Washington, DC Valentine’s Day Dining

Are you looking to enjoy a romantic meal in Washington, DC this Valentine's Day? Here are some restaurants that offer specials to impress your sweetheart. Make your reservation now to be sure to get a nice table. All fixed prices do not include tax and gratuity. Details are subject to change, please confirm pricing with the restaurant.

701 Restaurant
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC. (202) 393-0701. Entrée standouts include Shenandoah Lamb Rack and Loin with pomegranate, celery root, and trumpet royal mushroom; Black Bass with malpeque oyster risotto, Champagne and caviar sauce; House Made Garganelli with ricotta and shaved black truffles as well as Pheasant with potato hash, blue cheese and beet sauce. Four course menu for $85/person with live jazz available throughout the evening. Valet parking will be available for $8/car.

901 Restaurant & Bar
901 Ninth Street NW, Washington, DC (202) 524-4433. The four-course prix fixe menu offers the choice of a soup or salad, followed by two sharing plates, two entrees, and the choice of a dessert sampler or the Chef’s special dessert. The dinner will be accompanied by two glasses of Veuve Clicquot champagne and the menu will be available from February 10-14. $69 per couple.

1789 Restaurant
1226 36th Street, NW, Washington DC (202) 965-1789. A four-course tasting menu for $65 per person, including a delicious dessert of warm Red Velvet Donuts for two. The Valentine’s Day dinner can also be ordered paired with 1789’s selection of wines for $90 a person, excluding tax and gratuity. Complimentary valet parking.

Acacia Bistro and Wine Bar
4340 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (202) 537-1040. The Valentine’s Day five course menu includes a choice of signature dishes with main course options of Steamed Dourade with Escargot with Mushroom Crepinette, Glazed Radish and Handmade Garganelli Pasta and Short Rib of Beef Ragu. $70 per person or $100 with wine pairing.

Acqua Al 2
212 7th St. SE Washington DC. (202) 525-4375. For Valentine's Day, the restaurant will serve a five-course menu of dishes ranging from fresh, creamy Burrata with grapefruit, roasted pine nuts and honey, Linguine all'Aragosta with lobster, white wine and tomato, and of course, the option to enjoy their famous sauced-up steaks - the Filetto all'Aceto Balsamico with a balsamic glaze, and the Filetto al Mirtillo with a blueberry sauce. $85/person.

Agora
1527 17th Street, NW, Washington DC. (202) 332-6767. Enjoy authentic Turkish and Greek cuisine this Valentine’s Day. Select dishes off the a la carte menu or enjoy a four-course, prix fixe offering priced at $55 per person. The menu begins with Seared Scallops Over Saffron Yogurt and Caviar followed by Duck Confit Salad with Papaya, Baby Mache, Walnut and Blood Orange Vinaigrette. Next guests can choose from Grilled Petit Filet with Asparagus and Pomegranate Reduction served with Shrimp Brushed with Grand Marnier Butter or the Pan Seared Lamb Loin with Butternut Squash Puree, Fresh Mint, Pistachio and Sour Cherry Sauce. For dessert, choose from Panna Cotta Rice Pudding with Raspberry Coulis or the Chocolate Tart with Roasted Hazelnuts.

America Eats Tavern
405 8th Street, NW Washington DC (202) 393-0812. A seven-course prix fixe tasting menu honors Esther Howland, the founder of The New England Valentine Company, who is credited for creating the first Valentine’s Day greeting card. Standout dishes include Hush Puppies with Homemade Sorghum Butter; Waldorf Salad “You’re the Top”; Vermicelli Prepared Like Pudding; Lobster Newberg as well as an assortment of seasonal desserts. $95 per person and $150 with wine pairings. The a la carte menu will only be available on the first floor.

Ardeo+Bardeo
3311 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington DC (202) 244-6750. Enjoy a four-course prix fixe menu priced at $65 per person. Standout dishes include Baby Red & Golden Beets, Shaved Candy Cane Beets, Mint, Smoked Red Onion and Pistachio Goat Cheese; Oxtail Risotto with pickled Beech Mushrooms and Black Truffle Emulsion; Salt Cured Foie Gras with Fig Mustard and Toasted Brioche; Butter Poached monkfish with Red Bliss Potatoes, Sea Beans and Sea Urchin Sabayon as well as Duo of Beef: Barrel Cut Ribeye with Smoked Potato Mousseline and Royal Trumpets paired with Wagyu Beef Brisket with Horseradish Potato Salad and “Borscht”. Valet parking is available after 6pm for $8.

