This Valentine’s Day, perhaps more than those of recent years, has a particular economy-aided flavor to it. So our little spin on the usual V-Day dining options rundown is to break it all down by price. Today: The Splurge.
• At Blackbird, $115 per person lands you and your loved one a special tasting menu featuring flounder with hazelnut, Swiss chard and blood orange molasses, short rib with passion fruit and carob, and some surprises. It’s capped with sparkling wine, mais oui.
• TRU has a weekend-long Valentine’s Day deal (the 13th for your mistress, the 14th for your wife, and the 15th for your other mistress?) with a choice between the $200/person Chef’s Market Collection menu and the $250/person Aphrodisiac Collection. They’re also taking the guesswork out of the accessories — the restaurant is happy to arrange a box of housemade chocolates ($36) or flowers ($125), just to make sure you hit all the notes.
• A special 7-course degustation awaits you and your sweetheart at Everest, $145 with an optional wine pairing for $89 per person. The menu includes Warm Maine Lobster Salad, Pino Noir Carnaroli Risotto, and other lovable delights. Don’t forget that for a slim $15, you can be chauffered in a town car. So glam.
• You’d be hard-pressed to find a more romantic Valentine’s day setting than L2O’s $90/person, six-course Tête-à-Tête menu — which changes daily, depending on what’s at the peak of freshness — served to you in the insanely decadent white onyx booth. Le Swoon
• Alinea, sadly, is all booked up. As always, the reservationista suggested that those in dire need of a table give them a call a day or two before V-Day — not such a bad idea, considering that pre-Valentine’s is a hot time for breakups, which means canceled reservations, which means Hot Potato Cold Potato for you and your loved one.
[Photo: The white onyx booth at L2O — chilly, expensive, and decadent. Perfect for offsetting a red dress, too.]
