Love it or hate it, Feb. 14 falls on a Saturday this year, making this Valentine’s Day especially ideal for date night.
If you’ve decided to mark the lovey-dovey holiday by cozying up on the couch with some takeout and avoiding all crowds, we get it. But for the folks looking to hit the town, you already know Tampa Bay restaurants and bars havesplurgy prix fixe menus and other festive offers in store.
Some of them are stretching out their plans to include Galentine’s Day, the popularFeb. 13 alternative to Valentine’s Day that celebrates friendship, or running specials all weekend long.
Read on for 26 places to eat your heart out, whether you want to share a romantic meal with your sweetheart, wine and dine your galentines or, heck, treat yourself.
Reservations are highly recommended, if not required at certain spots, and they’re filling up fast. Book as early as you can and check availability, as everything is subject to change.
The Ybor City location of this casual Greek eatery is doing a $60 three-course prix fixe dinner for two and 50% off bottles of wine from 4 p.m.-close on Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Reserve a spot for Feb. 13 and dig into the deal — one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert — while people-watching from a sidewalk table. Or chow down Feb. 14 before joining the fun that the annual Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Illuminated Knight Parade will bring to Seventh Avenue starting at 7 p.m.
1833 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa. 813-242-4545. acropolistaverna.com
Spend Feb. 8 enjoying family-style bites and a spritz bar with your besties at Galentine’s brunch, which costs $46 per person and runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A week later, on Feb. 14, the upscale Mediterranean-inspired spot is offering a $155 four-course tasting menu for love birds. You canadd a sommelier-curated wine pairing to your candlelit meal for an extra $70 per person or an $85 floral arrangement, which Allelo will have waiting for you at your table. Reservations are required.
300 Beach Drive NE, Suite 128, St. Petersburg. 727-851-9582. allelostpete.com
The Mediterranean restauranthoused inside the Hotel Zamora is offering a three-course Valentine’s Day dinner that costs $150 per person. The lineup features your choice of bubbly, a starter and a dessert, along with a self-serve buffet of eats like seafood etouffee, roasted rack of lamb and corn and asparagus risotto. Down your second plate from the Yukon Gold Hasselback potato bar outside on the terrace as you take in views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
3701 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 727-456-8660. azuracoastalkitchenandbar.com
Book a table between 3:30 and 10 p.m. Feb. 14 to get in on the beloved steakhouse’s $124-per-person holiday menu boasting four courses and complimentary chocolates by William Dean. A 10-ounce wagyu ribeye and a 14-ounce, double-cut pork chop — served with onion strings, mashed potatoes and broccolini — are among the entrees. You can enhance your feast with add-ons such as a Champagne toast for an additional $12. Live entertainment begins at 6p.m.
3665 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. 727-573-3363. bascoms.com
This long-running waterfront restaurant is hosting two culinary experiences for $99 per person on Feb. 14, and both kick off with a complimentary glass of Champagne. Chef Cirino Cruz’s four-course dinner in the main dining room from 4-9:30 p.m. features a starter, salad, entree and dessert. Choose from the filet mignon and shrimp skewer, sesame-crusted tuna, Chilean sea bass, duck breast, warm-water lobster tail or short rib for your main course — all accompanied by truffle arancini, sweet butter asparagus and orange honey-glazed petite carrots. A live violinist will turn up the dreamy vibes startingat 6. If you’d rather bust a move with your valentine, don’t miss the dinner dance buffet from 5-9 p.m. in Bon Appetit’s Sunset Ballroom, where a DJ is set to spin romantic tunes until 10.
148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin. 727-733-2151. bonappetitrestaurant.com
The Dunedin Smokehouse’s New American sister restaurant in Safety Harbor has a prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu for two. For $75, youget a soup flight to share and your choice of two salads, one family-style entree with house-made pastaand one dessert (the strawberry and mascarpone bread pudding has our attention). Two complimentary glasses of bubbly cap off the spread. Want to try the Brinehouse’s regular menu showcasing house-brined meats? That’ll be on hand as well. Call for reservations.
