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Valentine’s Day: Got reservations?
Valentine’s Day offerings include tres leches cake at Las Palomas (top), cherry chocolate cake at Chez Zee (left) and Perry’s ginormous pork chop. Photos by the American-Statesman.
Romance and restaurants both get a big boost from Valentine’s Day, and with Feb. 14 falling on a Saturday (and soon), it’s time to book reservations. Here’s a Whitman’s sampler of Austin restaurant specials for Valentine’s Day.
(For even more options, see Matthew Odam’s survey on The M.O. of whether some of Austin’s favorites still have Valentine’s spots available.)
• Andiamo Ristorante (2521 Rutland Drive, 719-3377, www.andiamoitaliano.com): Classic Italian, with a four-course menu for $48 per person.
• Asti Trattoria (408 C E. 43rd St., 451-1218, www.astiaustin.com): Three-course menu for $45 per person. Also being offered Feb. 12-13.
• Blue Star Cafeteria (4800 Burnet Road, C-300, 454-7827, www.bluestarcafeteria.com): Three-course menu, including a strawberry and goat-cheese salad and sesame-crusted tuna or beef tenderloin for $38 person, $50 with wine pairings.
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill (11590 Research Blvd., 345-8232; 6406 N. Interstate 35, 419-1220; www.carrabbas.com): On Feb. 11-12, the Austin locations of this chain are offering pre-Valentine’s three-course dinners for less than $20 per person.
• Central Market (Westgate, 899-4343; North Lamar, 206-1024; www.centralmarket.com): OK, not a restaurant. But still: a complete take-home dinner for two and a movie to keep for $49.99 to $79.99 isn’t bad. Entrees range from butternut squash cannelloni to lobster tail. At Westgate only: Pre-Valentine’s Day “Love Bites” cocktail parties: canceled. At North Lamar only: Austin Lyric Opera singers perform during a four-course dinner, including pear and shrimp bisque, Gulf snapper, steak au poivre and opera cake for $55 per person.
• Chez Zee (5406 Balcones Drive, 454-2666, www.chez-zee.com): Specials at this date-night favorite include Chateaubriand for two, lobster cakes and chocolate cherry cake.
• Cissi’s Wine Bar (1400 S. Congress Ave, 225-0521, www.cissismarket.com): Four-course Valentine’s prix fixe dinner Friday and Saturday (Feb. 13-14). Seatings are from 6 to 10 p.m. for a menu that includes red beet carpaccio, cream of turnip soup, pan-seared duck confit with roasted strawberries and a chocolate-tasting trio from pastry chef Faith Chan. $45 per person/$75 with wine pairings. Reservations by e-mail at kwallace@cissismarket.com.
• Cookie Lounge (2222 Rio Grande St., Building B, Suite 120, 478-2253, www.austincookielounge.com): For delivery, the options at Mark Chapman’s gourmet cookie shop include a dozen cookies with a card and balloon for $14.
• Cru a Wine Bar (238 W. Second St., 472-9463; 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 104, 339-9463; www.cruawinebar.com): Four-course menu including lobster bisque, kobe steak and heart-shaped puff pastry for $45 per person. Also offered Feb. 13 and 15.
• European Bistro (111 E. Main St., Pflugerville, 512-835-1919, www.european-bistro.com): Five-course menu of Old World specialties, including salmon pate, filet mignon, roasted lamb and a glass of champagne for $75 per person.
• FINO Restaurant and Patio Bar (2905 San Gabriel St., 474-2905, www.astiaustin.com/fino): Three-course menu for $45 per person. Also being offered Feb. 12-13.
• Green Pastures (811 W. Live Oak St., 444-4747, www.greenpasturesrestaurant.com): A premiere date (and wedding) destination, with a four-course menu featuring wild game, filet, sea bass and lobster for $80 per person.
• Jasper’s (11506 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 128 at the Domain, 834-4111, www.kentrathbun.com): Four-course menu including lobster and blackberry-pecan bread pudding for $55 per person.
• Joe DiMaggio’s Italian Chophouse (11410 Century Oaks Terrace at the Domain, 835-5633, www.joedimaggiosrestaurant.com): Three-course menu including truffled artichoke soup, herb-crusted lamb chops and chocolate crepes for $115 per couple. Offered Feb. 12-15. Also open for brunch Feb. 14-15.
• Las Palomas Restaurant (3201 Bee Cave Road, No. 122, 327-9889, www.laspalomasrestaurant.com): Three-course menu including paella and a glass of champagne for $29.95 per person.
• North by Northwest Restaurant and Brewery (10010 N. Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360), 467-6969, www.nxnwbrew.com): Four-course menu including beef tenderloin for $40 per person or $75 per couple.
• Opal Divine’s (Freehouse, 477-3308; Marina, 733-5353; Penn Field, 707-0237; www.opaldivines.com): Three-course menu, including sirloin, shrimp and chocolate-covered strawberries for $60 per couple. (No reservations required; first-come, first-served.)
• Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (114 W. Seventh St., 474-6300, www.perrysrestaurants.com): Three-course menu (Perry’s Flintstone-sized pork chop is among the choices) for $54.95 per person at 5:30 p.m. and earlier, $69.95 for 6 p.m. and later.
• Sagra (1610 San Antonio St., 535-5988, www.sagrarestaurant.net): Four-course Italian menu for $35 per person, $50 with wine pairings. Also being offered Feb. 13 and 15.
• 34th Street Café (1005 W. 34th St., 371-3400, www.34thstreetcafe.com): Four-course menu including lobster risotto and a glass of wine for $38 per person.
• III Forks (111 Lavaca St., 474-1776, www.iiiforks.com): A three-course menu featuring filet and lobster tail for $150 per couple.
• Wink (1014 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite E, 482-8868, www.winkrestaurant.com): Feb. 14 is booked solid, but Wink is opening an extra day Feb. 15 for overflow reservations.
• Z Tejas (three locations; see www.ztejas.com): Three-course Southwestern menu for $29.95 per person.
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By Greg bnf
February 6, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this
No Reservations over at Opal Divines - from their newsletter: Three course dinner for $60 per couple* - no reservations required. 1st course - Susan’s Salad - Spring mix with walnuts, craisins, tomatos, gorgonzola, mandarin oranges and smoked salmon with a prickly pear vinaigrette 2nd course - 8oz all natural Black Angus Beef Creekstone Farms Sirloin Steak with a skewer of three Shrimp Diablos Stuffed with Jalapeño, cheese and wrapped with bacon. Served with sides of Cheese Garlic Mashed potatos and Asparagus Spears. 3rd course - Chocolate Covered Strawberries
…vegetarian option we are offering The salad sans Salmon in the first course and a Stuffed Portabello Mushroom with a skewer of roasted vegetables for your second course.