Valentine’s Day restaurant menu roundup: Eat, drink, and be merry with your loved one!

Forget the snow storm, the cold and the impossible commute, and think positive thoughts about the week ahead: Valentine’s Day is coming up, and that’s a great reason for celebration! In a city that’s home to some of the world’s best restaurants, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to spending Valentine’s Day in high culinary style. DH and I will have to work late next Wednesday, which means we will postpone the celebration until Saturday. We don’t know where we’ll be going, but the good thing is there are plenty of choices, all mentioned below. Read on – and plan your magical moments with your loved one 🙂

Photo credit: Geja’s Café

Raised Bar will host a special Valentine’s Day: No Date Required event on Wednesday, February 14 from 4pm to 12am. During the event, Raised will offer a champagne cocktail menu (featuring special cocktails such as Stupid Cupid, Tall Tale Heart and The Secret Admirer) paired with shareable dessert items such as Chocolate Strawberry Fondue Box and Raspberry Lychee Coconut Terrine with rose crystal sugar, champagne gelée, and a pink macaroon.

For special cocktails, signature pork chops and decadent desserts, look no further than Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille in Oak Brook, which offers a special menu full of signature favorites. Start your evening with a soup or salad, then go for a main course such as the Filet Perry (wrapped with Nueske applewood smoked bacon and topped with jumbo crab meat), the Prime New York Strip Steak, or Perry’s famous Pork Chop, which is roasted for up to six hours, glazed, caramelized and topped with a signature herb-garlic butter. Complete the romantic feast with one of three decadent dessert options: White Chocolate Cheesecake, Chocolate Crunch or Dessert Trio.

This Valentine’s Day, Prairie Grass Café in Northbrook has teamed up with Dan Sviland at Hot Shop Glass in Racine, WI to give away a hand-blown glass heart. Dine-in guests will be given a form to enter their name and e-mail address, and the drawing will take place at the end of service on Valentine’s Day. Prairie Grass Café’s main course specials include Day Boat Sea Scallops with celery root purée, roasted carrot & cauliflower in a brown butter and caper sauce, and Prime Aged New York Strip Steak with mushroom sauce and a twice baked potato. For dessert, I wholeheartedly recommend their vanilla bean crème brûlée (check out my full review here). What a luscious finale!

The recently opened Stock and Ledger restaurant offers a special four-course Valentine’s Day menu featuring Oysters with mignonette sauce, Beet and Goat Cheese Terrine, Duck Breast with lentils, carrots and beets, and Fondue with pound cake, strawberries and homemade marshmallow. The restaurant’s Valentine’s Day inspired cocktails have names which definitely fit the occasion: Blushing Bourbon, French Kiss and Love Potion! 😉

Photo credit: Stock and Ledger

From February 14 through February 17, the Albert also offers an exclusive four course menu featuring East Coast oysters, Risotto with shaved black truffle and romanesco, Veal Strip Loin, and Chocolate Tart for two.

Last but not least, in Albany Park, one of my favorite restaurants is putting up a feast this Valentine’s Day. Angelo’s Wine Bar is offering a prix fixe menu that includes an amuse of shishito pepper, appetizer, main course and dessert. Main dishes include sous vide New York Strip Steak with fois gras butter and fingerling potatoes, Seared Scallops with a soft herb salad, and Grilled Lamb Lollipops with a white bean puree, caperberry and crispy leek hay. Good to know there are also vegetarian options on this special menu – just your server for more details.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! 🙂

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