Tuna Poke. Photo courtesy of TAO LA.
Valentine’s Day is just days away. Though the holiday falls uncomfortably close to Super Bowl Sunday this year, don’t think your other half will let you get away with not making dinner plans. Whether you’re craving a meal of decadent luxury or seeking more affordable price points, we’ve got you covered.
What’s better than tuna poke? Poke in the shape of a heart, of course. You’ll find that, along with specialty dishes like Thai Basil Surf & Turf and an enormous fortune cookie, at TAO LA. Visiting the glamorous, Asian-inspired space always feels like an occasion. Make your reservation here.
Experience a magical night of live jazz and decadent cuisine at Riviera 31 at The Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood. Led by Ryan Cross and his band, who have played at the Sofitel for over eight years, you can expect special guests and surprise performances – these Monday jazz events have attracted such guest singers as Stevie Wonder and Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds. The four-course prix-fixe menu features options like kampachi crudo, braised short rib, duck confit dumplings, and lemon mousse with braised blueberries and chocolate-covered strawberry. Contact the Sofitel to make reservations.
Visit Yardbird at the Beverly Center for a special Southern-inspired meal in an atmospheric setting. Yardbird’s set menu for Valentine’s Day includes an amuse-bouche, your choice of an appetizer (including oysters Rockefeller and tuna tataki), your choice of three entrées (try the 12 oz. bone-in filet), and strawberry-yuzu pavlova for dessert. This special meal is $125 per person. Make your reservation via Open Table.
Filet at Yardbird. Photo credit: 50 Eggs Inc.
Enjoy an old-Hollywood Valentine’s evening at two iconic Hollywood Blvd. locations: Miceli’s restaurant and the Spanish baroque El Capitan Theatre. This special package begins with a prix-fixe dinner at Miceli’s (a favorite of Frank Sinatra), followed by a screening of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the beautiful 96-year-old structure that’s home to the El Capitan. Tickets are $50. Call 1-800-DISNEY-6 to reserve.
The Raymond 1886, housed in a beautiful 19th-century Craftsman house in Pasadena, is offering an indulgent four-course prix-fixe dinner this Valentine’s Day. Your romantic meal begins with bread and truffle butter and a roasted Fanny Bay oyster amuse-bouche. Proceed to seasonal mixed greens with avocado and citrus, followed by tuna tartare with uni cream, egg toast, and miso oil. Then, savor your choice of pan-roasted duck breast, broiled halibut, or filet mignon. Dessert is white chocolate mousse with hazelnut, sage, and blueberries or sorbet and ice cream. This decadent dinner is $120.00 per person. To make a reservation, call The Raymond 1886 at 626.441.3136.
Esteemed for the freshness of its sushi, Tamon Sushi is located on the second floor of Little Tokyo’s Miyako Hotel. Tamon‘s Valentine’s Day special – a sushi dinner or a 10 oz. ribeye steak, plus a glass of wine and a slice of cheesecake – is just $35. To make a reservation, email tamonyoyaku@gmail.com or call 213-617-7839.
Rappahannock Oyster Bar at ROW DTLA promises special champagne pairings for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s dinner specials include a filet mignon & lobster pairing, grilled whole branzino, roasted duck breast, and squid ink pasta with octopus. And, of course, standout oysters. You can find more information about Rappahannock here.
100% plant-based (not to mention macrobiotic and gluten-free), Japanese restaurant Shojin is a vegan haven. Shojin’s Valentine’s Day special is a four-course, prix-fixe dinner that includes Truffled “Crab Cake” and a signature sushi plate including Shojin Dynamite, Dragon, Valentine Rainbow, and Spicy “Tuna” on crispy rice. The meal, $98, is available for dine-in at both the Culver City and Downtown locations. A Valentine’s dinner box with a different menu is also available for pickup or delivery for $88 per person.
Enjoy “An Evening in Spain” this Valentine’s Day at BluSky Restaurant & Bar in Anaheim. This rooftop restaurant is on the 12th floor of an AAA Four-Diamond Hotel, the recently opened Radisson Anaheim. Chef Edgar Beas, who cooked in Spain’s Basque Country, knows how to create an authentic experience. Take in stunning So Cal views as you enjoy a three-course meal that includes your choice of three starters, your choice of three entrees (including bomba rice with rabbit saddle, scallop, wild garlic, and chanterelles; roasted turbot with cockle vinaigrette; or Ibérico pig with potato & leek cream and perigord truffles), followed by churros with chocolate or burnt Basque cheesecake for dessert. You can make a reservation via Open Table or by calling BluSky at 714.409.1458.
Mickey’s Deli in Hermosa Beach has brought back their charming heart-shaped pizza for Valentine’s Day (from February 11-14). Mickey’s knows a thing or two about pizza, — they’ve been slinging slices since 1953! Each whole pizza is $17.75, with additional toppings at $1.75 each. You can call to order in advance, pick it up to go, or order for delivery via Mickey’s website or third-party delivery services.
Fancy dinner not in the budget this Valentine’s Day? Don’t fret: Grand Park in DTLA will be open from 6 to 10 pm. and the Cerda Vega food truck will be at the park’s Olive Court, serving birria tacos, vampiros, loaded fries, birria ramen, and lots of vegan options. Grand Park’s numerous pink tables will be lit with electric candles to make your outing more atmospheric. Find Cerda Vega info here.
Black Angus Valentine’s Day. Photo courtesy of Black Angus.
El Granjero Cantina is a vibrant modern Mexican eatery that recently opened at the Original Farmers Market. From February 11 to 14, Chef Jenni Sklar is offering a three-course Valentine’s lunch or dinner for two for $60. The prix-fixe menu features Caesar salad for two, two surf and turf taco plates, and tres leches cake for dessert. Three specialty cocktails created just for the holiday of love are available at El Granjero, including the Spicy Lover (mezcal, lime, honey, and spicy tincture).
Have you checked out the British pub at the Original Farmers Market? For Valentine’s Day, the lively Market Tavern is offering up three curated courses and a champagne toast for just $30 per person. More info here.
Take in views of the Hollywood Hills as you dine atop the Dream Hotel at the Highlight Room. The prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu is $75 per person, with choices like mushroom ravioli with ricotta and hazelnut and filet mignon with roasted sunchoke and red wine demi-glace. Sip specialty cocktails such as “Strawberry Kisses” (gin, lemon, strawberry, and champagne). You can make your reservation here.
California Pizza Kitchen is still going strong 37 years after its founding in Los Angeles. This Valentine’s Day, CPK brings back heart-shaped pizzas in a variety of types, including their influential BBQ Chicken Pizza and Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage for the more classically-minded pizza lover. In addition, two different three-course “Sweet Deal For Two” meals are available for $40-$45. Each meal includes a shared appetizer, two entrées (choose from a selection of pizzas, pastas, or salads), and a dessert to share. Each Sweet Deal also comes with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon that can be used for a BOGO salad, pasta, or pizza between February 15 and 22.
Black Angus Steakhouse has brought back its Valentine’s Feast for Two from February 11 to 14. The meal, $110, includes two six-ounce filet mignons, two 4 oz. lobster tails, four classic side dishes, bread, a dessert to share, and two Prosecco splits. This special is available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. More info here.
