It goes without saying that Valentine’s Day 2020 was very different than Valentine’s Day 2021 will be. And yet, maybe not that different insofar as there are restaurants that will offer couples romantic dinner options, albeit sanitized, socially distanced and as safe as possible. So if you’re looking to get out of the house and celebrate V-Day with someone special dining out, here are some appealing options.
At Stanza Italian Bistro Chef Jonathan LeBlanc and Sous Chef Paul Cafaro will be presenting a six-course, prix-fixe dinner menu Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14 (the regular menu will not be available those days). Dinner will kick off with a Bloody Mary Oyster Amuse Bouche followed by Duck Carpaccio or Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. The second course is a choice of Lobster Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Coconut Cream Sauce or Baked Ricotta Gnocchi. Osso Bucco or Broiled Red Fish Shrimp & Crab Thermidor follows Rosebud-Mint Sorbet and for dessert there’s a choice of White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse or Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Cake. The cost is $70 per person plus tax & gratuity.
The folks at Finca invite you to “ Navigate your way through a variety of Finca favorites and featured dishes starting with our bacon wrapped dates. Menu highlights include a classic Paella Valenciana, baked Halibut with chermoula and pan seared Duck Breast with a goat cheese Tortilla Española and pomegranate kish mish.” Wine director and owner, Scott Evans, will hand select specially ordered wine pairings for each course, most of which are only available in Utah at Finca. The cost is $75 for food and $32 for the optional wine pairings, plus tax and 20% gratuity.
Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House gives you three chances to celebrate Valentine’s Day with specials February 12th through February 14th. Each night will feature live music with the Will Baxter Band from 6 to 9 p.m. and Kimi’s will offer their entire regular menu plus the following dinner specials: Surf & Turf – 6 oz. filet mignon and 3 oz. lobster meat; Norwegian Halibut with 3 jumbo shrimp and tomato caper ragu; or a Grilled 16 oz. Ribeye Steak.
Log Haven restaurant invites you to “Three Nights of Passion” from February 12th through February 14th at Utah’s most romantic restaurant. Featured specials from Chef Dave Jones’ kitchen for Valentine’s Day weekend include Sesame-Crusted Dungeness Crab Cakes; Cannellini Bean Soup; Parmigiano-Reggiano Risotto with grilled lobster and garlic tomato butter; Dry Aged New York Strip with port-shiitake demi; and lobster tail with drawn butter can be added to any entree. For dessert there’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte in addition to Log Haven’s regular dessert menu. In addition, Log Haven is offering V-Day to-go with a curbside pickup or delivery special: Caesar Salad, Surf & Turf – pan-seared Beef Filet with aged Gouda mashers, grilled asparagus, shiitake-port demi glace; Grilled Lobster Tail and drawn butter. For dessert there is Chocolate Flourless Cake. The cost for the to-go V-Day dinner is $100 per person. Log Haven’s full dinner menu is also available for curbside pickup or delivery.
At Stoneground Italian Kitchen Chef Justin Shifflett and his team will be preparing 5-course take home kits, plus in-house specials over the Valentine’s weekend in addition to regular menu items such as Black Tagliatelli with lobster claw and knuckle meat; Charcoal-roasted Trout with brown butter vinaigrette; house-made gourmet pizzas and pastas; homemade donuts, tiramisu, and much more.
You have three nights to enjoy Valentine’s dining at EPICure Fine Food & Drink – February 12th through 14th. They’re offering a Sweetheart’s Dinner for 2 ($130 with Wine Pairings per couple or $90 without wine per couple). The starter is Mixed Greens salad paired with Francis Coppola Chardonnay followed by a main course choice of Surf & Turf – Beef Tenderloin with lemon-butter poached crab & roasted rosemary potatoes and Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon or Seafood Risotto with diver sea scallops, shrimp & Manila clams, sweet pea risotto & lemon beurre blanc paired with Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc. For dessert there’s Dark Chocolate Mousse with fresh raspberries and Sigura Viudas Cava.
February 13th & 14th Rodizio Grill is offering a special Valentine’s Together Forever Package, priced at $125 per couple. You’ll enjoy spacious seating in Rodizio’s Meeting & Celebration Center accompanied by live music, extended Full Rodizio menu featuring salmon, filet, Gourmet Salad Bar, and unlimited premium dessert bar. Or, February 12th through 14th Rodizio will offer an expanded menu featuring Ribeye and OnFire limited-time menu, and one select dessert priced at $44.99 per person. To make Valentine’s celebrations even more special at Rodizio Grill this year, all couples who dine February 12-14 will receive an offer for a Free Full Rodizio meal, with purchase of one, valid for future visit.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & WIne Bar at The Gateway will offer a three-course special Valentine’s dinner menu Friday, February 12th – Monday, February 15, which will also be available for lunch February 13-14. Start with a Pear & Cranberry Salad with Blue Cheese, following by a choice of entree: Petite Filet Mignon & Crab-Stuffed Shrimp Scampi ($80), Petite Filet Mignon & Lobster Tail Scampi ($90), or Prime Surf & Turf for Two ($225) – 35 oz. Prime Tomahawk Steak, North Atlantic Lobster Tail, four Crab-Stuffed Shrimp, Sauteed Roasted Campari Tomatoes & White Wine Herb Butter. For dessert, there is New York Cheesecake with strawberry Champagne sauce. In addition to the three-course menu, Fleming’s also offers an a la carte Valentine’s lunch menu on February 13 & 14 consisting of choices like a Wedge Salad, Mediterranean Salad, California Power Bowl, Filet Mignon Sandwich, and Caesar Salad. Customize your salad & bowl with add-ons like chicken breast, Scottish salmon, seared shrimp, chickpea & eggplant croquette, or filet mignon.
