Atlanta Restaurants Spread the Love on Valentine's Day
If there’s one thing chefs know how to do, it’s put their hearts into their work. Many have been working overtime to create menus to spark just the right sentiments between friends and lovers on Valentine’s Day. From fabulous featured dishes and wines to prix fixe menus, Atlanta-area restaurants are eager to help guests raise the bar on traditional flowers and candy to create celebrations that warm both the heart and the stomach. Prices listed do not include tax and gratuity unless specified. While your heart may be overflowing, seats are not, so make reservations today.
February Specials
The entire family can share in the love at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 4-9 p.m. with a free Valentine cookie decorating event. From Feb. 14-16, the kitchen team will be serving up heartwarming specials including black mussels with tomato, white wine and basil ($14); confit duck leg with Parmesan risotto ($14); pan-seared red snapper with celery root puree and roasted cipollini onion ($28); eight-ounce filet mignon with goat cheese mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and Four Roses demi-glace ($25); and raspberry crème brûlée ($8). 404-876-7249; atkinspark.com.
Celebrating gal pals is important. That’s why the Brookhaven and Perimeter locations of HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern will be hosting a Galentine’s Party on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 6 p.m.-12 a.m. Ladies will be treated to $3 Champagne or a $10 Champagne tasting. In addition to serving its regular menus on Valentine’s Day, the kitchen teams are primed to serve a delicious prime rib special. 404-464-8971 (Brookhaven) and 470-395-7904 (Perimeter); hobnobatlanta.com.
Believing love is meant to be celebrated often, the team at Livingston Restaurant + Bar in The Georgian Terrace hotel is offering a three-course prix fixe menu every Friday and Saturday evening Feb. 7-29. The $70-per-person menu offers a selection of starters like Bosc pear and parsnip soup, entrées such as lemon ricotta ravioli, and desserts like strawberry mousse torte. 404-897-5000; livingstonatlanta.com. Plan ahead and transform a lovely date night into a sultry staycation at The Georgian Terrace hotel. The romance package includes Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, breakfast for two and free self-parking for one car. This package is not available for same-day reservations. 404-897-1991; georgianterrace.com.
Marlow’s Tavern spreads the love over Valentine’s Day weekend, offering a three-course prix fixe menu with optional wine pairings Feb. 14-16. Guests have a first plate choice of a beet, quinoa and goat cheese salad or seared jumbo scallops followed by a surf and turf main plate of filet mignon and tempura shrimp served with crispy smashed red bliss potatoes, tiny green beans, red wine demi and wasabi honey mustard. Dessert hits a sweet note with a choice of white chocolate raspberry bread pudding or molten chocolate cake. Dinner costs $40 per person or $55 with wine pairings; menus may vary by location. marlowstavern.com.
Why settle for a single day when you can enjoy a weekend of love? Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $75 per person on both Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m. Guests can select from appetizers such as lobster, corn and tomato chowder and spinach and pomegranate salad. Entrée options include bacon-wrapped filet mignon and pan-seared diver scallops. To ensure a sweet ending, guests have options such as pink lady trifle and dark berry tart. On Feb. 13 and 16, Milton’s will serve its regular menu plus prime porterhouse steaks for two as a featured special. 770-817-0161; miltonscuisine.com.
If a North Carolina getaway sets hearts aflutter, head to The Monte Vista hotel and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails – Black Mountain. The restaurant lures guests with a specially curated Valentine’s a la carte menu on Feb. 14 and 15. Guests dining at Milton’s on either night can take advantage of a special Valentine’s Day room package featuring a queen room and a bottle of Champagne and chocolates for $79. Call 828-669-8870 to book. 828-669-8870; miltonsblackmountain.com.
Gal pals can start feeling the love at Murphy’s a day early on Wednesday, Feb. 12 with a special Galentine’s menu. After starting with a cucumber and sea vegetable salad and a split of sparkling rosé, guests will enjoy an entrée of small bites such as shrimp toast and duck confit pot stickers and tantalizing desserts that include chocolate-covered strawberry and red velvet truffles. Tickets are $50 per person. On Valentine’s Day, dinner specials include oysters Rockefeller ($16); Chilean sea bass with grilled asparagus and ginger saffron soubise ($36); mushroom-crusted beef tenderloin with Hasselback potato and creamy spinach ($38); and a chocolate globe with vanilla cake and berries ($10). A one-evening-only chocolate-covered strawberry martini shows just how sweet the evening can be. 404-872-0904; murphysatlanta.com.
Perfect for diners whose schedules require a little flexibility Ray's on the River (770-995-1187) and Ray's at Killer Creek (770-649-0064) are featuring a three-course prix fixe menu on Friday, Feb. 14 and will offer the same prix fixe menu along with limited a la carte menus Thursday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 15. The prix fixe menu costs $90 per person with suggested wine pairings offered for an additional cost. Menu highlights at Ray’s on the River include oysters Rockefeller, horseradish butter-crusted grouper, prime New York strip and Ray’s signature praline basket. Ray’s at Killer Creek features include lobster tortelloni, cedar-planked sea bass, wagyu rib-eye and chocolate mousse cake. Ray's in the City (404-524-9224) is serving its regular à la carte dinner menu only on Feb. 14. raysrestaurants.com.
