Being in love leaves an undeniable brightness in daily activities: waking up, working out, and even eating together steals slices of heaven to share every day. The special holiday that acknowledges how love transforms us returns with more reason to focus on passion and love this Valentine’s Day 2012.
It’s the opportune time to take your loved one to a romantic San Diego restaurant and show them how much you adore and cherish them, whether it’s the first date or the millionth. As the date night draws us closer together, the prix-fixe menus from some of the top chefs connect us intimately over the candlelit tables, the ocean-views, and the intoxicating love in the air.
This year, split an appetizer, hover over an entrée, and cozy up over dessert on Tuesday, February 14th.
Discover our 2012 San Diego Valentine’s Day dining guide
El Bizcocho: Rancho Bernardo Inn is celebrating all things romance with a Valentine’s Day Package at their stunning restaurant, El Bizcocho. The exclusive package includes one-night resort accommodations, the special Valentine’s dinner, and champagne upon welcome. Within the restaurant, Executive Chef Nicolas Bour serves four course dinner starting with an Amuse Bouche of Strawberries and Champagne. The first course serves a Puree of White Asparagus with Slow Cooked Egg, Black Truffles and Chamomile; a second course with Cold Smoked Balik Salmon with passion fruit and coriander; a third course of Olive Oil Poached Grouper with cucumber dashi, herbs and blossoms or Forty-Eight Hour Beef Short Rib with local vegetables, chanterelle mushrooms, perigord sauce; and dessert featuring Valrhona Chocolate Parfait with acacia honey and almond brittle. The Valentine’s Day El Bizcocho Package starts at $289.
Flavor Del Mar: Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski’s three-course menu is proving he has quite the romantic side, allowing guests to dine early and take in the panoramic views of the sunset. The Valentine’s Day menu will be served from 5pm-9:30pm. To start, guests can choose from Chicken Coconut Soup with lemongrass, ginger, chili oil, and cilantro; Pear & Persimmon Salad with frisee, local greens, pomegranate seeds, pistachio, and a lemon vinaigrette; Risotto with mascarpone, Maine lobster, and rosemary; and Berkshire Prosciutto “Pizza” with parmesan reggiano, horseradish, arugula, and crème fraiche. To dine, Chef will present a selection of a Big Eye Tuna Tataki, Prime Flat Iron Steak, Ricotta Agnolotti, or Maine Diver Scallops. Lastly, to treat your sweet tooth, guests can take a bite out of a Chocolate Hazelnut Tart, a Black Currant Tiramisu, or a Strawberry Romanoff. The Flavor Del Mar Valentine’s Day menu is priced at $57 per person, with optional wine pairings. Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and a bag of house-made chocolates with the check.
Addison: The Grand Del Mar's signature restaurant, Addison is rejuvenating romance in your relationship with a decadent six-course dinner served on the very special Valentine’s Day evening. Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef William Bradley will cook up a storm from 5:30pm-10pm. Diners in love can choose from the first course of Baby Sea Scallops with wild sorrel, uni, and toasted sesame or Salad of Pear Confit with roasted chicory, candied ginger and champagne dressing; a second course of Baked Sablefish with mushroom dashi and petites crevettes or Goat Cheese Riotto with toasted fennel and garlic; a third course of Poularde Rotie with salted peanuts and vadouvan curry or Lamb Rack Persille with crepinette and potatoes “croustillant”; a fourth course of Artisan Cheese; a fifth course of Wild Berries; and a sixth course of Spiced Fig Newton. The full menu is priced at $135, or $195 with wine pairings.