100 Main St., Suite 104, Safety Harbor. 727-600-8009. thebrinehouse.com
Seven holiday specials are planned at the Beach Drive restaurant and bar, including the Seared Tuna and Octopus Duo (charred scallion ash, citrus olive salsa, tomato vinaigrette, grilled artichoke, polenta cake, smoked trout roe, saffron aioli) and Lobster Fra Diavolo Ravioli (ricotta ravioli, cold-water lobster, spicy-smoky tomato sauce, Calabrian chiles, microherbs). Make a reservation forFeb. 13-15 toscorethese specials beginning at 4 p.m. in addition to the regular menu.
170 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. 727-827-2927. cassisstpete.com
Check out Davis Islands’ Cork Room for a $150 dinner for two. The cozy wine bar and market is offering four seatings Feb. 14 — at 5, 6:30, 8 and 9:30 p.m. — that call for reservations and start with two glasses of bubbles. You select a bottle of wine to accompany your meal, too.Then you get two appetizers (Mini Chef’s Board of cheeses and meats, duck wontons, deviled eggs or whipped feta), two entrees (6-ounce filet with a side salad, grilled salmon salad, chicken Parmesan pasta or shrimp scampi) and one dessert (chocolate cake or cheesecake). Lock in your spothere.
237 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa. 813-944-2025. corkroomtampa.com
Of course the food-focused Epicurean is celebrating with Valentine’s Day specials. Head to its restaurant, Elevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar, from 5-10 p.m. Feb. 13 and 14 for a three-course prix fixe menu featuring an amuse-bouche and a selection of chocolates and macarons — plus your starter (Lost Coast oysters or wagyu steak tartare), entree (butter-poached turbot, Iberico pork chop or butternut squash ravioli) and dessert (passion fruit soufflé or flourless red velvet brownie) of choice. The holiday lineup, which is priced at $125 per person, will be served alongside the regular dinner items. If you’re planning a Galentine’s Day gathering, the hotel’s Edge Rooftop Cocktail Lounge is a good pick. Beginning at 5 p.m. Feb. 13, you can snack on specialty popcorn with pink candy accents and made-to-order cotton candy while enjoying drinks like Sweet Talker (a mix of Empress Indigo Gin, Chambord, butterfly pea flower and lemon finished with a touch of heavy cream) and Sip & Spill (Ketel One Peach & Orange Blossom and St-Germain elderflower liqueur shaken with lychee and raspberry and finished with a velvety foam). Make Elevage reservations through OpenTable or call 813-999-8726. The Epicurean offers complimentary valet parking until 7 p.m., when a $5 charge kicks in.
1207 S. Howard Ave., Tampa. epicureanhotel.com
Food- and drink-obsessed romantics have plenty of ways to mark the occasion at this historic hotel overlooking St. Joseph Sound. First up is Room 27, Fenway’s hidden speakeasy that will morph into a Roaring ’20s-inspired cocktail experience Feb. 2, 3, 6, 9, 10 and 13, offering two seatings nightly: 6:30-8:30 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. Reservations are required at $10 per seating ($20 on Fridays) and can be made online. Hew Parlor & Chophouse is throwing an elegant, holiday-themed afternoon tea party at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 8 for $70 per person — complete with sweet and savory bites. And a little closer to the clouds from 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 15, the hotel rooftop bar, Hi-Fi, will pair bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys with shareable dishes during Galentine’s brunch, which costs $65 per person. Fenway’s valet parking is complimentary.
453 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin. fenwayhotel.com
Nothing screams Valentine’s Day like surf and turf. The upscale steakhouse chain owned by Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands spotlights the classic pairing on two Valentine’s Day menus available Feb. 11-16. The $109 three-course meal, featuring a filet and crab-stuffed lobster tail, is designed for solo diners, while couples are meant to share the $240 three-course option with sliced porterhouse and crab-stuffed lobster tail. A choice of roasted strawberry and burrata or Caesar salad complements each menu alongside a dark chocolate cherry tart.
4342 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. 813-874-9463. flemingssteakhouse.com
Amor Prohibido, the Valentine’s Day celebration at this chic spot with Latin and Mediterranean influences inside Hotel Haya, is billed as an intimate dining experience “inspired by the hidden romances and poetic mystique of Ybor City.” Reserve a tablebetween 6 and 9:30 p.m. Feb. 14 to indulge in a curated prix fixe menu and signature cocktails by candlelight. Learn more.
