Romantic Restaurants and Valentine’s Day Menus 2010

With Valentine’s Day arriving soon it’s that time of year to take a peek at some romantic restaurants in Fort Worth.  During Valentine’s Day some restaurants host a prix fixe menu (fixed price menu) with a corresponding special menu.  Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year so look for restaurants to be crowded with lovebirds all weekend.

Restaurants with special Valentine’s Day menus are noted.  Keep these restaurants in mind all year round when planning anniversaries, birthdays, or other special events.

Lanny’s Alta Cocina Mexicana
One of my favorite spots in town and the Valentine’s Menu sounds like quite the treat. An amuse of Goat Cheese Stuffed Medjool Date starts off the meal. Tapas offers a choice of Lobster Chilpachole or Rabbit Loin in Serrano Ham. For your Entree select between Prime Bone-In Ribeye, Sweet Potato Gratin, Haricot Verts or Sea Bass, Braised Oxtail, Tubers. Desert does not disappoint with these options: Chocolate Marquise Cake, Meyer Lemon Creme Fraiche or Key Lime Goat Cheesecake, Praline, Cajeta. Plus there is desert bonus with a Mignardises of Chocolate Strawberry Truffles. $95 per person. 817.850.9996 for reservations. Read my review here.

Lili’s Bistro on Magnolia
This cozy spot is featuring their Valentine’s Day Menu on Saturday the 13th as well as Sunday the 14th. You can view their Valentine’s Menu online here. The Duck Egg Rolls offered as the app sound delicious. They offer a choice on salads. Lili’s offers a variety of entrees to suit many tastes: Rasberry Infused Roasted Duck, Chicken Oscar, Beef Wellington and Brie, Saffron Halibut, and Lamb on the Vine. $42 per person, Reservations Required. Seatings on Saturday are from 6:00-6:30PM and 8:00-8:30PM, open seating after 9PM. Seatings on Sunday are from 5-5:30PM to 7-7:30PM. Read my review here.

Bistro Louise
Bistro Louise will be offering a Valentine’s Day Brunch in addition to a Valentine’s Day 4 course dinner. Brunch is from 11AM-2PM on Sunday. The 4 Course Valentine Dinner is offered from 5pm – 10PM. Check the website for all the details. Start your dinner with a shooter of Red Bell Pepper Soup and Pistachio Crusted Goat Cheese Crostini. You have a choice of 5 Appetizers and they range in flavors from Carrot Risotto with Sauteed Apples, Red Wine Onions, Danish Blue and Toasted Walnuts to Sashimi Hawaiian Kona Kampache and Wok Seared Tuna with Wasabi Creme Fraiche. The 4 Entrees offered seem delightful particularly the Crepe Croustad of Lobster, Orata, Chestnuts, Jicama Piquillo Peppers, finished with Cave Aged Gruyere. Deserts offered are Strawberry Craquelin and French Marjolaine Layer Cake. Once again make sure and check out the website for all the menu details. $75 per person. Reservations recommended duet to popularity. 817.922.9244. 2900 South Hulen.

Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine
Bonnell’s always offers stellar food and Valentine’s Day will be no exception. The Menu can be found online. Starters include Shellfish Sampler featuring Broiled Maine Lobster Tail. Entree choices are Center Cut Beef Tenderloin with Cognac and Peppercorn Sauce, Exotic Mushrooms, Baby Spinach, Grilled Tomatoes and a Trilogy of Twice Baked Potatoes: Bacon Cheddar, Sour Cream and Chive and Truffle with Herb Lemon Butter Sauce, Jumbo Lump Crabcake with Scallion Lime Aioli and Oyster Texasfeller. Chef’s Chocolate Sampling. $90 per person. Reservations can be made at 817.738.5489.

Ellerbe Fine Foods
The newest addition to Magnolia Avenue will be featuring a Valentine’s Day Menu on Saturday and Sunday for $65 per person. The meal starts off with Grilled Country Bread with Truffles and Bechamel (hello, decadence!). Your next options of Creamy Carter Farm Tomato Soup or Texas Bay Shrimp Limestone Salad. Entrees include Sauteed Gulf Grouper or Red Wine Braised Shortribs. Brown Butter Crepes will be served for desert. 817.926.3663 for reservations.

Ferre
Ferre will be serving a special 4 course Valentine’s Menu all weekend. Check the website for full menu details. The Amuse is a Bay Scallop with golden gazpacho and avocado. The Starters include salads, or a Pomodoro Soup, or a decadent sounding Tortellini Fonduta with a fontina fonduta filling and black truffle butter sauce. Entrees include Seafood dishes like Pink Peppercorn Crusted Scallops and with spinach parmesan risotto with white truffle oil. Beef dishes include a Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin and a Char Grilled Angus Rib Eye. Deserts include Dark Chocolate Polenta Cake (Yum!), Pumpkin Bread Pudding, Tiramisu Chocolate Espresso Sponge Cake. $45.

