Valentine's Day Dinner Round-Up - You Still Have Time!

If you have the balls to eat out on Valentines day...Well, you may as well do it right. Here our your Plastico approved options for 2011:

There are still a couple of weeks to secure your table of love for Valentine's Day, and plenty of local restaurants want to help you set the mood—after they set your table. One fine dining favorite is even offering a complete gourmet meal for two to take home and eat wherever you like. Heck, it's none of our business. XOXO


A.O.C. Wine Bar
8022 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
tel: 323-652-6259
www.aocwinebar.com 

When: February 14, 2011
Price: $85 per person; choose five savory dishes per couple and one dessert each from extensive menu
Menu highlights: Chicken liver crostini with pancetta; duck confit, black rice, pomegranate, walnuts; root vegetables, burrata, aged balsamic; olive oil cake with chocolate, pistachios and candied ornge
The Romance: Suzanne Goin's market-driven small plates are ideal for sharing, and fork swapping.

Campanile
624 La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
tel: 323-938-1447
www.campanilerestaurant.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: $75 per person; four courses
Menu highlights: Baked oysters, grilled prime rib, spinach ravioli, chocolate truffle cake
The Romance: Housed in a dramatic historic structure built in 1929, Campanile is classic L.A. glamor.

Drago Centro
525 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
www.dragocentro.com
tel:213-228-8998

The Romance: Nothing's sexier than a fifteen-foot high, glass-enclosed wine tower.
When: February 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2011
Price: $65 per person; five courses; $35 wine pairings
Menu highlights: Seared diver scallop, salsify, asparagus, blood orange; wild mushroom & truffle risotto; duo of beef, polenta, brussels sprouts; pavolva, passion fruit, strawberry, candied flowers
Extras: live entertainment on Friday and Saturday

La Cachette Bistro
1733 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel: 310-434-9509
www.lacachettebistro.com

When: February 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2011
Price: $80 per person; five courses
Menu highlights: Organic egg and caviar with crème fraiche; hot atlantic oysters with champagne sauce; scallop carpaccio with black truffle and porcinis; white Pekin duck with cabernet sauce and braised red cabbage; homemade chocolate truffles to take home
The Romance: Chef Jean-Michel Metignier is calling this "Amour Tapas"—oh-la-la.

Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave
West Hollywood, CA 90069
tel: 323-655-6277
www.lucques.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: $110 per person; four courses
Menu highlights: Parisian gnocchi with asparagus, english peas, green garlic and parmesan; grilled niman ranch club steak for two with potato purée. arugula, and horseradish cream; tarte au fromage with meyer lemon, blueberry compote and candied lemon
The Romance: A seat by the wood-burning fireplace turns up the heat.

Mélisse
1104 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel:310-395-0881
www.melisse.com

When: February 12, 13, and 14, 2011
Price: $135 per person for three courses on Sat. and Sun.; $250 per person for four courses on Mon.
Menu highlights: "Hot and Cold Foie Gras," Artichoke, Mandarin and Lavendere; Main Lobster Bolognese, fresh capellini, truffle froth; filet of beef and braised cheek, crushed potatoes, morel mushrooms, Béarnaise, natural jus; Assorted Mélisse Dessert
The Romance: Tufted stools, a quiet room, and contemporary French cuisine as good looking as your date.

Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
tel: 310-825-3322
www.napavalleygrille.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: specials ranging from $6-$29
Menu highlights: Smoked chicken griddle cake, young garlic, sugar snap peas, pea tendrils; roasted diver scallop with spring carrot flan, saffron vinaigrette; goat cheese tart with black berries, white honey
The Romance: No prix fixe menu here—the Westwood Village spot is all about free love, letting couples choose-their-own culinary adventure.

Obika
10250 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90067
tel: 310-556-2452
www.obikala.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: $60 per couple, wine pairings for two $30; four courses
Menu highlights: Duo di salumi or duo vegetable fritti; duo di Mozzarella de Bufala with Truffles; Duo de Paste or Smoked Fish Duo, St. Valentine Dessert
The Romance: Dripping lumps of creamy mozzarella shipped straight from Italy to your mouths. Also tonight's "duos" menu is perfect for sharing.