1412 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa. 813-462-9660. hotelhaya.com
The modern Japanese-inspired eatery’s four-course holiday menu for two is $150 per person and offers an $80 wine or sake add-on. A bluefin pairing of akami and otoro opens the meal, then it’s on to your starter, main and dessert of choice. Entree highlights include miso black cod and Australian lamb chops, and there’s also the option to upgrade to dry-aged wagyu ribeye for an extra $55 or to Hokkaido scallops for an extra $25. Good luck choosing between ube cheesecake, yuzu panna cotta and salted caramel gelato for dessert. If Fortu is booked up on Valentine’s Day, check availability at its downstairs sister concept, Isu.
97 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-256-0268. forturestaurants.com
The relaxed yet refined sister restaurant to Bern’s Steak House won’t be serving its regular dinner menu or happy hour specials Feb. 13 and 14. Instead, revel in a five-course tasting menu priced at $135 per person, with wine pairings available for an additional $75 per person. Expect dishes likebuttered sea bass with Osetra caviar and black truffle cannelloni with pork cheek, collard greens, mushroom and robiola. Reservations are required and can be made on OpenTable.
2208 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa. 813-258-2233. haventampa.com
It’s not hard to fall for the winery, brewery and restaurant’s rustic charm on a typical evening, whether you’re hanging out in the tasting room or lingering on the outdoor patio. Now you can make it your destination for the romantic holiday. A $75-per-person, four-course dinner from chef Andy Nassar is on deck from 5-9 p.m. Feb. 14, featuring “deviled crab” as the amuse-bouche (Keel Farms’ play on the Tampa delicacy is a classic deviled egg topped with crab meat), your choice of one starter (crawfish and sausage dumplings in a gumbo-inspired broth or goat cheese croquettes), a marinated tomato salad and your choice of two entrees (smoked pork belly, miso cod, vegetarian gnocchi or beef ragu). You’ll end the meal with a dessert bar and live tunes in the Overlook pavilion. Prepaid reservations are required, and your first glass of wine is on the house.
5202 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. 813-752-9100. keelfarms.com
The New American restaurant’s locations in Dunedin and Wesley Chapel areofferinga $55 four-course prix fixe dining experience for Valentine’s Day, though each has its own surprises in store. Think entrees such as Char Siu Short Rib with pastrami fried rice, charred eggplant, five-spice broccoli rabe and Meyer lemon or Lobster & Crawfish Squid Ink Pasta with Sauce Americaine, confit tomato, fresh herbs and citrus panko. A festive cocktail will be available for purchase and exclusive to each location. Reservations throughOpenTable are required. Go here for Dunedin and here for Wesley Chapel.
487 Main St., Dunedin. 727-736-5202; 2001 Piazza Ave., Unit 100, Wesley Chapel. 813-934-7911. tlr.restaurant
Ring in the holiday at this Gulfport newcomer with French flair inside the historic Peninsula Bed & Cocktails. Mademoiselle Paris, which also has locations in Sarasota and Anna Maria Island, is showcasing a five-course holiday menu at $75 a person Feb. 14. Molten chocolate cake with raspberry coulis and vanilla ice cream leads your dinner to a warm, decadent finish.
2937 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport. 727-547-0367. mademoiselleparis.com
Even if you can’t snag a Valentine’s Day reservation around sunset, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay’s waterfront restaurant is a nice spot for date night.From 5:30-10 p.m. Feb. 14, enjoy a chef-curated prix fixe dinner starting at $115 per person or $140 per person with wine pairings. Featured dishes include Deviled Lobster Tail and Delmonico Steak for Two. Add-ons like rosé or Champagne are available for an extra $50. Make reservationshere.
2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa. 813-207-6815. oystercatchersrestaurant.com
Feb. 13 and 14bring a $175-per-person four-course prix fixe menu to chef Chris Ponte’s sophisticated Midtown Tampa restaurant. The dishes in the spotlight—including lobster risotto (Maine lobster tail, roasted tomato, yellow pepper, peas, garlic butter, saffron cream) and beef Wellington (filet mignon, mushroom duxelles, foie gras, prosciutto, red wine demi glace) — are sure to swoon your dining companion. Seats are limited and going quick.
