Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, which means that when it comes to dinners out to celebrate, Baltimore’s lovebirds have lots of choices. As usual, local restaurants have a lot planned for the holiday, from cooking classes to special menus.
With only a week to go before the big day, it’s time to make your reservations. Here’s a look at what restaurants have in store for Valentine’s Day 2017:
Aldo’s: The classic Italian restaurant will offer an a la carte menu, including some special preparations for the holiday
Alizee American Bistro: Alizee has a four-course prix fixe dinner for Valentine’s Day, including dishes like crab bisque and lobster ravioli
Azumi: Go Japanese with a five-course prix fixe menu at Azumi, including complimentary champagne and flowers for the ladies
B&O American Brasserie: Explore B&O’s creative cuisine with a 3-course prix fixe menu featuring dishes like Wagyu carpaccio and crab Oscar filet
Bird in Hand: This new coffee shop, owned by the people behind Woodberry Kitchen, will host a Valentine’s Bazaar on Tuesday, February 7 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Birroteca: In addition to the full dinner menu, from February 10-14, Birroteca will offer several special dishes created for the holiday weekend
Butchers Hill Society: This new restaurant from Chef Malcolm Mitchell is offering a five-course meal, with optional wine pairings, including dishes like pheasant pate with berries and blood orange jam and pan-roasted elk sirloin
Cafe Gia: At Cafe Gia, a scaled down version of the regular menu will be available, plus the restaurant is offering a special three-course menu for the holiday
Café Troia: In addition to the regular menu, Café Troia will offer romantic specials all weekend long
Cask & Grain: This brand new Canton restaurant is offering a three-course dinner including a bottle of Segura Cava brut at each table
Charleston: Charleston will celebrate Valentine’s Day on the actual day, with two fabulous four-course menus featuring dishes like foie gras and cognac mousse, fresh artichoke soup and pan-roasted wild rockfish
Chef’s Expressions at The Gramercy Mansion: On Tuesday, Chef’s Expressions will host a Valentine’s Day wine supper, including butler-passed hors d’oeuvres and a five-course seated meal with wine pairings
Cinnamon Tree Restaurant: This Hunt Valley Inn restaurant will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a three-course menu featuring classics like shrimp cocktail and beef tenderloin, plus a complimentary champagne toast
Cinghiale: On Tuesday, Chef Lewandowski will offer a four-course menu, with optional wine pairings, featuring dishes like grilled octopus with artichoke and Meyer lemon, gnocchi with duck ragu and blood orange, and roasted cinghiale loin
Clementine: Clementine will be open on Tuesday for a special Valentine’s dinner; the menu hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s sure to be a good one
Colette: This popular French spot is celebrating not just Valentine’s Day this year, but also its first anniversary; on February 11, there will be a cupcake tower and champagne to celebrate the anniversary and on Valentine’s Day itself, the regular menu (plus specials) will be available
The Corner Pantry: On Tuesday, The Corner Pantry will extend its hours into the evening, serving a six-course (BYOB) tasting menu, focusing on key elements of taste: raw, smoke, earth, sea, land and sweet
Cosima: The fabulous Italian spot has a special four-course menu on Tuesday, featuring numerous choices including dishes like roasted oysters, duck breast with beet risotto and filet mignon
Cunningham’s: The Towson restaurant is offering a 3-course menu, with dishes like jumbo poached prawns in gazpacho and braised short ribs, with optional wine pairings, from Friday through Tuesday
Donna’s: Donna’s in Cross Keys will offer a four-course meal for Valentine’s Day, with duck, filet, scallops and homemade pasta (and a vegetarian option, too)
Dylan’s Oyster Cellar: This newly opened Hampden oysters-and-more restaurant, which has earned a ton of deserved praise for its charming atmosphere and great food, does not typically accept reservations, but it is taking them for February 14
Encantada: This veggie-friendly, top-of-the-AVAM restaurant has created a bunch of new dishes and will be celebrating Valentine’s Day all week long, from February 12-18
The Elephant: This elegant Mount Vernon restaurant will offer a four-course tasting menu, with optional wine pairings, on Valentine’s Day; options include dishes like tuna carpaccio, leek risotto with crispy pancetta and grilled beef tenderloin
The French Kitchen: This restaurant inside the Lord Baltimore Hotel will offer a three-course meal for Valentine’s Day, including dishes like duck liver pate and halibut en papillote
Gertrude’s: The lovely restaurant in the BMA celebrates Valentine’s Day with afternoon tea, including sweet and savory items, on Fridays and Saturdays all month long, plus a tea on Valentine’s Day itself
The Greene Turtle: Having a family-friendly holiday? At The Greene Turtle, kids eat free all day and there will be fun family activities at each location
