Valentine’s Day is the second busiest night of the year for American restaurants (after Mother’s Day), so many local restaurants are putting together special menus for Feb. 14 and the dates surrounding it. Many top-rated local restaurants, from Mister A’s to Jeune et Jolie, are already booked. So, here’s an early-bird look at some of local menus for lovebirds that weren’t sold out when this story was written.
VALENTINE’S WEEK DEALS
Ambrogio15, Del Mar and Pacific Beach
These Milan-inspired Italian restaurant/pizzerias will be serving heart-shaped pizzas and other themed items Feb. 13-15. The Del Mar Highlands’ Sky Deck location will offer a prix-fixe dinner for two with amberjack hamachi, lobster linguini pasta, a heart-shaped pizza and strawberry tiramisu ($89 per person, with optional wine or juice pairings). In P.B., diners can order a la carte the heart-shaped pizza ($19) and tiramisu ($14) or a jumbo shrimp with beetroot and lemon pasta ($24). 926 Turquoise St., Pacific Beach.; Sky Deck location, 12841 El Camino Real, San Diego. ambrogio15.com
Avant, Rancho Bernardo
This fine-dining restaurant at the Rancho Bernardo Inn will serve a four-course prix-fixe Valentine’s dinner on Feb. 13 and 14. The menu has not been announced. $120 per person. Also , from Feb. 10-14, Avant will be hosting a chocolate celebration with edible sculpture centerpieces, housemade truffles and chocolate-inspired cocktails. 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego. avantrestaurant.com/event-venues-san-diego
Callie, East Village
This California-Mediterranean restaurant will serve a five-course, family-style Valentine’s Lovers Feast Feb. 13-15. The menu will feature selections from the main menu including Aleppo chicken, Maine diver scallops, leeps and black truffle and Turkish rice pudding. $145 per person, with optional wine pairing. 1195 Island Ave., downtown. calliesd.com/happenings-1.
Cellar Hand, Hillcrest
In addition to its regular menu, Cellar Hand will offer three dinners-for-two options Feb. 13-15. Entrée-for-two choices are braised lamb shank, local whole spiny lobster and oven-roasted vegetable tagine with couscous. Each meal comes with house-baked pita and a dessert. Prices range from $87-$115. 1440 University Ave., San Diego. cellarhandhillcrest.com
The Bubbles & Sweet Bar at Extraordinary Desserts in Bankers Hill, San Diego. (Extraordinary Desserts)
Extraordinary Desserts, Bankers Hill
If sweets are the way to your valentine’s heart, skip dinner and visit Extraordinary Desserts’ Bubbles & Sweets bar from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 12 only. A huge buffet of house-baked cookies, brownies and cakes will be served with free glasses of bubbly. $42 per person. 2870 Fourth Ave., San Diego. extraordinarydesserts.com/
Juniper & Ivy, Little Italy
On Feb. 13 and 14, J&I will serve a four-course prix-fixe menu created by chef de cuisine Alex Penkin. In addition to the meal, diners will be sent home with house-baked macaroon cookies and fresh local flower bouquets. The menu and pricing has not been announced. 2228 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. juniperandivy.com
Marina Kitchen, downtown
This bayfront restaurant at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina will serve a special themed a la carte menu from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 13-15. Entrée options include steak and lobster for two ($72), Dungeness crab-encrusted halibut ($45), parsnip and apple soup with caviar and creme fraiche ($14) and white chocoalte mousse with meringue kisses ($14). 333 W. Harbor Drive, downtown. sandiegomarriottmarquis.247activities.com/?servicename=Dining
The carne asade entree at Nomáda, a new Mexican restaurant in Carlsbad that will be serving a special collaboration menu Feb. 13-15 in honor of Valentine’s Day. (Kimberly Motos)
Nomáda, Carlsbad
This just-opened regional Mexican restaurant from award-winning local chef Alex Carballo will host a special collaborative dinner created with fellow local chef Claudio Sandoval. The menu will be available from 7 p.m. Feb. 13-15. On Feb. 14, there will be a free salsa lesson at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. 6996 El Camino Real, Carlsbad. nomadadining.com
Sally’s Waterfront Dining, downtown
Steps from San Diego Bay at the Grand Hyatt San Diego, the “Valentine’s By the Bay” a la carte dinner menu will be served Feb. 13-15. It will include the chef’s special of lobster-stuffed ravioli with butter-poached lobster, mascarpone, leeks, and charred Meyer lemon, served with grilled country bread. 1 Market Place, San Diego. opentable.com/r/sallys-waterfront-dining-san-diego
The molten chocolate lava marshmallow cake is one of the special dishes being served Feb. 9-16 at STK Steakhouse in downtown San Diego to celebrate Valentine’s Day. (STK Steakhouse)
STK Steakhouse, downtown
In honor of Valentine’s Day STK will offer a special group of shared-plates items on its menu Feb. 9-16. Some of these dishes-for-two include a surf and turf plate with filet mignon and half-lobster ($89), king crab au gratin ($69), large lobster tail with mac and cheese ($129) and molten chocolate lava marshmallow cake ($24). Andaz San Diego by Hyatt, 600 F St., downtown. stksteakhouse.com/en-us/location/san-diego/