Zambrano’s
Zambrano’s will be hosting Valentine’s Day Dinner Friday through Sunday. Receive a complimentary rose and Champagne. Dinner is 3 courses for $55, with wine pairing dinner is $75. First Course is either soup or salad. The second course is Prime Rib or Mahi Mahi with Mango Chutney. The third course is Chocolate Cheesecake or Lemon Pound Cake. Scheduled Reservations are from 5:30 – 7;45PM and 8 – 10PM. 817-850-WINE.

Buttons
Buttons will have live music as usual, with the band Natural Change. They are offering a 3 course meal for $50. Call for reservations and details 817-735-4900.

Bistro Lightcatcher
Bistro Lightcatcher is one of my favorite romantic spots. It’s slightly off the beaten path which adds to it’s charm. You dine among large oak wine barrels. They will serve Valentine’s Dinner on Saturday and Sunday from 6PM – 8PM with music by Tony Hakim. $95, call 817.237.2626 to reserve.

Scampi’s
Scampi’s offers a bittersweet Valentine’s Day Dinner. Scampi’s will be closing with the retirement of family members and revamping their concept. Enjoy one of Chef Theo’s last delicious meals cooked up at Scampi’s for their Final Salute to Magnolia Avenue Valentine’s Day Dinner. Friday and Saturday special features will be added to their regular menu. Sunday features a brunch from 10:30AM – 2:30PM with ala carte menu items. Valentine’s Day Dinner is 3 course dinner for $45 from 5PM – 9PM. My husband and I first ate at Scampi’s for Valentines Day 10 years ago. Reservations required for Brunch and Dinner, 817.927-1887. Read my review here.

St. Emillion
3617 W. 7th
817.737.2781
What says romance better than little French hideaway. This cozy cottage on 7th is a great spot for l’amour. Food and Fort Worth reviewed this spot and the melting cake sounds like perfect date night food. Leslie Brenner of the Dallas Morning News also recently gave it 3 stars.

Sardines
509 University
817.332.9937
This Cultural district restaurant is a classic Fort Worth spot for romance. Candlelit tables are about the only illumination and live jazz definitely sets the scene. Classic Italian dishes complete the recipe for romance.

Pops Safari Room
2929 Morton Street
817.334.0559
The Cultural district gem has only a few tables nestled within aged wooden wine racks and that makes for amazing ambiance if you ask me. If it’s intimate you’re looking for, this is it. Trust the server’s wine recommendations here, because they are usually spot on. There is also a small casual patio outside. Read more about the food at Fort Worth Hole in the Wall.

Sapristi
2418 Forest Park Boulevard
817.924.7231
Want to pretend you’re in a neighborhood European bistro? You need go no further than Forest Park, Sapristi’s is the spot. The main dining room sports sunny yellow walls and rich wood accents (the secondary dining room has a bit of catching up to do). It can get loud but the setting is charming. The tapas plate varies and is a great way to start off the meal. The staff know wine, so I trust their judgment and am never disappointed, I’ve discovered some of my favorite wines here. Their mussels and fries are unbelievable.

The Italian Inn
I’d be remiss if I didn’t include this Fort Worth institution. The booths have little doors for extra privacy, it’s the custom to scrawl you and your sweetie’s name on the wall, if you’re lacking conversation you can always read what others have graffitied on the walls. There’s also the famous singing waiters. The food is standard Italian fare, but it’s all about the fun and romantic (if you get a booth) atmosphere at this spot.

Grace
777 Main Street
817.877.3388
Fort Worth’s newest hot spot restaurant also exudes romance with its rich and sophisticated atmosphere. Grace is an elegant spot for your romantic dinner. Luxury comes at a price though so bring some bank. Steak and seafood are the specialties here.

Simply Fondue
111 W. 4th Street Suite 15
817.348.0633
What’s sexier than dipping stuff in melted cheese or chocolate – I think that’s about as good as it gets. Simply Fondue is in the old Woolworth building downtown. Before you think this is your Mom’s 70′s fondue, they offer several varieties of fondue which include a Traditional Fondue, Fondue Grill, Mediterranean Sangria, Shiner Bock Bayou Cajun, and Thai Coconut-check out their website for details. If you want to know what you’re in for – read West and Clear‘s Kevin Buchanan’s excellent review, he found that it was vegetarian friendly and the photos that accompany the review are wonderful. After dinner head to the Scat Jazz Lounge and make a Simply Fabulous evening of it.

Nonna Tata
1400 W Magnolia Ave
817.332.0250
I love Nonna Tata, and though it may not be romantic to wait for a table, nothing’s stopping you from making out in your car while you wait. Once seated you’ll be transported to Italy with authentic flavors and a warm atmosphere. BYOB. Check out my review for all the details for dining at Nonna Tata.