Discover Decadent Menus and Romantic Specials That Will Leave Guests Wanting “Amour”
Cupid is out and about this year, and Atlanta chefs are not missing a (heart)beat. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the one you love and the food you will love just as much (if not more). Whether dining in or cultivating a romantic night at home, don’t miss out on the dreamiest meals the city has to offer. Love is running rampant this year so be sure to plan ahead and make reservations now.
Valentine’s Day will be worth the wait at 5Church Atlanta. The modern American restaurant in Midtown is setting aside its regular menu for the evening and offering a $75 four-course menu, plus an optional wine pairing. Menu highlights include scallop crudo with strawberry gazpacho, black garlic puree and pickled shallots; squid ink linguini with umi cream and smoked trout roe; exotic mushroom and Parmesan risotto; Champagne-poached sea bass; coffee-rubbed heart of ribeye; and chocolate lava cake.
Normally closed on Mondays, Aria is opening to celebrate Valentine’s starting at 5 p.m. The modern, yet intimate spot with a highly regarded wine list, is featuring a three-course prix fixe menu with various choices for $92 a person (excluding beverages, taxes and 20% gratuity). Make reservations online.
Chido and Padre’s attracts Valentine’s Day diners with “Steak for Two” that includes a 24-ounce bone-in ancho-rubbed New York strip, charred root vegetables and mole Colorado for $75. Don’t forget to order the pink cocktail of your Valentine’s Day dreams—a raspberry hibiscus margarita for $10.
Normally closed on Mondays, Forza Storico is luring guests in on Valentine’s Day with its full menu of classic Roman dishes and Italian wine and cocktails. The Westside Atlanta eatery also is serving a heart-shaped pasta special. Make reservations via OpenTable.
Gypsy Kitchen is featuring swoon-worthy specials this Valentine’s Day. Starting with appetizers, the Buckhead Village favorite is serving Moroccan-spiced carrots, red quinoa, cashew cheese and serrano chile for $14 and shrimp and crab fritters with piment de espelette ravigote garnished with shaved fennel slaw for $22. The main event features a Prime New York strip with brown butter celeriac puree and Turkish-spiced pearl onions for $60 with a choice of adding shrimp for $16. Diners will fall head over heels for a lobster caldosa with Bomba rice, roille aioli, and mixed herbs for $42 with an option of adding scallops for $20. The Spanish-style gem also has something sweet in store for dessert. Guests can choose between a Valrhona chocolate ganache tart for $12 and an orange ricotta fritter with spiced honey caramel and walnut dukkah for $10.
Heirloom Café in Athens makes hearts flutter with a variety of special events and specials leading up to Valentine’s Day. On Feb. 8, Heirloom is hosting its monthly Tuesday wine dinner. Themed “Romantic Italy,” the dinner features three courses and two small bites paired with five Italian wines for $45 per person. Reservations are required by calling 706-354-7901. On Feb. 11 and 12, Heirloom is serving a three-course prix-fixe menu in addition to its regular menu for $90 a couple. The dinner includes a choice of entrée and a shared appetizer and dessert. If noshing at home is the Valentine’s Day plan, place an order for a grazing board. Each vegan, cheese or cheese and charcuterie grazing option is served on a handmade board from local woodworking company Grand Designs. The eatery also is offering desserts for two and wine specials, and all orders come with a customized wood-burned heart ornament from Grand Designs. View details and place orders online. Pick-up is on Feb. 13 from 9:30 am.-2:30 p.m.
Each location of HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern is hosting a Galentine’s Party on Feb. 12, complete with a DJ starting at 8 p.m. and a prime rib special. Over Feb. 12-14, each location also is serving a $5 Champagne special and $20 Champagne tasting. No reservation is needed for parties at the Perimeter and Brookhaven locations, but be sure to RSVP for the Halycon and Atlanta Station locations.
Couples shouldn’t feel all the love on Valentine’s Day. Johnny’s Hideaway understands that sometimes love bites so the iconic nightclub is throwing an Anti-Valentine’s Day Party on Feb. 14. The first 25 single guests through the door after 8 p.m. who say “Love Bites” will take home a free Johnny’s “Love Bites” t-shirt.
Wanting to escape the big city for Valentine’s Day? Plan a romantic getaway at Monte Vista Hotel in scenic Black Mountain, North Carolina. While vacationing in the mountains, plan to dine at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, which is featuring a prix-fixe menu for $59 per person. Among the appetizers are charred onion risotto and seared pork belly with herb sugar, grilled grape salsa and mustard gastrique. The main event includes a choice of a pan-seared red snapper, a New York strip meal for two, a bone-in pork chop, or seared cauliflower steak. Finish off the romantic evening with a choice of chocolate roulade, raspberry pot de crème, or a cream eclair with chocolate ganache.
Southern Belle and Georgia Boy will be celebrating the day of love. Both restaurants are open regular business hours Feb. 10-12 and Feb. 14 (closed Feb. 13). Southern Belle is featuring a five-course chef’s tasting menu for $100 per person while Georgia Boy hosts a $185 per person dining experience. Make reservations online.
Storico Fresco sets the mood with its heart-shaped pasta available for pick-up and to make at home the week of Feb. 7. The house-made beet-infused pasta is filled with smoked ricotta, beets and grana. For those dining in on Feb. 14, Storico is offering half-priced wine and serving the heart-shaped pasta all day. Make reservations on OpenTable.
Guests are sure to catch big flavors at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill this Valentine’s Day. The Buckhead beach house restaurant is featuring grilled filet mignon with butter-poached lobster accompanied by herb-roasted marble potatoes for $38 and a show-stopping Key lime crème brûlée topped with fresh raspberries for $9.
Through the end of February, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar has transformed into The Blind Cupid. This new pop-up experience adds Valentine’s Day-themed sizzle to the winter doldrums with a fiery menu of drinks, decadent menu snacks, and over-the-top pink and floral décor that will have guests falling in love at first sight. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The Southern Gentlemen is offering a decadent prix-fixe menu for $79 a person on Feb. 14. It will be love at first sight with an amuse of warm brie fondue with toasted sourdough and truffle. Next, choose between a seared yellowfin tuna toasted benne, Gulf shrimp remoulade, ruby beet salad with pistachio praline and creamy goat, or local mushroom soup. Entrée choices include a roasted king salmon, Ruby Reds Gulf shrimp, short rib pot roast, pressed pork shoulder, and a spring pea gnocchi with local mushrooms. For dessert, guests can choose between a milk chocolate genoise or the fromage blanc cheesecake with a cookie crust and strawberry cream.
The Woodall plays cupid with a delectable four-course Valentine’s Day menu that starts with an amuse of sunchoke, lobster, and yuzu caviar. The first course boasts scallops in the shell with cucumber, English pea espuma and trout row followed by goat cheese agnolotti with a black garlic and mushroom puree and truffle cream. The main course features crispy duck breast with beetroot and buckwheat followed by a sweet ending of chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Make reservations via OpenTable.
