Whether it’s a show-stopping multi-course gourmet extravaganza to celebrate the finer things in life, or a simple slice of pizza that reminds you that all you really need is love, these restaurants (and one food truck) are preparing romantic feasts that are sure to satisfy your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. So make your reservations now, and who knows, you might just get lucky.
Culina
300 S. Doheny Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 860-4000
Couples can enjoy a special four-course tasting menu at this Beverly Hills favorite on Valentine’s Day that’s designed to inspire romance. The meal will begin with a selection of oysters on the half-shell served with champagne mignonette or sea urchin mousse with ginger vinaigrette. Next is a primi course of black mission figs with arugula pesto, or ravioli with caprino cheese and roasted candy-stripe beets. Among the choices of secondi is a butter-poached lobster with apricots, honey leeks and rose petals; or American Kobe flat-iron steak with red wine-braised veal cheeks, chocolate, rosemary, heirloom carrots and rainbow Swiss chard. Dessert is a choice of either Meyer lemon pudding cake with lavender and honey gelato; or chocolate budino with spicy caramelized hazelnuts. The meal costs $85 per person and additional sommelier-selected wine pairings are available for an additional $65 per person.
Mélisse
1104 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-0881
Josiah Citrin will be preparing a blowout seven-course Valentine’s Day tasting menus for three nights starting on the day itself at his celebrated two Michelin-star restaurant in Santa Monica. Seatings will start between 5:30 – 6:45pm and 8:15 – 9:30pm and the special menu will be priced at $250 per person. The first course starts strong out the gate with a soft-poached egg with lemon crème fraiche and American caviar, and is followed by a panoply of plates, each one more impressive than the last with choices like big-eye tuna with chrysanthemum, toasted almond and avocado; lobster Bolognese with Peridord truffles; 35-day aged Paso prime beef rib eye with potato, onions, Fourme d’Ambert and Charon; and hot chocolate cake with frozen banana-strawberry, rhubarb and rose for dessert. The menu will be slightly modified the last two nights and priced more economically at $150 per person…if you want to have some change left over for a nice bouquet.
Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood CA 90069
(323) 655-6277
Lucques is for lovers on Valentine’s Day since chef extraordinaire Suzanne Goin will be serving specialties guaranteed to get your romance going like oysters on the half shell with Meyer lemon mignonette; roasted pancetta-wrapped asparagus with almond aioli; diver scallops with toasted cornbread, wild mushrooms and sherry glaze; and bittersweet chocolate torta with dates, candied hazelnuts and coffee cream for two. Seatings are from 5:30 – 6:30pm and from 8:00pm onwards and the meal costs $125 per person.
The Pikey
7617 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323-850-5400
This swingin’ new English pub-style restaurant in the former home of Coach & Horses is serving up a celebration for Valentine’s Day that includes dishes like naked cow boy oysters Rockefeller, stuffed quail “love birds” with creamy polenta and rainbow chard, whole lobster for two with fennel and butter lettuce, and a housemade ice cream sundae for two. Chef Ralph Johnson will be presenting this cheeky menu from 5:00pm – 2:00 am on the special day, and The Pikey’s convivial atmosphere and festive feel will make this a romantic evening to remember.
Petrossian
321 N. Robertson Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-0576
Treat your sweetheart to only the best this Valentine’s Day with a five-course tasting menu from executive chef Giselle Wellman at Petrossian. The special menu will highlight her signature dishes including the Egg Royale with signature Petrossian caviar dolloped in a soft scrambled egg with vodka whipped cream; the prime tenderloin with bone marrow butter, sweet onion jam, Weiser Farm rosemary potatoes and jus; and for dessert, a chocolate pot de crème with hazelnut, sea salt, caramel and toffee. Dinner is $75 per person. The caviar house and boutique will also be selling a variety of Valentine’s Day specialty gift items through February 16.
Urban Oven Pizza Truck
If you haven’t had a chance to try this roving pizza oven truck’s delectable pies topped with West Coast-sourced ingredients yet, there’s no need to chase after it like a scorned lover on Valentine’s Day. Just be sure to check its schedule via the truck’s Facebook page to find out where it’ll be serving some ’za this V-day. Chef and owner Scott Tremonti encourages customers to scrawl their feelings on the truck’s giant chalkboard as they much on specialty pizzas like the “lovebirds,” or the “lonely boy” if that’s the way your Valentine’s Day is going. The “pig kisses” calzone filled with nutella, bacon and red pepper flakes is also a popular choice thanks to its surprising, intoxicating combination of flavors – you know what they say, opposites attract. For lunch on Valentine’s Day, the truck will be in Santa Monica while starting at 6pm, they’ll be firing up the oven at the Downtown LA Art Walk.
