It's Not Too Late to Win at Valentine's Day: 7 Dining Suggestions
7 photos
<strong>Betel:</strong> There aren't many places in New York more romantic than the West Village, even on days not dedicated to enduring love. One of the neighborhood's new dining darling's, <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/03/11/new_restaurant_and_bar_radar_4.php?gallery0Pic=3#gallery">Betel</a>, is offering a $70 nine-dish "Rák" menu (it means love in Thai) crafted by Chef Adam Woodfield. Other than a choice between chicken and smoked trout for your second course, Chef Woodfield sets the itinerary for your culinary tour through southeast Asia. The "Duck and Lychee Vietnamese Pancake" and "Steamed Bronzini wrapped in Banana Leaf" look enticing to compete with your date. The tasting menu comes with a glass of Veuve Clicquot, though <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/08/06/7_great_summer_cocktails_you_can_ma.php?gallery0Pic=4">Betel's exceptional cocktails</a> have been known to steal the show.<p></p><em>51 Grove Street, (212) 352-0640</em>
<strong>Wall & Water:</strong> Bask in the dark wood and black marble at the sleek Financial District den <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/02/04/new_restaurants_4.php?gallery0Pic=1#gallery">Wall & Water</a>, which is offering couples a $90 five-course shared meal, with $35 wine pairing. The restaurant prides itself on using ingredients sourced from local Hudson Valley farms and markets. With lobster, mussels and oysters all on the menu, just make sure you both adore seafood as much as each other and you're set!<p></p><em>75 Water Street, (212) 699-1700</em>
<strong>Fish Tag:</strong> Unlike the other prix-fixe offerings on our list, at the Upper West Side seafood parlor <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/12/02/fish_tag_michael_psilakiss_new_uws.php">Fish Tag</a>, the five-course menu is made to serve the alcohol (like all great meals). "Beer Lovers" get four ales paired with grilled prawns, octopus and cuttlefish. There are swordfish sausages and sea urchins for "Wine Lovers," who are treated to red, white and sake. And the "Spirit Lovers" menu includes a lot of lamb and an ingenious bourbon-spiked milkshake for dessert. The prix-fixe prices range from $65-$85.<p></p><em>22 West 79th Street, (212) 362-7470</em>
<strong>Counter:</strong> Advertised as a "healthy kind of love," <a href="http://gothamist.com/2008/10/20/deborah_gavito_counter.php">Counter</a> has a $65 per person vegetarian menu with a $30 wine pairing that's nourishing in different way. The Pomegranate-Chili Glazed Seiten (a "wheat-meat" for those of you not in the know) sounds delectable, as does the parsnip-spin on red velvet cake for dessert. Enjoy the restaurant <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/12/23/east_village_vegetarian_restaurant.php">while it's still </a>in the East Village; Counter will be closing in March. <p></p><em>105 First Avenue, (212) 982-5870</em>
<strong>New York Central:</strong> Enjoy the view of bustling 42nd street at <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/11/24/new_restaurants_17.php?gallery0Pic=3#gallery">New York Central</a>, the western European-inspired restaurant that opened last November in the Grand Hyatt. Imaginative chef Christian Ragano (formerly sous chef at NoMI in Chicago) is doing a$52 per person three-course meal that includes shared entréesâChateaurbriand or Whole Roast Bronziniâwith a $35 wine pairing. The steel pipe-plated ceiling, white bar and totally open kitchen give the restaurant a crisp, mod vibe, so if you're still feeling things out with your date and want a spot that's not as <strike>sickeningly</strike> overtly romantic, this is a good bet. And the subway and Metro North are conveniently located right downstairs for a quick getaway if things go sideways! On the other hand, you could follow up dinner by checking into the hotel, just across the lobby from the restaurant.<p></p><em>109 East 42nd Street, (646) 213-6865</em>
<strong>Macao Trading Co.:</strong> One of the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2008/11/30/macao_trading_co.php">sexiest restaurants in town</a> has <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/10/12/eat_cetera_26.php?gallery0Pic=2">a new chef</a>, Josh Blakely, and a renewed vigor. Gone is the bifurcated menu offering Chinese and Portuguese versions of the same entree; instead Blakely has introduced a "farm to table" menu with family-style dishes combining the flavors of the notorious islandâs two cultures. His V-Day menu is built for two to share, and costs $100 per couple. The first course is a Caramelized Foie Gras Terrine with Aged Balsamic Vinegar, followed by Lobster and Hearts of Palm Salad with Chorizo, a third course of Chestnut Stuffed Veal Chop with Grilled Onions and Fava Beans, and a dessert of Dark Chocolate Cake with yogurt & maple syrup. <p></p>The restaurant is known as much for its cocktails as its food, and on Valentine's Day Macaoâs cocktail guru, Dushan Zaric, has crafted a potable that's included with the meal. His ""Secret Crush" is made with Prosecco, Employees Only-brand Grenadine, a brown sugar cube, Angostura bitters, and a Lemon twist, for garnish. <em>John Del Signore<p></p>311 Church Street, (212) 431-8750</em>
<strong>Bar Basque:</strong> The Eventi hotel's newest restaurant has a unique offer for those of you who want to bring your love to the big screen. <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/10/14/bar_basque.php?gallery0Pic=8#gallery">Bar Basque</a> is encouraging everyone who makes a reservation to write a 25-word "public displays of affection" that will appear on the giant L.E.D. screen outside in the courtyard. (E-mail your love letter to [email protected] by February 8th, 2011.) And if you've decided that Valentine's Day is the night to pop the question, Bar Basque will work with you to create a specially tailored proposal for the big screen (for an additional charge of $2,011.) As for the menu, there's no prix-fixe. Specials include a half dozen oysters with txakoli sangria gelee; Bar Basque surf and turf of 18oz Creekstone dry aged prime New York strip and 1 ¼ lb maine lobster with beurre rouge. The food's very good hereâeven <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/lifestyle/food/you_ll_basque_in_the_sun_for_now_F9JgRoMjQo1fJg4ZpsJQ5J">cranky Steve Cuozzo agrees</a>! <p></p><em>839 Sixth Avenue, (646) 600-7150</em>