The Blind Pig Parlour Bar invites the ladies to celebrate Galentine’s Day. The 1920s-inspired speakeasy in Buckhead is offering half-off bottles of Champagne on Thursday, Feb. 13. theblindpigparlourbar.com
Valentine's Day Dining
In addition to serving a limited dinner menu, 5Church Atlanta is serving a $65 three-course prix fixe menu on Feb. 14, with optional wine pairings available for an additional $25 per person. A menu sneak peek reveals New England lobster salad, baked honeycomb brie, grilled jumbo prawns, braised duck fettuccine and strawberry mirror glaze heart tarts. Make reservations online. 404-400-3669; 5churchatlanta.com.
Recognized as one of Atlanta’s most romantic restaurants, Aria is the perfect place to spend a heartfelt Valentine’s Day evening with that special someone. Chef Gerry Klaskala is offering a four-course prix fixe menu highlighting modern American cuisine for $95 per person, excluding beverages. Reserve a table via Resy. 404-233-7673; aria-atl.com.
For Valentine’s Day or any day, festive Chido and Padre’s is always a great choice for Baja Mexico’s fresh, coastal cuisine in a fun atmosphere. On Feb. 14, celebrate with a Baja Date Night boasting chef features and the regular menu. 404-848-9100; chidoandpadres.com.
Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar is laden with savory options for sharing a meal with that special someone. On Feb. 14, guests can dine on a four-course prix fixe menu for $79 per person with the option of adding wine pairings for $29. Drift is serving lunch until 2 p.m. The regular menu is not available in the evening. 770-635-7641; driftoysterbar.com.
Looking for amore in all the right places? Forza Storico is an ideal date night spot. Reservations are just a click away. 404-464-8096. forzastorico.com.
Gypsy Kitchen fans the flames with a specially curated a la carte Valentine’s Day menu featuring a selection of tapas, shareable entrées and desserts. A few to pique interest include tuna crudo with caviar, pan-seared black bass, seared scallops, wagyu steak carpaccio, seafood bomba rice for two and strawberry and coconut cheesecake. 404-939-9840; gk-atl.com.
Whisper sweet nothings over a special a la carte Valentine’s menu at Ocean and Acre. In addition to menu favorites, chef specials include grilled six-ounce filet mignon with red bliss mashed potatoes and red wine sauce; a six-ounce drunken tuna steak in mushroom miso and Madeira sauce; yellowfin tuna carpaccio with olives, capers, cherry tomatoes and smoked trout roe and Black Forest chocolate sponge cake with chantilly cream and Amarena cherries. 678-823-8887; oceanandacre.com.
Couples who want to kiss and reminisce while listening to Bon Jovi songs will want to head to Roswell’s Rock 'N' Taco where Slippery When Wet will be belting out Jon’s best tunes. 678-878-3414; rockntacoatl.com.
Seed Kitchen & Bar sets the mood with a four-course prix fixe menu on Feb. 14. The meal starts with an amuse of peekytoe crab with menu highlights of French Kiss oysters, seared Hudson Valley foie gras, chargrilled center-cut filet, pan-seared halibut, tamarind- and orange-glazed Maple Leaf duck breast and red velvet roulade. The cost is $79 per person. 678-214-6888; eatatseed.com.
Chef Boyd Rose is eager to show his heart and kitchen tools are in the right place at Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar. The restaurant is serving up a four-course prix fixe menu that starts with a bit of the bubbly and features delicious options such as roasted red pepper crab bisque, baby arugula beet salad, Boyd’s Southern fried chicken, and grilled espresso-rubbed beef tenderloin and grilled jumbo shrimp duo. The cost is $65 per person with an additional $35 per person for wine pairing. The restaurant’s Alpharetta and Brookhaven locations also are serving their regular menus. 770-752-0922 (Alpharetta) and 470-395-8989 (Brookhaven); secretokitchen.com.
Stem Wine Bar believes food, wine and couples should be paired. To create the sweetest results, it’s partnering with Silver Oak Cellars for an amuse plus four—a four-course prix fixe dinner from chef Jessica Kim. Not only will each course be paired with its perfect oenological partner, but Philip Stebbins from United Distributing also will be on hand to discuss the evening’s samplings. The cost is $165 per person and includes tax and gratuity. Seatings are at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Purchase tickets and view full menu online. 678-214-6888; stemwinebar.com.
Catch the Valentine’s Day specials at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill. Both the Buckhead and Canton Street locations are offering regular menu favorites along with specials of arctic char crudo with citrus and strawberry vinaigrette with burnt onion and coriander; halibut with ‘nduja, artichokes, Castelvetrano olives and hearts of palm; and a seafood paella for two filled with lobster tail, scallops, mussels, bomba rice and lobster broth. 404-474-9508 (Buckhead) and 770-993-5749 (Canton Street); thebigketch.com.
Feel like taking your date out of the country without leaving town? WIN Indonesian Grill & Gastrobar offers perfect date-night sharing with dishes such as the Rijsttafel (regular and vegetarian) for two ($40). Reservations can be made online. 404-352-3838; wingastrobar.com.