Going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day might be considered cliché, but when options include special tasting menus, ingredient-driven dishes, atmospheres that quietly whisper romance, and desserts to swoon over, you’ll be tempted to skip cooking at home and make a reservation for you and your loved one.
Here, 10 special places for a memorable night. Click on the name of the restaurant for contact information so you can reserve today.
Almond—12 East 22nd Street between Park Avenue & Broadway
Blood oranges, with their gorgeous red flesh, take center stage on the menu at French-bistro Almond. You’ll find this colorful citrus fruit in each offering of their special Valentine’s Day menu.
Momofuku Ssam Bar—207 2nd Avenue
Bring your sweetie, and another couple, to the Ssam Bar for a 5-course family-style menu that includes these David Chang creations, including the famous steamed buns, country hams, and choice of a bo ssam, whole rotisserie duck, or dry-aged ribeye, plus chocolate malt cake for dessert.
The Breslin Bar & Dining Room—16 West 29th Street
What better way to celebrate than with the a la carte menu at this British hotspot where April Bloomfield makes magical gastropub food. Enjoy Cornish hen with rye spaetzle, the chargrilled lamb burger with feta or the pork chop with heirloom beans and bacon.
Kappo Masa—976 Madison Avenue between 76th & 77th
If your sweetheart loves sushi, seafood and noodles, head to Kappo Masa, helmed by the revered Japanese chef Masayoshi Takayama and co-owned by famed gallerist Larry Gagosian. Here, you can linger over an exquisite 8-course tasting menu of both raw and cooked items, along with a glass of Champagne.
Claudette—24 5th Avenue at 9th Street
Claudette’s Provençal/Mediterranean vibe might be the right dose of romance for you and your sweetheart. You’ll feel like you’ve been whisked off to the French Mediterranean while you savor the 4-course tasting menu, including Fried Oysters Rockefeller, Roast Pork and for dessert, a mini croquembouche, an elaborate cake made of puff pastries.
Navy—137 Sullivan Street below Houston
Understated yet chic Navy, where chef Camille Becerra focuses on fresh market vegetables and seafood, will be serving a 4-course dinner in the cozy maritime-inspired restaurant—the perfect locale for a romantic tête-à-tête.
GATO—324 Lafayette Street, above Houston
On Valentine’s Day enjoy a 4-course tasting menu at Bobby Flay’s GATO, which includes such choices as roasted octopus with tangerine vinaigrette, tortiglioni (shown above), duck confit, wild striped bass and for dessert appla tarte tatin.
February marks Recette’s fifth anniversary and to celebrate Chef Jesse Schenker has created a menu of unique dishes for the 4-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu. The menu includes roasted dorade, braised lamb belly, veal tenderloin and chocolate pave semifreddo.
Scarpetta—355 West 14th Street at 9th Avenue
If the thought of sumptuous and elegant handmade pasta lights you up, then head to Scarpetta, which has one of the best bread baskets in the city. Linger over the tasting menu that includes creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms, black tagliolini with lobster, a duo of wagyu ribeye beef and for Vahlrona chocolate cake with a trio of gelato.
Benoit—60 West 55th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues
The most romantic cuisine just might be French, so if you’re a Franco-phile head to Benoit for classic cooking. This entire week, Benoit is offering a “For Two” menu that includes Organic Roast Chicken, Dover Sole Meunière, Tarte Tatin and Benoit Profiteroles—meant to be shared. On Valentine’s Day, you can book either in the dining room or the private dining salon, where a live band will be serenading you over dinner.
