Valentine's Day Dining Options Around NYC
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<p>If you're crazy enough to have planned a blind date for V-day, one of these <a href="http://www.darkdiningprojects.com/upcoming.htm">Dark Dining dinners</a> might actually be the perfect thing. Blindfolded for the entire meal, you will be served a 4-course meal paired with wine, in hopes that your impaired vision will up your sense of taste (see: <em>Daredevil</em>). And it's cute because you'll be blindfolded, and on a "blind date," so you'll actually be blind! If it works out, you'll have an unbearably adorable "how we met" story. <a href="http://camaje.com/">CAMAJE Bistro</a> will be hosting the V-day blind meal, and reservations are required.</p><p></p><em><em>85 MacDougal St, 212-673-8184</em></em>
<p>Ofrenda is upping their chocolate content for Valentine's Day, because ladies love chocolate! Right? Chocolate and Oprah? The chocolate menu starts with some cocktails, like a Coco Old Fashioned with chocolate-infused tequila, or the Chocolate Strawberry martini. These are paired with a mole chicken entree and a dessert of chocolate covered strawberries with caramelized chilis. The sugar crash will make for a delightful end to that romantic evening.</p><p></p><em>113 Seventh Avenue South, 212-924-2305</em>
<p>Is terra firma just not doing it for you anymore? Why not try doing Valentine'sâwait for itâ<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/73450/saturday-night-live-digital-short-im-on-a-boat-uncensored">ON A BOAT</a>. <a href="http://www.worldyacht.com/events">World Yacht</a> will be hosting a cruise special so couples can eat on board one of their cruise ships while enjoying views of New York City. The $125 ticket includes a 4-course meal, but you can upgrade to Ambassador Service (+$55) which includes window seating, a meal "upgrade" (?) and a glass of Champagne, the Romance Package (+$75) for a bottle of Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, or the Wine and Cheese package (+$49) for a bottle of wine, cheese, olives and crackers. Just make sure you figure out if your date gets seasick before you book the tickets.</p>
<p>If you don't have anyone to spend Valentine's with, skip it and go where every woman wants you: Rick's Cabaret. <a href="http://www.bustedcoverage.com/?p=25581">Busted Coverage</a> is giving away a free night at <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/12/24/stripper_army_suing_ricks_cabaret_f.php">Rick's</a>, including free admission, $100 for a lapdance, a chocolate dessert, a souvenir Rick's hat (score!), and a table and a bottle of champagne in the VIP Champagne Room (no sex.) The prize can also be for two people, if you and your special lady feel like celebrating this way.</p>
<p>Commerce is introducing a novel concept: the prix fixe menu <em>that is not prix fixe</em>. Depending on what you order, the price of the prix fixe menu will fluctuate, leaving you to spend only what you want to spend. The menu includes their roast chicken for two with foie gras bread stuffing and potato mousseline, which seems like a great way to start the evening. </p><p></p><em>50 Commerce St, 212-524-2301</em>
<p>For the more of a carnivorous couple, skip the chocolate and flowers and go straight for what you both want: hamburgers. <a href="http://www.fivenapkinburger.com/">5 Napkin Burger</a> will be making a Burger for Two this Valentine's Day. It's 16 oz (a solid pound) of short rib, brisket and chuck, topped with cheddar cheese pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and 5 napkin sauce. It comes with sides too, in case you're still a bit peckish after that meaty onslaught. Their Upper West Side location should be open by then too, in case Hell's Kitchen is too far from wherever you happen to be.</p><p></p><em>630 9th Ave, 212-757-2277 </em>
<p>Feel like spending V-day at home but still hungry for something special? Red Hook Lobster Pound and alt.brooklyn have set up a special that leaves the meal planning to them. For $140, go pick up a 15 quart lobster pot, two lobsters, a bottle of bubbly, a box of chocolates and sea salt caramels from Liddabit Sweets, a jar of Ricks Picks, the morning after green chorizo sausage from the Meat Hook and 10 oz of Crop to Cup coffee. All you do is go home, make the lobster, and let yourself be admired for the <em>amazing</em> dinner you put together all by yourself. No one has to know. Details are on the <a href="http://redhooklobsterpound.com/">website</a>.</p>