At The Blended Table catering company you can pick up items from their Valentine’s Day menu to take home on February 13th or 14th. Mains include Braised Short Rib with Port wine huckleberry jus and Whole Branzino with lemon-caper herb butter. There are a bevy of sides to select from, including sweet potato Gruyere gratin, corn pudding with Beehive Cheddar, charred broccolini with toasted garlic, seared Brussels sprouts with pancetta and Fiore Sardo pecorino, and others, plus desserts like blood orange panna cotta and rose & cardamom cake from Carlucci’s Bakery.
Table X invites you to join them on February 12th or 13th for an intimate evening to celebrate Valentine’s weekend. They’ll be offering a 7-course tasting menu priced at $125 per person with an optional 5 wine pairing or 5 non-alcoholic beverage pairing. Note that the reservation must be PREPAID and must be cancelled 24 hours before the time of the reservation for a refund. In addition, Table X is offering customers a V-Day dinner kit for two with instructions to be heated at home, to be picked up on the Saturday, the 13th. The kit includes a loaf of sourdough bread w/ house cultured butter; Snuck Farm greens with house burrata, grilled blood orange, & citrus marinated olives; braised beef short rib “Bourguignon” with confit potatoes, heirloom carrots, savoy cabbage, & red wine jus; and Dark chocolate tart with banana caramel sauce & hazelnut cream. The kits are $100 each.
Over in Heber City, Afterword by Tupelo will offer up a tempting 3-course tasting menu for Valentine’s weekend, February 13th & 14th, priced at $52 per person with optional wine pairings available. First course is a choice of Potato Leek Soup with truffle pesto and creme fraiche, or Duck Confit Crepe with miso sorghum reduction, butternut squash purée, and celery leaf, followed by a second course of either Seared Hawaiian Ahi Tuna with roasted white yam purée, brown butter brussels,and kumquat pickled chile relish, or Desert Mountain Ranch Bavette Steak with barley risotto, roasted seasonal vegetables, sautéed kale, and garlic purée. Dessert is Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with raspberry cream cheese frosting, and cocoa nibs.
Ogdenites have some great Valentine’s Day dining options too, including a special spin on V-Day at WB’s Eatery with a Cocktails & Cannabis Dinner on February 14th. It’s a five-course tasting with cocktail pairings. According to the nice folks at WB’s, “We’ll be introducing five courses with cocktail (and non-alcoholic cocktail) tastings and CBD pairings, which guests can pre-register to attend for a special evening celebration of all things cannabis.” The organizers say, “The experience is priced at $150 per guest, ($85 for food, $65 for cocktail pairings) with the private event accommodating up to 15 people. Expect lively conversation and discussion about the cannabis plant, its benefits, and its uses.” For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Hearth on 25th in Ogden is offering a very special 12-course tasting menu for Valentine’s weekend, February 12th through the 14th. The menu options are too extensive to fully explore here, but highlights include Flambadou Oyster flamed over cherry wood; Braised & Pulled Quail; Prime Beef Tenderloin with shrimp tail & beurre blanc; Cast Iron-roasted Octopus with citrus foam; Braised Lamb with juniper pan sauce; Charcoal-roasted Elk or Beef Heart with squid ink flatbread; and Oven-roasted Utah Trout with toasted mustard salted cream. Dessert is a choice of Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Mousse or Mignardise. The 12-course tasting menu is $80 per person with optional beverage pairings for $30. There’s also a vegetarian tasting menu upon request.
Also on 25th Street in Ogden, Stella’s Fine Italian Cuisine is hosting A Night for 2 on February 12th & 13th for Valentine’s weekend. Chef Geraldine Sepulveda will be offering a special 4-course menu priced at $55 per person and $15 for optional wine pairings. Begin with a choice of antipasti: Tartare di Tonno (raw marinated ahi tuna), Prosciutto Caprese, or Cappuccino al Funghi (wild mushroom soup with white truffle foam). The Primi course is Ravioli di Aragosta (lobster ravioli) or Honey-Balsamic Glazed Pork Shanks with roasted vegetable couscous. Secondi is a choice of Pollo al Mattone (grilled airline chicken with polenta cakes), Dover Sole stuffed with scallops and crab meat; or Costolette di Agnello – pan-seared, herb-marinated lamb chops. Dessert is Crespelle con Crema al Mascarpone e Frutto della Passione.
Culinary quote of the week: “Love is sharing your popcorn.” — Charles Schulz
FOR MORE RESTAURANT REVIEWS GO HERE.
THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER.
Subscribe to get the latest Utah Bites news and reviews
Originally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: click on their logos to visit their website
[envira-gallery slug=”food-logos”]
