February 05, 2016
Azie in Media/for PhillyVoice
The "Rose Apple" at Azie in Media. Apple pastry, caramelized red quinoa and rose Tahitian vanilla gelato make up the dish.
The Philly dining scene is offering a range of options for both Sunday, Feb. 14, and the days leading up to the holiday. Whether you're looking for a decadent dessert to share, want to treat your date to a multi-course meal or need romantic brunch plans, these 15 restaurants have your Valentine's Day covered.
From Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14, both the Library Bar and Bar 210 in the Rittenhouse Hotel will offer a specialty Valentine's Day cocktail called "Fire and Spice." The drink is comprised of Overholt Rye, Aperol, a Serrano nectar, chocolate bitters and a flamed orange peel for $16.
The hotel's restaurant Lacroix will also offer a special Valentine's Day Chef's Tasting for lunch on Saturday, Feb. 13, and for dinner on Feb. 13 and 14. The dinner tasting is $135 per person with an optional wine pairing for $115. Guests can also opt for a vegetarian tasting menu.
There will also be a brunch option at $105 per person on Valentine's Day. As an extra treat, guests will walk away from the Valentine's brunch with a chef's selection of house-made petit-fours.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
The Rittenhouse Hotel
210 W. Rittenhouse Square
(215) 546-9000
The Valentine's Day menu flirts with aphrodisiac-inspired ingredients perfect for a romantic evening. Specials include lobster salad, diver scallop carpaccio, grass-fed New York strip steak and a special "Rose Apple" pastry.
Guests can also order off the regular menu or try the new tableside shrimp mac and cheese. The dish is made with jumbo shrimp and cheddar, Gruyere, Parmigiano, mozzarella, smoked Gouda, lemongrass-infused milk and crispy quinoa.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
Azie
217 W. State St., Media
(610) 566-4750
Enjoy a four-course meal over Valentine's Day weekend at this cozy BYOB. The restaurant serves seasonal, New American cuisine.
Enjoy dishes like lamb, red snapper and spaghetti.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
$75 per person
Russet
1521 Spruce St.
(215) 546-1521
Head to this Mediterranean restaurant for a four-course dinner. Start the night with whipped sheep's milk ricotta to share, then choose from dishes like the roasted beet and blood orange salad, braised veal cheeks and the Italian seafood grill.
Leave room for a decadent dessert, though.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
$65 per person
Barbuzzo
110 S. 13th St.
(215) 546-9300
Start off the four-course meal with a dish to share, then indulge in contemporary Mexican plates like the seared cauliflower steak or seared scallops with a chorizo salsa.
Dessert is a choice between coconut tres leches, warm flourless chocolate cake and tiramisu a la Mexicana. It might be hard to pick just one.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
$45 per person
Lolita
106 S. 13th St.
(215) 546-7100
This is another four-course option for Valentine's Day weekend, but this Spanish restaurant will offer tapas-style dishes. For the second course, guests don't need to pick just one but instead will dine on goat cheese croquettes, shaved beet tosta and poached shrimp ensalada.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
$50 per person
Jamonera
105 S. 13th St.
(215) 922-6061
In the mood for Italian this Valentine's Day? Head to Little Nonna's for a four-course meal.
Start off with a classic, mozzarella and bread to share, but leave room for the rest of the dinner.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
$55 per person
Little Nonna’s
1234 Locust St.
(215) 546-2100
Over Valentine's Day weekend, Cuba Libre will offer two dinner specials by Executive Chef Jennifer Salhoff, as well as its regular à la carte dinner menu featuring Cuban tapas, entrees for two and a $10 dessert and coffee combo.
The restaurant will also offer its signature unlimited tapas weekend brunch for three days (Saturday through Monday), as well as a mojito special.
Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14
Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar
10 S. Second St.
(215) 627-0666
Celebrate Valentine's Day with Sbraga's four-course pre-fixe menu for $55 per person or upgrade to the six-course tasting menu at $75. Wine pairings are also available at $40 and $50.
Enjoy dishes like oysters, lobster gnocchi and New York strip steak. Dessert is a special chocolate chili tart with Earl Grey ice cream.
Saturday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 14
$55-$75 per person
Sbraga
440 S. Broad St.
(215) 735-1913
Enjoy seven food stations at this Valentine's Day brunch buffet overlooking the city and receive the first boozy brunch drink for free. There will also be live music playing throughout the morning.
Sunday, Feb. 14
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | $50 per person
Top of the Tower
1717 Arch St.
(215) 567-8787
On Valentine’s Day, Townsend will offer a prix-fixe menu for $95 per person. There will also be an optional wine pairing available.
Enjoy dishes like oysters, risotto and chocolate soufflé.
Sunday, Feb. 14
$95 per person
Townsend
1623 E. Passyunk Ave.
(267) 639-3203
Nothing says Valentine’s Day better than a romantic candlelit dinner. There are three seating times available: 5 p.m., 7 p.m. or 9 p.m.
For $55 per person, you have the option to try oysters, coconut cream pie or anything else you fancy on the four-course menu. Pair dishes with a glass of wine or a beer.
Sunday, Feb. 14
$55 per person
Varga Bar
941 Spruce St.
(215) 627-5200
Executive Chef Ryan Sulikowski has prepared an indulgent dessert for two and named it, appropriately, the chocolate lovers dessert.
It’s flourless chocolate cake, chocolate sorbet, chocolate ice cream, toasted marshmallow, peppermint snow and dehydrated chocolate that is paired with an ice cream sandwich featuring cocoa chocolate chip cookies.
Guests can also enjoy complimentary rosé Champagne, live music and an à la carte menu.
Sunday, Feb. 14
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Lotus Farm to Table
112 W. State St., Media
(610) 565-5554
Urban Farmer will feature a lavish Valentine’s Day dinner for two featuring bacon-wrapped, 21-day dry-aged tenderloin with bordelaise and bearnaise sauces and a chef’s selection of farm vegetables for $90.
The restaurant will also feature a mousse trio for dessert, including milk chocolate mousse with toasted apple, white chocolate mousse with passion fruit and manjari mousse with raspberry for $11.
Sunday, Feb. 14
Urban Farmer
1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
(215) 963-2788
Head to this restaurant for a deal: nine dishes for $30 per person. Enjoy shrimp and grits, fried oysters, mac and cheese, red velvet cake and more.
There will also be two special Valentine's Day cocktails available.
Sunday, Feb. 14
$30 per person
The Fat Ham
3131 Walnut St.
(215) 735-1914