Oliverio at Avalon Hotel
9400 W. Olympic Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
tel: 310-277-5221
www.avalonbeverlyhills.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: $65 per person, wine pairings additional $35
Menu highlights: Chitarra pasta made with lobster, roasted tomatoes, and asparagus; spicy roasted chicken with escarole; chocolate buffet.
Extras: Dieting love birds can experience a lighter, small-plates menu (think salmon crudo).
The Romance: The all-chocolate dessert buffet is called Choco-Sutra (ooooooh!) and features triple chocolate truffle pizzettas to cinnamon and red chili-infused pot de crèmes.

Petrossian
321 North Robertson Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90048
tel: 310-271-0576
www.petrossian.com

When: February 11, 12, and 14, 2011
Price: $75 per person; four courses
Menu highlights:  Kumamoto oyster, caviar, pink peppercorn, vodka; tenderloin, lardons, porcini, tarragon, truffle, Fresno chili; rainbow trout,  haricot verts, almonds, parsley, lemon; white chocolate fondue
Extras: includes 30g Classic Transmontanus Caviar
The Romance: Um, it's caviar—along with the oyster it's one of the sea's most well-known aphrodisiacs.

Royal/T
8910 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
tel: 310-559-6300
www.royal-t.org

When: February 14, 2011
Price: Four-course prix fixe, $65 per person
Menu highlights: "Love Bites" sharable platter with coconut saffron shrimp, cilantro crab bites, and yogurt clouds; pomegranate lamb on basmati with royal cumin; creamy black lentils with spinach and roses.
Extras: complimentary glass of champagne
The Romance: For Valentine's Day, this Japanese "cosplay" maid café (some people are into that) transforms into a elegant venue for a sensual Indian meal crafted by chef Kaumudi Marathé of Un-Curry. Silk pillows anyone?

Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
tel: 818-222-3888
www.saddlepeaklodge.com

When: February 12, 13, and 14, 2011
Price: $150 per person; four courses
Menu highlights: Kumamoto oysters poached in a champagne lemon verbena cream with herbs and American caviar; butter poached lobster "Thai style" sweet, salty, and spicy; Grilled New Zealand elk tenderloin with currants, arugula, sweet potato and celery root; banana bread pudding with huckleberries and vanilla ice cream
The Romance:  Set the mood in log cabin with mounted deer heads, hunting gear, and other uber-masculine memorabilia lining the walls—plus a crackling fireplace.

Tavern
11648 San Vincente Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90049
tel: 310-806-6466
www.tavernla.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: $85 per person; four courses
Menu highlights: Wild mushroom tart with young onions, gruyère and herb salad; herb-roasted rack of lamb with tapenade, arugula and artichoke-potato gratin; chocolate and gianduja cake with coffee and salted caramel ice cream.
Extras: The Larder is offering a take-home dinner complete with wine and candies with 48-hours notice!
The Romance: Gaze at the stars through the glass-roofed atrium and sip something sumptuous from the bar. Take a pastry from the larder for breakfast in bed tomorrow.

Viceroy Santa Monica
1819 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel: 310-260-7511
www.viceroysantamonica.com

When: February 13, 14, 2011
Price: $95 per person; includes four-courses, champagne tasting, customized scrub
Menu highlights: Lobster with risotto, apple, shies, and kaffir lime broth; chocolate tartufo with salted hazelnuts.
The Romance: Dinner is served poolside. After the meal, couples go to a "scent tent" to play with aromatherapy oils and create a customized body scrub to take home.

Vu Restaurant
14160 Palawan Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
tel: 310-439-3032
www.vurestaurantmarinadelrey.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: $120 per couple; $200 with beverages; seven courses
Menu highlights: Grilled cheese with toasted brioche, "midnight moon", tomato jam, micro basil; King Cole Duck, creamy goat cheese polenta, dried cherries, chocolate-red wine reduction; dark chocolate mousse, strawberry ice cream, rose gel, dusting of flowers
The Romance: Smack on the oh-so-scenic marina, Vu's molecular gastronomy menu is playful and full of whimsy.

Wilshire Restaurant
2454 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
tel: 310-586-1707
www.wilshirerestaurant.com

When: February 14, 2011
Price: full menu available ranging from $12-$45
Menu highlights: Kumamoto oysters dynamite; tahitian squash ravioli with brown butter, sage, parmesan, crispy kale, and hazelnuts; whole fried Thai snapper with soba noodles.
The Romance: The sprawling multi-tiered patio is studded with fire-pits to keep things hot.

GOOD LUCK!!!