Art and Soul
The Liaison Capitol Hill, 415 New Jersey Ave. NW. Washington DC. A special three course prix fixe Valentines Day dinner menu, $70 per person and includes a special chocolate treat to-go. Beverage pairing additional $30.

Bastille
1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria, VA (703) 519-3776. For Valentines Day, enjoy a five-course $115 ($165 with wine pairings) prix fixe menu that features French classics. The meal begins with mussels & curry coconut chocolate veloute; followed by foie gras & Manjari chocolate marble, apricots and cranberries with crispy country bread; butter poached Maine lobster with American sturgeon caviar, white chocolate sabayon with lemon verbena, spinach and lemon oil; and spice dusted duck Magret, Mexican chocolate-coffee sauce, orange glazed Belgium endive and candied oranges. For dessert, white chocolate with Amaretto and cherries. From February 10-18, 2012, the restaurant will offer a four course Valentine’s Week Tasting menu, highlighting many dishes from the Valentine’s Day menu, priced at $65 ($90 with wine pairings) along with the regular menu.


Blue Duck Tavern
Park Hyatt Washington, 24 and M Streets, NW. Washington DC. (202) 419-6755. A special four-course menu that is priced at $70 per person. The menu begins with Espelette Pepper Crusted Scallops with Winter Citrus, Endive and Smoked Trout Roe followed by Butter Poached Maine Lobster with Cardamom, Clementines and Hearts of Palm and Beef Wellington Reinvented with Seared Foie Gras, Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Pommes Maxim and Truffle Jus. The dinner concludes with a Warm Chocolate Fondant with Rosemary Cream and Brandied Cerries. A complete a la carte menu will also be available with prices ranging from $11 to $17 for appetizers and $16 to $36 for entrées.

Bourbon Steak
Fours Season Hotel, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington DC. (202) 944-2026. Valentine's Day menu features three courses for $95 per person.

Casa Nonna
1250 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington DC (202) 629-2505. The unique, exclusive Italian gastronomic experience will feature 12 courses of never-been-served cuisine including decadent dishes like Raviolo of Farmer's Egg in Black Truffle Sauce, Wood Roasted Turbot with Vanilla Braised Endive and Champagne Zabaglione, and the sweet Banana Fritelle and Molten Gianduia. $75/person, or $105/person with Prosecco pairings. A special four-course Valentine's Day tasting menu will also be available.

CityZen
Mandarin Oriental, 1330 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington DC. Enjoy a six-course tasting menu including: CityZen Oyster Rockefeller, Sautéed Filet of Mediterranean Rouget, Sweet Butter Poached Maine Lobster, Roasted Cabbage and Russet Potato Gnocchi, Grilled Rib-Eye of Australian Wagyu Beef, St. Marcellin, and the CityZen Chocolate Box. $150 per person with an optional $100 for wine pairing. Guests also receive “goodie bags” of sweet treats to go.

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
801A 9th Street, NW Washington DC. (202) 408-1600. A ‘Golden Age of Romance’ menu with a Cuban twist this Valentine’s Day. Inspired by Cuban’s golden age of the 1940s, the menu is available February 11-14th. Cchoose two apetitivos, two platos and a duo of desserts designed to share for $78 per couple. Standout dishes include Ostras Julio Lobos: Oysters Baked in a Cazuelita with Spinach, Goat Cheese, Scallions and Aguardiente Sauce; Palometa en Bolsa: Fresh boneless Pompano Fillet, Shrimp Crabmeat in Parchment Paperwith Mango Beurre Blanc, as well as Langosta Thermidor: Lobster Tails Gratin, in its shell, with Butter, Cream, Gruyere Cheese and Mushrooms withForbidden Black Rice and a Lobster Sauce. For dessert, enjoy Isla Flotante: Vanilla Meringue Floating on a Natilla Custard Sauce with Caramel and Toasted Almonds or Crepas con Naranja: Crepes Sautéed in a Butter, Orange Juice and Gran Marnier Sauce with a Passion Fruit Chantilly Cream.

See More Restaurant Specials on Pages 2 and 3.

For more ideas for romance in the nation's capital, see Valentine's Day in Washington, DC