Valentine’s Day dining

Not sure where to take your Sweetie Pie McCutiePants for Valentine’s Day? Fear not! Richmond’s restaurant world is ready to hook you up. Take a look at some of the dining goings-on scheduled for (and around) Valentine’s Day this year.

January 30, 2011; 8:55 PM • by RVANews staff

Not sure where to take your Sweetie Pie McCutiePants for Valentine’s Day? Fear not! Richmond’s restaurant world is ready to hook you up. Take a look at some of the dining goings-on scheduled for (and around) Valentine’s Day this year.

Note: Many restaurants around town are still putting together their Valentine’s Day menus. We’ll add to this list as we get more details. And if you own/work at/know of a restaurant with something special planned for the lovebirds, send them to val@rvanews.com.

(Just click on the name of the restaurant to visit its website — if one exists.)

Acacia

2601 W. Cary Street
804.562.0138

On the night of the 14th, Acacia will offer a four-course, pre-fixe menu (4 to 5 choices per course) for $49 per person. They are now accepting reservations for dinner (served from 5:30 to 9:15pm).

Amici

3343 W. Cary Street
804.353.4700

Amici will feature a “Lover’s Special” for $35 per person and will be serving dinner from 5:30 to 10pm.

Amour Wine Bistro

3129 W. Cary Street
804.353.4020

Amour offers, “A Romantic Night in Paris,” priced from $49-$149, depending on your wine preferences. Guests may pick from two yummy appetizers: baked artichoke with crab dip on grilled baguette or Oyster Rockefeller, followed by a spinach salad or honey and grape soup (apparently thought to be an aphrodisiac…). Next, take your pick of first courses: either rosemary-crusted or pine-nut-rusted veal. For the second main course, you may select a mini rack of lamb, cooked with cocoa or shrimp-stuffed flounder. Top it all off with white chocolate berry truffle or lavender crème brulee. There will be two seatings, one from 5:30pm-6pm to 7:45pm, and the other from 8-8:30pm to 2am.

Avenue 805

805 N. Davis Avenue
804.353.0339

Every Monday is Cheap Date Night at Avenue 805. Enjoy dinner for 2, served family style for a thrifty $35. Choose your wine, Caesar or house salad, then pick a “big bowl” of pasta to share, followed by chef’s choice for dessert.

Belle Vie

1244 Alverser Plaza
804.379.3338

Belle Vie will be serving dinner for two on the 13th and 14th, offering a pre-fixe, 4 course menu for $80. Check the menu on bellvieva.com, or call in. Reservations recommended!

Berkeley Hotel

1200 E. Cary Street
804.648.4728

We are told that they have a special planned, but we haven’t gotten specifics yet. Stay tuned!

Bistro 27

27 W. Broad Street
804.780.0086

Bistro 27 is running an array of seasonal specials, in addition to regular menu items, featuring steak and lobster dishes, gourmet pastas, and exotic fish from Hawaii, priced at $21-$36 per person.

Café Rustica

414 E. Main Street
804.225.8811

Their three course, pre-fixed menu is $60 per couple and includes several aphrodisiacs. HEY OH!!! (See a PDF of the menu.)

Can Can

3120 W. Cary Street
804.358.7274

Can Can will have a special menu the day after Valentine’s Day. Call for details.

Cous Cous

900 W. Franklin Street
804.358.0868

Monday is Date Night at Cous Cous, offering a 3 course meal for 2 $40, featuring your pick of soup or salads, 3 main courses from a select menu, a dessert to share, and 1/2 carafe of sangria. After dinner, try a $1 mystery beer — there’s a new brand every week!

Hanover Tavern Restaurant & Pub

13181 Hanover Courthouse Road
804.537.5050

Hanover Tavern will be open on Monday the 14th for dinner only. Enjoy a special, four-course meal from 5pm to 9pm, for $90 per couple.

The Hard Shell

1411 E. Cary Street
804.643.2333

Monday is always Lobster Night at the Hard Shell. There is no pre-fixe menu, but chef’s specials will be available. Dinner is served from 5pm to 10pm.