<a href="http://www.employeesonlynyc.com/">Employees Only</a> has created <em>the cutest</em> cocktail just for this <em>super special</em> day: the Secret Crush. It's a variation on the classic Champagne cocktail, but even better because it's pink! Oh my god, adorable! Just go easy on the bitters; we're in the middle of a <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/01/13/bitters_shortage_threatens_civiliza.php">civilization threatening shortage</a>. Oh, and if you feel like getting someone to make the cocktail for you, Employee's Only has got a "Valentine's Day massacre" menu, with oysters, deviled crab and egg, lobster Newburg and cherry jubilee.<p></p><strong>Secret Crush Recipe:</strong>5 ounces Llopart Cava Leopardi Brut Rose3/4 ounce Campari1 brown sugar cube4 to 5 dashes Angostura bitters1 lemon twist, for garnish<p></p><strong>Directions:</strong>Pour half of the amount of the Sparkling Wine into a champagne flute. Place the sugar cube on a bar spoon saturate it with Angostura Bitters. Carefully place the bitters saturated sugar cube into the flute. Let rest for a moment. Pour the rest of the sparkling wine. Add Campari. Twist the lemon twist over the drink and discard.<p></p><em>510 Hudson Street, 212-242-3021</em>
<p>All those red decorations you've been seeing? How do you know they're for Valentine's Day and not Chinese New Year? Combine the best of both holidays at <a href="http://www.baonoodles.com/">Bao Noodles</a>. Ring in the Year of the Tiger on the 14th with a Chinese New Year brunch with Vietnamese omlettes, congee, braised tripe or the classic thousand year egg. There will also be free Tiger Ale all brunch long! If you feel like doing the Valentine's dinner anyway, Bao's dinner menu features guess what, <em>a prix fixe</em>. Their $40pp, 5-course menu is paired with prosecco, sake and a Perfume River cocktail. We'd stay for both, and hope that firecrackers are involved somewhere.</p><p></p><em>391 2nd Ave, 212-725-7770</em>
<a href="http://www.barblanc.com/">Bar Blanc Bistro</a> is good for a cozy V-day meal. <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/10/16/new_brunch_lunch_and_dinner_kicking.php?gallery0Pic=5">Their white booths and painted brick walls</a> create the casual, relaxed setting to savor their $64pp prix fixe. Their menu includes favorites like lobster bisque, braised short ribs, and dutch butter cake with poached pears. (Surprisingly, nothing pink.) Or you can just go for dessert for their beignets with raspberry and vanilla ice cream. Just as romantic.<p></p><em>142 W 10th St, 212-255-2330</em>
<a href="http://www.scarpettanyc.com/">Scarpetta</a> will also be doing a prix fixe this Valentine's day. Their version is $125pp for 4-courses, and features Italian inspired dishes like black tagliolini with sea urchin, polenta with truffled mushrooms, roasted sirloin with braised oxtail sauce and the chef's selection of desserts. Drinks aren't included on this one, but it shouldn't be hard to find something in their 3,000 bottle cellar that will go with your dinner. <p></p><em>355 W 14th St, 212-691-0555</em>
<a href="http://www.thevanderbiltnyc.com/">The Vanderbilt</a> is doing a $60 prix fixe, which definitely seems worth the price. Their four-course menu features options such as warm cured salmon, roasted squab, Chatham Cod with stuffed piquillo pepper and cannellini beans, and caribe gratin with macadamia ice cream. They've also got homemade jerky and a Black Cherry Rickey cocktail, if perhaps you're alone and don't feel like leaving the bar.<p></p><em>570 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn; 718-623-0570</em>
<a href="http://www.modernmexican.com/pampano/index.htm">Pampano</a> has created just one of hundreds of prix fixe menus that will be scattered like fairy dust around the city on V-day. Their Dia De San Valentin (they're Mexican) $70pp, 6-course monster features ceviche, tacos, stripped bass, seared scallops, grilled duck and a dessert of caramelized bananas with puff pastry. You can make your reservations <a href="http://www.opentable.com/opentables.aspx?rid=2348&restref=2348">here.</a><p></p><em>209 E 49th St, 212-751-4545</em>