1010 Gramercy Lane, Tampa. 813-582-7755. pontetampa.com
The easygoing seafood spot at John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk has you covered on Valentine’s Day with a $170 prix fixe meal for two and water views. Your choice of two salads, one appetizer and two mains from a selection of Sculley’s favorites, such asthe Fresh Catch Entree served with rice and seasonal veg, follow a complimentary Champagne toast. And we’re sure you’ll leave room for dessert, because it’s chocolate cake. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
190 Boardwalk Place E., Madeira Beach. 727-290-1463. sculleys.com
Get romantic over a three-course prix fixe menu that will feature vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The restaurant’s holiday dinner, which costs $150 per person, includes your choice of a specialty cocktail or a bottle of wine. Use Resy or OpenTable to secure a spot.
150 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-202-6113. eatatsocialroost.com
Chef Susan Burdian’s $99 three-course prix fixe lineup rolls out with dishes like crab and shrimp beignets, chicken tagine and hogfish saltimbocca beginning at 4 p.m. Feb. 14. You’ll choose a starter, entree and dessert that best suit your Valentine’s Day cravings. If you’d rather feast at Galentine’s brunch, visit the coastal-inspired Don CeSar restaurant from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 15 for comfort food items like the Dutch Baby Pancake (orange-scented hazelnut drizzle, blueberries, maple syrup) or Grits Bowl (two eggs, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, cheesystone-ground grits, ranchero sauce).
3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 727-360-1884. doncesar.com
This Southern-inspired steakhouse at Armature Works is cooking up a special menu for Valentine’s Day. Stop by Feb. 13-15 and treat your loved one(s) to dinner. You can book reservations through OpenTable.
1902 N. Ola Ave., Tampa. 813-693-5478. steelbach.com
Part of Midtown Tampa, the modern Southeast Asian restaurant promises luxurious ingredients, bold flavors and thoughtful presentation across its Valentine’s Day features. There’s Oyster Kisses & Caviar Dreams — fresh oyster topped with yuzu creme fraiche, caviar and chives — and Loving Heart Maki — a sushi roll combining spicy tuna, pickled daikon, tobiko and sweet soy butter — as well as lobster lo mein and ube pie (yes, please!). If you’re thirsty, look no further than Solar Flare, a smoky, bright pink libation with a togarashi rim that mixes mezcal, dragon fruit syrup, lemon, yuzu and Thai bitters. These specials will be served along with the regular dinner menu between Feb. 12 and 15.
3648 Midtown Drive, Tampa. 813-497-2900. sundanewasian.com
Lovers and friends are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day over two weekends at the elegant Hyde Park Village restaurant. Themed cocktails accompany the eats during Galentine’s brunch Feb. 7 and 8. Then Timpano highlights a multicourse holiday menu Feb. 12-15, featuring dishes inspired by Italian classics, including Bolognese Rosa (burrata, petite herbs, fennel, focaccia) and Manzo e Campo (38-ounce prime Tomahawk, bistecca butter, mafaldine pasta, vodka sauce, pecorino). Drinks like Cupid’s Arrow (elderflower, bubbles, sparkles) and an a la carte lineup will be available, too.
1610 W. Swann Ave., Tampa. 813-254-5870. timpanohydepark.com
Hitting up the beach? Valentine’s Day dinner specials await at two TradeWinds spots. RumFish Grill is offering The Pittsburgh, an 8-ounce filet with truffle mash, rum Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, cipollini onions and a peppercorn hollandaise, among other dishes like ricotta ravioli with wilted spinach, sun-dried tomato cream and petite herbs. At Palm Court Italian, items such as Duroc pork chop with herbed fingerling potatoes, charred broccolini, fried shallots and plum reduction and a pistachio ganache tarte with salted caramel are on the menu. Reservations for RumFish can be made here and for Palm Court here.
RumFish Grill: 6000 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 844-786-3474. rumfishgrill.com; Palm Court Italian: 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 727-363-2358. tradewindsresort.com