Home > The M.O. > Archives > 2009 > February > 03 > Entry
Where to eat on Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, if you don’t have reservations for dinner, you better get busy, as most of the city’s best restaurants are full or filling up quickly.
Of course, you can pull the ol’ “it’s a corporate-based, greeting card holiday, and I show my lady/man I love her/him every day.” Despite the validity of said claim, it’s probably not the best tack.
You could also prepare a romantic dinner at home or head out to a bed & breakfast in the Hill Country for the weekend. Or just rent a movie. But you can do that any weekend. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to blow a couple hundred bucks on a great meal, and don’t we all deserve a little indulgence this time of year? Besides, if you take her/him to a really nice restaurant, you don’t really have to get a gift. Just blame the recession. You have my approval.
Below are 11 of my favorite restaurants in the Austin area. Many are booked, but there are still some tables available. I included the ones that are at capacity to save you the call. You can send me thank-you chocolates at a later date.
Aquarelle (606 Rio Grande St., 479.8117): Austin’s best French restaurant is booked for Valentine’s but will be open on February 15.
East Side Cafe (2113 Manor Rd., 476.5858): Fresh and simple flavor components with a wonderful waitstaff await you … if you want to eat early (5:30 p.m. and earlier) or late (8:45 p.m. and later).
Eddie V’s (301 East 5th St., 472.1860): Surf and turf will be hard to come by here on Valentine’s Day, unless you want to eat at 4:45 p.m. or 10:45 p.m.. They will be open on the 13th and 15th, however. As an added bonus, appetizers are half-price Sunday and Monday starting at 4:30 p.m..
Hudson’s on the Bend (3509 Ranch Road 620 N., 512.266.1369): If you have a hankering for espresso-rubbed elk backstrap or the best beef tenderloin in Central Texas, surprsingly, you are in luck. Hudson’s has slots open at 5:30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.. Eat your crème brûlée on the patio after you stuff yourself silly.
Jezebel (914 Congress Ave # 100, 499.3999): Unfortunately, my favorite restaurant is booked solid. There a few times available on Friday the 13th, however, if you want to dine on Chef/Owner Parind Vora’s sublime creations.
La Traviata (314 Congress Ave., 479.8131): This quaint and authentic Italian joint on Congress Ave. is not as ostenatious as its peers, and it never fails to impress. You are in luck, if for only a hot minute, as they have tables available at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. They will be offering a prix fixe menu with eight options per course for $48.
Musashino Sushi (3407 Greystone Dr., 795.8593): Here’s an interesting take on the Valentine’s Day madness. My favorite sushi restaurant is not taking reservations, but they are taking “call-aheads.” This apparently means you will be able to get a table, but you will have a wait to deal with once you arrive. Sounds kinda fishy (intended), but well worth it.
Roaring Fork (701 Congress Ave., 583.0000): Centrally located with good American flavors, they have just a few openings left, at 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Ruth’s Chris (107 W 6th St., 477.7884): My favorite steakhouse in town is booked on Valentine’s Day. That leaves Friday the 13th at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. or later.
Uchi (801 S. Lamar Blvd., 916.4808): They take limited reservations as is, and it appears from online sources that getting a table there on V-Day is an impossibility.
Wink (1014 N. Lamar Blvd. # E, 482.8868): One of my three favorite spots in town, Wink is booked. They will be extending hours and open for business on Sunday for the belated romantic dinner, however.
For a list of more Valentine’s Day options, check out Statesman food critic Mike Sutter’s excellent Fork Lore blog.
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By The Italian Snob
February 3, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this
Um, you left out Cannoli Joe’s.
By coffee and queso
February 3, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this
Great list—several I haven’t been to yet! We already have reservations for III Forks, which I think is fab and rather romantic with the live jazz. What about Chez Nous? I know they aren’t new and exciting, but it’s such a charming spot. They don’t take reservations, but we used to put our name on the list and then go somewhere for drinks before dinner.
By Greg bnf
February 3, 2009 2:41 PM | Link to this
We’re heading to Opal Divine’s for their Valentines BEER Dinner! from their newsletter:
Three course dinner for $60 per couple* - NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
As a 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.
By seth.
February 3, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this
Looking at Wink’s menu, they serve foie gras so if you, ya know, care about stuff, don’t go there.
By Melissa Wilson
February 3, 2009 10:18 PM | Link to this
I plan to skip the stuffy restaurants and have a sexy night out with dinner and a Burlesque Show for a good cause. www.burlesqueforpeace.org. Great venue, food and a show, with a portion of your ticket price going to www.peaceoneday.org.
By mary ann
February 4, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this
jezebel is actually someone’s favorite restaurant? seriously? i guess that makes sense if you like medicore, overpriced food in a pretentious setting.