either the pressure of setting up the perfect date or the anxiety of not having one can throw the most confident diner into a tizzy.   Then, there’s the often dreaded Valentine’s prix fixe menu, which can feel forced.  Thankfully, restaurateurs are easing up on the prix-fixe and offering alternative ways for singles and coupled alike to celebrate.   Whether you’d like a full, sit-down dinner, a laid-back bite or a rowdy party, you’ll find plenty of great options in New York. Below are a few spots…

A Great Place to get Lei’d
1534
Address: 20 Prince St., btwn. Elizabeth & Mott Sts.
Phone: (212)966-5073
Website: jacquesnyc.com
Grab a bunch of girlfriends and head over to this alternative V-day party where everyone is guaranteed to get lei’d. From 8-11pm the uber-chill, unpretentious joint will be turned into a tiki lounge. Although the drinks come with punny names–Love Potion #9, In Luving Color–downing a few is a sure way to get in the Hallmark holiday mood.

There’s No Meat in this Relationship
Pure Food and Wine
Address: 54 Irving Pl, btwn. 17th & 18th Sts
Phone: (212)477-1010
Website: purefoodandwine.com
For a raw food restaurant, this Gramercy spot is surprisingly romantic.  In addition to the regular raw menu, Pure Food and Wine is offering an aphrodisiac filled four-course feast in honor of Saint Valentine. Sexy dishes include king oyster scallops and a sweet corn polenta with Sicilian eggplant caponata. End your meal with the dark chocolate tart with candied beets and blood orange sorbet.  After that, the ball’s in your court.  

That’s Amore
Rubirosa
Address: 235 Mulberry St., btwn. Prince & Spring Sts
Phone: (212)965-0500
Forget boys, I am in love with the pizzas at this new-ish spot in NoLita. The wood-fired pies are formulated from a secret family recipe that everyone’s keeping hush hush, but the freshness of the ingredients are obvious.  What most sets these pies apart is the wonderfully tangy tomato sauce (not too acidic, not too sweet) and the crust. Perfectly charred, the crust bends forwards only enough so that the toppings don’t slide off when you pick it up. Share a pizza or two with a date and just hope that your hands brush when reaching for the same slice.  Now that’s amore.

It’s All About The Benjamins
Daniel
Address: 60 E. 65th St., at Park Ave.
Phone: (212)288-0033
Website: danielnyc.com
Daniel Boulud’s Park Avenue stunner really is one of the most romantic venues this side of the Mississippi. You’ll have to fork over $295 per person (without wine) to dine here for Valentine’s Day, but for such a spectacular evening, it’s worth it. The service is top-notch and discreet. The four-course procession of plates will stun you.  Make sure to leave room for the gratis warm madeleines as a nightcap.

Cheesy
Artisanal
Address: 2 Park Ave., at E. 32nd St.
Phone: (212)725-8585
Website: artisanalbistro.com
There’s nothing cheesy about sharing a warm fondue on Valentine’s Day, especially at one of the best bistros in the city.   The large, bustling dining room at Artisanal really will transport you to Paris and so will the food.  On February 14th, the menu du jour will include such Francophone dishes as wild burgundy snails en croute and duck bourguignon.  Dessert to share include a cheese plate or chocolate fondue for two.

Thai the Night Up
Kin Shop
Address: 469 Sixth Ave., btwn. 11th & 12th Sts
Phone: (212)675-4295
Website: kinshopnyc.com
One of the hot new Thai joints in the city, Kin Shop is a great spot to spend Valentine’s Day dinner. In a Try a new restaurant  you can try a new restaurant and  The special prix fixe menu includes fabulous options including spicy duck laab and broiled Hawaiian escolar–faves amongst the Restaurant Girl team. A couple cocktails  (The ALN; gin and spicy pickly juice) or bottle of spice friendly wine and you’ve got a great night ahead of you.

Spice up the Relationship
Ofrenda
Address: 113 Seventh Ave South 
Phone: (212)924-2305
Website: ofrendanyc.com
Repeat after me…oysters and a 3 pound lobster.  Ofrenda has come up with a Mexican menu that highlights these shellfish delights in surprising ways as part of their five-course menu. Prince Edward island oysters are prepared two ways–raw with jalapeno tequila mignonette and baked Baja-style. The whopping 3 pound lobster is poached in butter and served with a yucca fondue and mango-cascabel sauce.  When you’re through with savories, you can hand feed each other chocolate-covered strawberries.  Hell, it sounds so good I’d go by myself. 

Raw Emotion
Ushiwakamaru
Address: 136 W. Houston St., btwn. MacDougal & Sullivan Sts.
Phone: (212)228-4181
In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated sushi spots in Manhattan. Grab a seat at the long, curved bar and put your meal in the chef’s hands by ordering “omakase.”   You won’t need to converse much with your date, so it’s fantastic for couples on the outs because watching the sushi chefs work their magic is enough entertainment. The fish is uber-fresh and the flavor combinations are unexpected and often thrilling.  Order some sake or Sapporo and you’re in for a great night.

That’s Amore
Sandro’s
Address: 306 East 81st St., nr. Second Ave.
Phone: (212)228-7374
Website: sandrosnyc.com
This Upper East Side Italian is so serious about Valentine’s Day that they’ve decided to celebrate all week long.  From the 11th through the 14th of February, Sandro’s is offering a $150 dinner for two with some pretty seductive offerings, the likes of lobster salad, bucatini amatriciana, or a beef filet with foie gras and black truffles. If lobster, foie gras and black truffles aren’t enough to lure you uptown for the evening, I don’t know what will. 

By Lauren Bloomberg