Searsucker: Dine in the heart of downtown at one of San Diego’s hottest and most popular spots this Valentine’s Day Day. Searsucker is offering a special Love Day 2012 prix-fixe menu, consisting of raw, hot, breath, bold, and sweet items that include: Raw dishes of Citrus Charred Ceviche, Beet Carpaccio & Goat with Champagne Mustard, and Beef Tartar, Mushroom and Egg. Hot dishes such as Crab Cake and Tarragon Aioli; Short Rib, Crisp Onions and Horseradish; and Corn Dumplings, “Late Harvest” and Butternut. Lighten up your palette with Champagne and Strawberry Greens and a Corn and Lobster Bisque. Go bold with choices of Loin & Lobster, Chicken Bacon Terrine, Rack of Lamb, Swordfish, and Barley Risotto with Wild Mushroom. Finish sweet with Chocolate Berry Cocoa Cake, Raspberry Meringue and “Popping” Berries. Searsucker’s prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu is priced at $75 per person.
The Prado: The Prado’s elegant and divine demeanor gives a classically romantic dinner inside of Balboa Park. The three-course menu with your loved one, the first course serves a choice of four flavorful options including a Roasted Corn Bisque, Baby Beets, Famer’s Mix, and Prado Pressed Arugula. To follow, the second course offers Pan Seared Sea Bass, Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs, Spiced Szechuan Duck Breast, Grilled Certified Angus 8 oz. Filet, Seared Maine Scallops, and Roasted Butternut Risotto. The dessert options feature a Chocolate-Hazelnut Mousse Bar, Strawberry Tart, and Prado Flan. The dinner is priced at $59.95 per person.
BICE: BICE San Diego is celebrating Valentine’s Day with three menus at three varying price points. From Feb. 12th-14th, woo your special someone with the live music along with the Italian cuisine at candlelit tables. At the $49 price point, select from a soup or salad appetizer including choices of Porcini Mushrooms Soup, BICE Special Ceasar Salad, and the BICE chopped salad. For entrees, select from an Herb and Mustard Crusted Beef Tenderloin, Homemade Potato Gnocchi, Pan seared Free Range Chicken Breast, or a Carnaroli Risotto. Dessert served family style give options of a Flourless Chocolate Cake or a Molten Coconut and White chocolate Lava Cake. The $56 priced menu serves appetizers such as Thinly Sliced Octoupus, Tuscan Fava Beans Salad, or a Soft Polenta Flan. Entrées include the Pan Seared Pork Tenderloin, a Pan Seared Free Range Chicken Breast, Homemade Lobster Ravioli, or a Fresh Mediterranean Sea-Bass. Lastly, the $65 menu offers extended options, with entrees such as the Roasted Duck Leg or the Chilean Bass with French String Beans and Potatoes. Additionally on the $65 menu, enjoy a 25% discount on any bottled wine on the wine list. As a special treat, guests can arrange for a chocolate heart box of Dallmann Fine Chocolates to be delivered to your table with a custom note to your date.
Donovan’s Downtown: Dine at Donovan’s with Chef Ron’s Prix Fixe 3-course menu, serving on Sunday, Feb. 12th, Monday, Feb. 13th and Tuesday, Feb. 14th. The starter will give love-filled guests a choice of any appetizer or salad listed on the a la carte menu, including Shrimp Bisque with Armnagnac, Maryland Style Crab Cake, Fried Calamari, Seared Cajun Lamb Chops, or a Donovan’s Chop House Salad. The special Valentine’s Day Entrée with feature the Surf & Turf, serving a 6 oz. Australian Cold Water Rock Lobster Tail as well as a 6 oz. Prime Filet Mignon Topped with Port Wine Demi Glace and Bleu Cheese Crumbles. To finish, dessert at Donovan’s will offer a choice of Chocolate Mousse, New York Style Cheesecake or a Crème Brulee. The meal is priced at $85, or $115 with a bottle of wine.
