An Evening of Food and Love
There are two delicious ways to spend your Valentine’s Day. You can either go out to dinner with a date or go out to a bar or restaurant and hang out with friends and loved ones that you are not dating. Either way, there are many great Valentine’s Day specials in the area for couples and singles alike.
For couples
Virginia is for lovers so head across the river for some dining and romance on Valentine’s Day. Bastille, located in Alexandria will be serving a four-course dinner for $85 with wine pairings available upon request. The prix-fixe menu offers a variety of seafood, poultry and meat dishes followed up by a dessert. The quaint and intimate atmosphere is great for a romantic evening out.
To add more spice to your evening, head to any of the three Jaleos for some Spanish cuisine. Along with the regular a la carte menu, Jaleo has added themed tapas such as esferas de sangria de cava y rosas (sperified white sangria and rose petals), sstras con cava (Rappahannock oysters with solid cava) and espuma de patata con pato confitado y caviar (potato foam with duck confit and caviar). Prices range from $3-$18 each. End the night with a romantically themed dessert: sopa de frutas rojas con helado de dueso (wild red berry soup with cheese ice cream).
If you’re unsure of what your Valentine’s Day date may enjoy, head to the tried and true Bombay Club. Recently celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Bombay Club is sure to please even the pickiest of dates. The Bombay Club is offering a five-course, prix-fixe menu on Valentine¹s Day from 5:30-11 p.m. The prix-fixe menu includes an amuse bouche of badam shorba with almond, rose and garlic followed by a chaat course. Diners will then choose an appetizer, entrée and dessert. The Bombay Club will be serving everything from lobster to lamb. The Valentine’s Day menu is priced at $85 per person.
For singles
Join all your single friends on Valentine’s Day at The Daily Dish in Silver Spring for “Unhappy Hour” at the restaurant’s bar from 3:30-6:30 p.m. They will be serving up Flying Dog Raging Bitch and Snake Dog ($4), Suffering Bastard cocktail ($5) and, if you gave up completely caring about what your breath smells like, olives and pickled garlic and blue cheese dip with garlic crostini ($5). The unhappiness doesn’t end at the bar, though. The Daily Dish will also be serving up Shot Through the Heart meatballs with marinara dipping sauce ($9); Tainted Love lobster and crawfish ravioli with squid ink stripe and charred tomato, Crater Lake Pepper Vodka cream sauce ($12, $20); and Love Stinks — a platter of stinky cheeses with house-made jams, chutneys, pickles, baguette and a sharp knife ($15) as well as other tasty entrees and desserts.
Art and Soul is offering two ways of celebrating Valentine’s Day: dine in or to-go. To avoid having to watch smooching couples, take your delicious dinner to-go and have some special time with your dining table or couch. Art and Soul will be serving dinners of fried chicken for two ($40) or New York strip for Two ($60). Who says just because you’re single you can’t eat a great meal? You can even save the leftovers for post-Valentine’s Day festivities. The to-go dinner includes a meat and cheese course and a chocolate beet tart for dessert. You can even purchase a bottle of wine with your meal.
If you really feel like wallowing in your sorrows, try Dolcezza’s seasonal gelato for Valentine’s Day. Starting Monday, Febr. 10, Dolcezza will be offering a milk chocolate passion fruit gelato which will be available at all four locations in the Washington, D.C. area. A small milk chocolate passion fruit is $5 and a large is $6.15. However, if you prefer eating gelato in the comfort of your home (and in front of the TV, like I do) go for the $10.50 pint.
Whatever your relationship status may be, there are plenty of dining options on Valentine’s Day. Even if you loathe the holiday, treat yourself to a great dinner. And if you’re in a relationship, show your significant other how much you care by sharing some great dinners and desserts.
Dating and Relationship blogger, Sara Maldonado is a writer and social media guru currently navigating the sea of men while having an affair with the city of Washington, DC. She enjoys coffee, laughter, and a good hair day.