Julep’s

1719-21 E. Franklin Street
804.377.3968

Julep’s will offer their regular menu from 5:30pm to 10pm, along with an array of chef’s specials to be determined the day-off. Reservations currently being accepted.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Tea House

1800 Lakeside Avenue
804-262-9887, ext. 329

Brunch will be offered on Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 12 from 11:30am to 2:30pm (includes regular Tea House menu, plus a few specials). They’ll be offering dinner on Saturday, February 12 and Monday, February 14 from 5pm to 9pm. (See the menu).

Mezzanine

3433 W. Cary Street
804.353.2186

For $65 for two, enjoy a fixed menu featuring your choice between pepper pot soup or house salad; cheese fritters or shrimp and grits; and butternut enchiladas, fish with fried rice, or duck breast with risotto. Finish things off with a red velvet chocolate dessert roll.

Mosaic

6229A River Road (River Road Shopping Center)
804.288.7482

For $34.95 guests may choose from a four-course menu, featuring items like pan-seared lamb chops, or mushroom-goat cheese quesadilla for starters, followed by a soup or salad course. For your entrée, Mosaic offers a wide selection of seafood, pork, beef, and game dishes. Tapas and desserts are shared, other courses can be chosen individually. Reservations are recommended. If you are planning to pick-up or have your dinner delivered, orders must be placed by February 8th.

Olio

200 1/2 W. Main Street
804.355.5182

Olio is presenting a choice of three different Valentine’s Day dinners, for two. The filet mignon option and the rockfish option will cost you $50. The vegetarian option of butternut squash ravioli is $45. All dinners are served with delicious sides and include a bottle or red or white house wine. This offer is available for dine-in or carry-out. Call by February 8 to get the best selection.

Pescados China Street

626 China Street
804.644.3474

For $49 per person, enjoy Pescados China Street’s pre-fixe Valentine’s menu. (See a PDF of the menu.) Choose from three seatings: 5:30pm, 7:30pm, and 9:30pm.

Rowland Fine Dining

2132 W. Main Street
804-257-9885

Chef Bruce’s “Sweet Valentine’s Day” pre-fixe menu offers up three courses (with several dishes from which to choose for each course) for $120 per couple, plus taxes and gratuity. (See a PDF of the menu.)

Secco

2933 W. Cary Street
804.353.0670

On Valentine’s Day night only, Secco will offer a 5 course menu for $45 per person, $40 for the vegetarian option, not including tax or gratuities. Guests may also choose to pair each course with wine for an extra $25. This offer is by reservation only and will be similar to the set-up at New Years. Limit of 4 guests per table.

Sette

7 N. 23rd Street
804.788.7077

Sette will be offering a Valentine’s Day special including an appetizer, salad, pizza, and dessert for $29.95, in addition to their regular menu. Wine specials will also be offered that night.

Strawberry Street Café

421 Strawberry Street
804.353.6860

All weekend, Strawberry Street Café will offer a three-course dinner for two for $49.95, Including choice of soup, entree (Beef wellington; jumbo shrimp stuffed with crab; chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto ham and fresh mozzarella in a sage cream sauce) and a HUGE dessert to share – chocolate cake garnished with chocolate dipped strawberries or red velvet cake. If you don’t like either of those desserts, you can choose something else. And then never speak to me again.

On the 14th, diners can choose from the pre-fixe menu above, or choose from a limited menu (i.e. no burgers or sandwiches).

TJ’s

101 W. Franklin Street
804.649.4672

On the night of the 14th, diners may choose from a special menu at $35 per person or select “TJ’s Valentine’s Day Dinner Package,” which features a pre-fixe menu by Chef Schroeder, as well as deluxe accommodations, room service breakfast, dinner and breakfast gratuities, and valet parking. (Deluxe Room: $315; Studio Suite: $415 — taxes not included).

Zeus Gallery

201 N. Belmont Avenue
804.359.3219

For Valentine’s Day, Zeus Gallery offers your choice of 14 seasonal gourmet dishes (venison in red wine sauce, scallops in a truffle vinaigrette, roasted lamb shoulder in reduction sauce, just to name a few). No pre-fixe menu.

Special thanks to our newest intern, Pat Kardian, for helping us pull this list together. Now everyone say, “Yay Pat!”

January 30, 2011 8:55 PM 1