Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Fairchilds Public House will offer specialty cocktails for Valentine’s Day both priced at $15: Cupid’s Kiss (left) and Sweetheart Margarita (right). Courtesy Fairchilds Public House.

It’s that time of year again where everything turns pink and red and it’s socially acceptable to eat an entire box of chocolates (at least I think it is). It’s that time when elementary schoolers cut out colored paper and write “Hapy Valintynes Dey” (I was never good at spelling), high schoolers awkwardly give each other teddy bears and adults figure out where they’re going to eat dinner on Feb. 14. 

So let me help you out, adults (middle schoolers, you’re on your own.) 

Here’s a list of 10 local restaurants celebrating Valentine’s Day – some are offering prix fixe menus for one night only, like The Bywater in Los Gatos, while others are celebrating with an a la carte menu available for an entire week, like Flea Street in Menlo Park. Find complimentary bubbly at restaurants like Fairchilds Public House in Mountain View or live piano at Moonraker in Pacifica. 

For your plant-based bae: Twelvemonth

The Burlingame plant-based restaurant is offering a seven-course prix fixe menu for $75 per person on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. The menu features a sourdough waffle with caviar, sour cream and chives; roasted beets with kumquat kosho and black sesame aioli; campanelle with burnt grapefruit, artichoke hearts and mint; chocolate cake with passion fruit curd and more. 

Twelvemonth, 330 Lorton Ave., Burlingame; 650-443-7111, Instagram: @twelvemonthburlingame. 

For your Southern belle: The Bywater

The Los Gatos Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated Creole and Cajun restaurant co-founded by former Manresa chef David Kinch is offering a four-course prix fixe menu for $75 per person on Feb. 14. The menu features oysters, a choice of citrus salad or seafood gumbo, a choice between scallops or short rib and a trio of desserts (beignets, pot de creme and king cake).

The Bywater, 532 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos; 408-560-9639, Instagram: @thebywaterca.

For your ooh la lady: Left Bank Brasserie

Left Bank Brasserie’s prix fixe Valentine’s Day dinner includes the option to order duck breast with pickled rhubarb, green farro, duck confit, baby turnips and duck jus as the main course. Courtesy Left Bank Brasserie.

This French restaurant, with locations in Larkspur, San Jose, Menlo Park and Oakland, is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $95 per person on Feb. 14, with all items also available a la carte. Wine pairings will be available, and Tsar Nicoulai caviar can be added to any course for $30. Menu options include oysters, kampachi crudo, roasted beef tenderloin, duck breast and layered chocolate cake with raspberry cream filling, marzipan and chocolate ganache.

Left Bank Brasserie, 635 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; 650-473-6543, Instagram: @leftbankbrasserie.

For your bratwurst lover: Naschmarkt

The Palo Alto location of this Austrian restaurant is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $97 per person on Feb. 14. Menu options include sunchoke soup, beet salad, bratwurst, tagliatelle pasta, winter schnitzel, Hungarian beef goulash, apfelstrudel, schokokuchen (chocolate cake) and more.

Naschmarkt, 2323 Birch St., Palo Alto; 650-561-3202, Instagram: @naschmarktpaloalto.

For your California Girl: Fairchilds Public House and Roger Bar and Restaurant

Fairchilds Public House will offer specialty cocktails for Valentine’s Day, including its Sweetheart Margarita with Cazadores tequila, prickly pear puree, Fresh sweet and sour mix and triple sec for $15. Courtesy Fairchilds Public House.

Fairchilds Public House, a Californian restaurant located within the Hyatt Mountain View, is offering a three-course prix fixe menu with complimentary glass of Champagne for $150 per couple or $80 per person on Feb. 14 from 5-9 p.m. Wine pairings will be available, and the menu will feature two additional Valentine’s-themed cocktails. The menu features a choice between strawberry salad and lobster bisque, a choice of grilled 6-ounce filet mignon, pan seared sea scallops or sweet pea ravioli, and a choice between dark chocolate flourless noire or flourless raspberry cheesecake.

Fairchilds Public House, 409 San Antonio Road, Mountain View; 650-966-6949, Instagram: @fairchildspublichouse.

Roger Bar and Restaurant, a Californian restaurant located within The Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View, is offering a five-course prix fixe menu with complimentary glass of sparkling wine for $85 per person on Feb. 14. Wine pairings will be available for an additional $25. The menu features warm focaccia, a choice of hamachi tiradito, beef tartar or pakora fritter, a choice between raviolo or uni and truffle udon, a choice of koji aged ribeye, roasted halibut or green garden rice pilaf, and chocolate flourless cake with lychee.

Roger Bar and Restaurant, 800 Moffett Blvd., Mountain View; 650-744-1030, Instagram: @rogerbarandrestaurant.

For your bougie California Girl: Oak + Violet and Quattro Restaurant and Bar

Oak + Violet, a Californian restaurant located within the Park James Hotel in Menlo Park, is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $125 per adult and $55 per child under 12 on Feb. 14 from 5-9 p.m. The menu features a choice between Hokkaido scallops or burrata salad, a choice of filet mignon, beetroot agnolotti or Nordic Blu salmon, and a choice of triple chocolate mousse, lemon ricotta beignet or Rosanna raspberry sorbet.

Oak + Violet, 1400 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; 650-304-3880, Instagram: @oakandviolet.

Quattro Restaurant and Bar is offering a four-course prix fixe dinner for $165 per person on Valentine’s Day. Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley.

Quattro Restaurant and Bar, a Calfornian restaurant located within the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley in East Palo Alto, is offering a four-course prix fixe menu for $165 per person Feb. 14 from 5-9:30 p.m. Wine pairings will be available for an additional $60, and there will be musical entertainment from California-based artist Aaron Durr. The menu includes salmon crudo, endive salad, lobster ravioli, slow-cooked rib-eye and passion fruit chiboust.

Quattro Restaurant and Bar, 2050 University Ave, East Palo Alto; 650-470-2889.

For the Sharkboy to your Lavagirl: Moonraker

The Pacifica seafood restaurant is offering a four-course prix fixe menu for $140 per adult and $65 per child under 12 on Feb. 14 from 4-10 p.m. Wine pairings will be available for an additional $75, and there will be a live pianist. The menu includes wild mushroom soup, oysters Rockefeller, Kobe beef and scallops, rosemary grilled lamb chops, molten chocolate cake, warm apple crumble and more. 

Moonraker, 105 Rockaway Beach Ave., Pacifica; 650-557-7025, Instagram: @moonrakerrestaurant.

For the picky eater: Flea Street

This Menlo Park Californian restaurant is hosting its third annual Week of Love. From Feb. 13-17, Flea Street will offer an exclusive Valentine’s-themed a la carte menu. Choose from dishes like “Date Me” (brie en croute, rosemary butter and date jam), “My Gem Salad” (butternut dressing, capers, Parmesan crisps, herb breadcrumbs and watermelon radish), risotto with roasted beets, kale Parmesan and pine nuts, sweet potato Basque cheesecake and more.

Flea Street, 3607 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park; 650-854-1226, Instagram: @flea_street.

Adrienne Mitchel is the Food Editor at Embarcadero Media. As the Peninsula Foodist, she's always on the hunt for the next food story (and the next bite to eat!). Adrienne received a BFA in Broadcast...

Leave a comment