VALENTINE’S DAY ONLY
Arlo, Mission Valley
From 5 to 10 p.m. Feb. 14, Arlo will serve a three-course prix-fixe menu with entrée options that include seabass bucatini, filet mignon, Tocino-style pork belly and Tahitian squash ravioli. Live music will be performed from 6-10 p.m. $95 per person. Town and Country Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. arlosandiego.com/valentines-day
A.R. Valentien, La Jolla
This farm-to-table dinnerhouse at the Lodge at Torrey Pines, is serving a prix-fixe three-course dinner on Feb. 14 that includes a glass of sparkling wine. Diners will have a choice of four appetizers, including bluefin crudo or and-cut agnolotti with black truffles, five entrées including filet mignon, diver scallops or roasted squash and risotto, and dessert. $135, with optional wine pairings. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. lodgetorreypines.com/event/ar-valentien-valentines-day-dinner
The Valentines-themed surf and turf entrée at Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails in San Diego’s East Village. (Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails)
Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails, East Village
From 4 to 10 p.m. Feb. 14, this scenic rooftop restaurant and bar with views of East Village, Petco Park and downtown, will be serving a $36 surf-and-turf entrée with steak and scallops atop corn purée, with Brussels sprouts and balsamic drizzle. There will be a strawberry cheesecake dessert for $8 and a ruby-red Strawberry Fields cocktail made with gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and honey syrup for $17. 509 Ninth Ave., San Diego. borregorooftopsandiego.com
Mediterranean Room, La Jolla
La Valencia Hotel will serve a four-course prixe-fixe menu with reservations offered from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14. Entrée options include petit filet mignon, lamb chops, miramasa and mushroom risotto, with choice of beet salad or broiled San Diego spiny lobster, with a shared starter and dessert. $187.50 per person. 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla. lavalencia.com/events/la-jolla/four-course-valentines-dinner
Piper at Seabird Resort, Oceanside
From 5-9 p.m. Feb. 14, a three-course pre-fixe Valentine’s dinner will be served. Entrée choices include chateaubriand for two, prosciutto-wrapped monkfish and ramp risotto, with special Berry Kiss and Lover’s Paradise desserts. $115 per adult, $55 for ages 6-12. 101 Mission Ave., Oceanside. opentable.com/r/piper-at-seabird-resort-oceanside
Ponto Lago restaurant at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad will serve a five-course prix-fixe menu on Valentine’s Day. (Park Hyatt Aviara)
Ponto Lago, Carlsbad
This Baja-inspired restaurant at Park Hyatt Aviara will serve a five-course prix-fixe menu on Feb. 14 with entrée choices that include cocoa-rubbed New York steak, local seafood, Iberico pork duo and huitlacoche noodles with wild mushrooms. $150 per person. Park Hyatt Aviara, 7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad. parkhyattaviara.com/upcoming-events/
Rooftop by STK, Gaslamp Quarter
Andaz hotel’s poolside rooftop restaurant will serve a three-course prix-fixe menu on Feb. 14 that includes a glass of sparkling wine. Diners can customize their meal with entrées that include tenderloin steak, crusted salmon and free-range chicken breast and sides of risotto and vegetables. $110 per person. Andaz San Diego by Hyatt, 600 F St., downtown. exploretock.com/the-rooftop-by-stk-san-diego
Rustic Root, Solana Beach and the Gaslamp Quarter
Both Rustic Root locations will get things started early on Feb. 14 with a Bubbles & Berries champaigne brunch service. Then in the evening, it will serve an a la carte menu with Valentine’s specialties such as fresh oysters, hand-chopped beef tartare, pan-seared black cod, beef tenderloin and bone marrow and chocolate-dipped strawberries. There will also be romance-themed cocktails unique to each location. 343 S. Highway 101, Suite 100, Solana Beach; 535 Fifth Ave., downtown. rusticrootsd.com
The Donnie Darko sushi roll at Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake in Encinitas, which will be serving a prix-fixe dinner for two on Valentine’s Day. (Robert Reyes)
Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake, Encinitas
This sushi, sake and handroll bar will serve a prix-fixe menu for two on Feb. 14. Courses will include appetizers like crispy bang bang shrimp, two-handroll sets, two-piece nigiri sets and two glasses of prosecco. Cost is $110 for two people. 575 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. temakibarsushi.com/location/encinitas
20/Twenty, Carlsbad
This ocean-view restaurant at the Westin Carlsbad Resort will serve a four-course prix-fixe menu from 5:30-10 p.m. Feb. 14. Entrée options include filme mignon with prawns, salmon filet with roasted Chinese long beans and charred miso cabbate with grilled tofu. Dinner also includes griddled focaccia bread, fudge cake dessert and salad or soup. $92. 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad. 20twentygrill.com/events/valentines-day-dinner