Gundalow Gourmet: The makers of Gundalow Juice also have a catering side; for Valentine’s Day, they have a special easy-to-heat breakfast, available for pickup from B-more Kitchen on February 10
Gunther & Co.: The gorgeous Brewer’s Hill restaurant will offer a four-course tasting menu (with optional wine pairings and additions) on Tuesday evening – think pan-roasted oyster stew, foie gras ravioli and house-made squid ink cavatelli – plus a variety of specials throughout the weekend
Kadampa Meditation Center: If you’re looking for some peace this weekend, check out the Buddhist Love Panel on Saturday at World Peace Temple & World Peace Café; the evening will include the answering of anonymous love and relationship questions, social time and a three-course vegetarian meal with dessert
La Cuchara: The fabulous Clipper Mill Basque restaurant will offer a four-course menu all weekend, from February 11-14, featuring dishes like duck confit, foie gras and buttermilk genoise
Langermann’s: From Friday through Tuesday, the southern restaurant in Canton will offer a three-course prix fixe menu, including a petite version of its famous crab louie dish and broiled New Zealand rack of lamb
Le Garage: At Le Garage and Hampden, guests can enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu and a specialty cocktail menu
Loch Bar: Gearing up for Valentine’s Day alone? Head to Loch Bar, where a singles party will be in full swing, complete with live music, free oysters and complimentary champagne for ladies
Maggie’s Farm: On February 12, The Local Oyster will pop up at Maggie’s Farm for “Raw Love,” a four-course meal with optional cocktail pairings
MillStone Cellars: On Saturday and Sunday, Monkton’s MillStone Cellars will treat everybody with “Romancing the Apple, Treats for the Heart!” – a weekend including free cider mill, tours, tastings, specialty cider drafts and more
The Milton Inn: Be sure to make Tuesday reservations for The Milton Inn’s three-course meal, which includes options like an oyster imperial starter and a star anise-dusted venison loin entree
Ouzo Bay: This Valentine’s Day, Ouzo Bay is offering a four-course prix mixe menu, including dishes like black winter truffle risotto and whole grilled Mediterranean bronzino, plus a complimentary champagne toast and flowers for the ladies
Parts & Labor: From Friday through Tuesday, Parts & Labor will offer special touches for Valentine’s tables, including chocolates, cocktails for two, letterpress cards, flowers and more
Petit Louis: The charming French bistro will feature a four-course meal, with optional wine pairings, featuring dishes like carrot veloute with foie gras butter, grilled ribeye and roasted half chicken
Pierpoint: This Fells Point restaurant will offer a limited a la carte menu plus a handful of entrees for two, including lobster, shrimp and scallop paella; guests will also receive free truffles and Chef Longo’s handmade chocolate silverware
The Pigheaded Butcher: On Wednesday, February 8, head to Timonium to learn all about “Cooking for the One You Love” at this excellent butcher shop
Points South Latin Kitchen: This Fells Point restaurant has a three-course seasonal prix fixe menu available starting February 6, including dishes like braised mussels with chicharrones and tamarind poached gulf shrimp
Roy’s: On Saturday, February 11, Roy’s in Harbor East will host a hands-on cooking class culminating in a three-course luncheon
Rusty Scupper: In addition to a stellar view, the Rusty Scupper will feature a special Valentine’s day menu featuring seafood classics, from oysters to lobster (plus several meat dishes for those who prefer the “turf” half of surf and turf)
Schola: The popular cooking school will celebrate the holiday on February 12 with a class featuring “The Aphrodisiacs Dinner” – think oysters, lobster risotto and beef tenderloin
Sotto Sopra: The Italian restaurant’s special kid-centric Valentine’s cooking class is sold out, but there may still be availability for Sunday’s Special Valentine’s Opera Night
Truffle Butta Bistro: Get artsy with the one you love on Tuesday, with a Valentine’s Day Sip & Paint & Dine (including sangria!) at this Towson eatery
The Turn House: This new Howard County restaurant is celebrating on Tuesday, with a six-course meal featuring dishes like celery root ravioli, New York strip and a blood orange mousse bomb
Ware House 518: This pretty Mount Vernon spot will celebrate on Tuesday with a prix fixe menu; but first, on Saturday, they’ll host an “Anti-day Takeover” party
Wine Market: Wine Market will offer a four-course dinner including dishes like baked oysters and roasted quail
Wit & Wisdom: Chef Zack Mills has created romantic three-course menu, including dishes like hand-cut tagliatelle carbonara and butter-poached filet, available on Tuesday
Woodberry Kitchen: Surprise your dining companion with an extra little gift at dinner, like cocktails for two, fresh-cut flowers in a hand-painted vase, a box of chocolates or Linzer heart cookies (for a complete list of options, check in with Woodberry before the big day)