Island Prime: Island Prime is sparking some romance with a three-course dinner inside their ocean-view multi-level restaurant. The first course serving on the Valentine’s Day menu includes choices of a Seared Hawaiian Ahi Stack with fresh crab, avocado papaya-mango salsa, taro root chips and caviar; Pan Roasted Day Boat Scallop with risotto cake, crispy prosciutto, butternut squash and yuzu beurre blanc; or Organic Mixed Greens with sun-dried pears, blue cheese, red onion, toy box tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette. For your second course, enjoy your choice of Roquefort Crusted Filet Mignon, Maple Glazed White Marble Farms Pork Chop, Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon, Pistachio Crusted Lamb Rack, and Free Range Roasted Chicken. The third course is made to share, featuring two desserts: Key Lime Cheesecake topped with a layer of key-lime custard and graham cracker crust; or Red Velvet Cake with mascarpone, cream cheese filling, and bittersweet chocolate ganache. The Island Prime Valentine’s dinner is priced at $65 per person.
Sea Rocket Bistro: The four-course prix-fixe menu has romantic Valentine’s Day plans to marry Sea Rocket’s fresh culinary flair with renowned chocolatier David Bacco’s expertise. The unique combinations will start with a Menage a Trois featuring oyster, sea urchin, pomegranate-ginger ice and espelette-white chocolate. Then, guest will dine with Albacore Carpaccio with chipotle-chocolate paint, pickled strawberries, mint pistou and lavender salt; Thresher Shark Almandine with smoked mole, almond foam, banana puree, swordfish pancetta and basil; and a finish of Romance de Chocolat featuring Chocolatier David Bacco including bittersweet truffle, passion fruit caramle in milk chocolate, and Vietnamese cinnamon and nougatine truffle in bittersweet chocolate. The menu is priced at $65 per person, with an option $15 wine flight add-on.
Flagship: Take your date out on the romantic waters of San Diego this Valentine’s Day. Love is on the water all weekend long, with intimate dining cruises inviting couples to experience a new way to dine. The Sweetheart’s Dinner Cruise heads out on the San Diego Bay Feb. 14th. From 6:30-9:00pm, guests can dine starting with a salad of fresh mixed baby greens dressed in herb balsamic vinaigrette, and a main course duet of Grilled Filet Mignon and Shrimp Scampi served with wild mushroom risotto and roasted vegetables. For a grand finale, enjoy the Rich Chocolate Mousse Cake served on strawberry puree. The cruise will offer complimentary boarding champagne. For an added touch of romance, celebration enhancement packages that consist of a bottle of champagne, commemorative Flagship champagne flutes, private window tables for two and more are available. The Flagaship Sweetheart’s cruise is priced at $79, or $111 with a hosted bar.
El Agave: El Agave Restaurant and Tequileria is renowned for some of the best Mexican eats in town and they’ve been fixing up dishes for 15 years in a row. This Valentine’s Day, they’re inviting locals to dine at their gourmet Mexican restaurant. The traditional menu will be served on February 14th, so couples can enjoy mixing and matching dishes without being restricted to a prix-fixe menu. Top picks include Taquitos de Cochinita, homemade tortillas hand-rolled with stewed shredded pork; Albondigas de Langosta, fresh lobster meat balls served with rice and vegetables; or the Filete Chipotle, grilled mignon on a tortilla covered with melted “Machego” cheese. Although El Agave Tequileria is famed for their menu, the most noted is the restaurant’s tequila selection.
Insider Tip: Local wine company 12 Signs Wine is offering exclusive Wine Gift Baskets, perfect for a luxury treat after a romantic dinner date. The unique concept of 12 Signs Wine matches zodiac sign personality traits to a wine reflective of those qualities. To really impress your honey at the end of the evening with something sweet, select one of the two basket options now available. In the “Sweet Love” Valentine’s Basket, you’ll find one bottle of 12 Signs Wine and half-dozen delicious stuffed cookies from The Cookie Chew, priced at $40. Or, snag a “Better Together” Basket, which includes two bottles of 12 Signs Wine and 10 scrumptious stuffed cookies, priced at $75. You choose your bottle based on the zodiac sign of the recipient and complimentary cookies will be paired to match. Baskets are available for pick-up at Cake in Mission Hills from Feb. 10-14th or local delivery is available for an additional $10. To purchase the baskets or find out more, please visit 12signswine.com.
Stay tuned for more San Diego restaurants serving 2012 Valentine’s Day dinner
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