Happy Monday! It’s Valentines Week!
Have you made plans for Valentines dinner yet? Nate and I usually opt to stay in and cook at home on Valentines night. (I know, I know… SUPER lame for an Austin food blogger!) We choose to go out to celebrate events that are special just to us (birthdays, promotions, anniversaries, and other random dates that are meaningful, like the anniversary of our first date) and avoid the craziness of Valentines night.
That being said, I recognize that the majority of America loves to go out to beautiful restaurants on February 14, and Austin has SO many great options! Lots of these places are doing special Valentines menus. Hope you’re able to snag a reservation at your preferred place to eat!
Where to Eat For Valentines (And Galentines!) in Austin
Ok, if I could eat at ANY restaurant in Austin for a special date night, I would probably pick one of these:
Emmer & Rye: farm-to-table restaurant on Rainey Street that focuses on heirloom grains. I’ve been “wowed” every time I’ve eaten here. I especially love the rolling dim sum cart that’s brought to your table several times a night to offer nightly specials. | WEBITE |
Dai Due: There’s just nothing like it in Austin! All of the food at this East Austin restaurant is locally sourced (like, really locally sourced) so there’s a lot of interesting Texas meat that you won’t see in other places. It’s creative fare and beautifully prepared, and the butcher shop is connected to the restaurant so you can do a little shopping while you’re there! | WEBSITE |
Fonda San Miguel: Swoon! This old interior Mexican restaurant in North Austin is one of my all-time faves in ATX! I love the margs, the ceviche, the mole, the cochinita pibil… I basically love everything they do, and I always leave absolutely stuffed. | WEBSITE |
Lenoir: It’s a teeny-tiny South Austin restaurant that only seats about 30 people, so reservations can be tricky. They serve “warm weather food” (meaning food that grows best in our current climate), and it’s such a beautiful little date spot. (Tip: if you can’t get a reservation, head to the backyard wine garden for sips + bites.) | WEBSITE |
Also, Eater has a massive list of all of the Valentines Night specials going on in Austin. It’s a great resource for quickly finding which places are offering special menus, and all of the reservation links! (They don’t have a lot of details about the restaurants, so if you want my opinion about a particular restaurant, email me at kelsey@somuchlife.com, or message me on instagram.)
Here are a few round ups I’ve made that might be helpful:
21 Best Date Night Restaurants in Austin
The Top 10 Restaurants That Opened in Austin in 2018
My New (Old) Favorite Date Night Restaurant in Austin
Weekend Date at Lucky Robot
5 Restaurants You Need To Try in ATX
Finally, here are a few restaurants that have been brought to my attention. Thought I’d share them here with you in case anything strikes your fancy:
Galentines Night Brunch: Better Half Bar
Celebrate all the ladies in your life with this special event on Feb 13 presented by Rouse. Enjoy brunch favorites like sweet potato pancakes and breakfast sammies (OMG y’all…their breakfast sammies are SO GOOD!, and enjoy all sorts of fun activities like custom airbrushed shirts and hats, and bracelet-making to benefit Girls Empowerment Network.
Find event details here.
Galentines: Punch Bowl Social
Meet up with your girlfriends at this Domain location of the karaoke, bowling, and event space! Order a bowl of the sharable “Shot Through the Heart” specialty punch and catch up on the latest with the special ladies in your life. Made with Teakoe Pear Tea, Old Forester Bourbon and Strawberry Cinnamon Shrub, this pink punch is the perfect way to celebrate this love-focused holiday.
Make reservations here.
Parks and Rec Trivia Night at Kitty Cohens
Ok, this one sounds AMAZING. Why not pay tribute to the woman who popularized Galentines Day? (ILYSM Leslie Knope.) Feb 13 from 7-9 pm at this retro patio bar in East Austin.
Get event details here.
Valentines for two at central standard
Central Standard is one of the restaurants in the South Congress Hotel. It’s a BEAUTIFUL restaurant, perfect for a romantic date night!
The special Valentines menu includes truffled mashed potatoes, grilled broccolini with braised cippollini onions, porcini mushrooms and wagyu ribeye for sharing.
Make reservations here.
Dessert + Cocktails at La Condesa
This downtown Mexican restaurant is one of my favorite places to go for date night! They’re offering special Valentines-themed desserts and cocktails. Specials are available 2/14 to 2/16 and include the following:
- Caprese torte dessert for sharing ($12) – merengue, raspberries, mint, gold,
- “Something Lovey Dovey” cocktail ($13) – Gin, Galliano, Apertivo, Contratto White Vermouth, Egg White, Simple
- “Kinda Romantic” cocktail ($13) – Bourbon, Punt e Mes, Cappelletti Sfumato
7-Course Valentine’s Day Menu at Pitchfork Pretty
Dine at this beautiful farm-to-table East Austin restaurant on a prix fixe menu at $75 per person. Specials include:
- Caviar, smoked egg yolk, cultured cream, potato panisse
- Scallop with frozen radish, buckwheat and tangerine
- Beef tongue with pickles, onions, white bread and sauce
Mke reservations here.
BOGO Sandwiches at Snarfs
Not incredibly romantic, I know…. but we’ve all gotta eat lunch on Valentines Day, too! Show up to either Austin location of Snarfs, and get one free sandwich when you purchase one.
See locations here.
