Do you want the full, swanked-out Valentine's Day experience in Dallas this year? We got you. Are you just happy to be getting out of the house for once this V-Day? We got you covered on the more affordable angle as well, friends. Keep reading for some of our favorite options for spending your Valentine's Day dollar, however far you need or want that dollar to stretch.
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1. ellie's
For an artful, modern aesthetic and Napa-inspired American fine dining, get in. We're going to Ellie's. Snag a reservation on the terrace for one of the best views in Dallas dining. Your dinner will be a front row seat to not only some of the best food in town, but also to the Texas Sculpture Walk and an incredible James Welling mural. They've got some great special Valentine's Day features this year designed by Executive Chef Dan Lansburg — check out the menu here.
2. Dakota's
Dakota's is a real IYKYK kind of steakhouse in Downtown Dallas because it's basically hidden underneath Downtown Dallas! Show off your knowledge of the Dallas dining scene by suggesting an over-the-top Holiday sha-bang at the spot that starts with an elevator ride down, not up! Try the signature seafood platter, the Beef Wellington, the Cacio e Pepe risotto, the loaded mashed potatoes and top it all off with a decadent Ferris Wheel Sundae!
3. Sushi Bar
Sushi Bar Dallas is an amazing, stunning, 12/10 omakase speakeasy dining experience. We've heard the waitlist can get quite long, but get on it if you can, because this place serves some of the best sushi in the country. The entire restaurant is 10 seats. The meal is 17 immaculate courses of sushi made by expert chefs right before your eyes. It is truly the pinnacle of Japanese dining in Dallas as far as we can tell.
4. Stillwell's
Stillwell's is an incredible steakhouse with impeccable service, an extensive wine list and the best cowboy ribeye you’ve ever had, and it's on the seventh floor of the gorgeous Hotel Swexan. It's where Swiss hospitality meets Texan charm, and it makes for a great night out.
5. Trick Rider
Trick Rider is one of 13 amazing dining options at the Omni PGA Resort Frisco, and it is an incredible steakhouse! The focal point is the incredible 1,500-pound quarterhorse-shaped chandelier that sets the mood for glitz and glam.
6. Crown Block
The new Crown Block inside Reunion Tower was one of the most widely anticipated restaurant openings of 2023 so far. A dinner here provides your party with 360-degree views of Downtown Dallas from the most iconic landmark in the city's gorgeous skyline. The new seafood and steak concept is aesthetically STUNNING and the food is AMAZING, too!
7. mignon
This swanky Lakeside steakhouse is the perfect place to find a good filet mignon, obviously! Mignon has to be on your list for amazing steaks and seafood options! You seriously have to try the mussels and dip your bread in the sauce — it’s heavenly!
8. monarch + kessaku
Monarch is a wood-fired, modern Italian restaurant imagined by Two-Michelin Star Chef, Danny Grant and team. Their expansive, elegantly designed space on the 49th floor of The National Downtown and their refined menu are the ultimate expressions of luxury dining in Dallas. For Valentines Day, Monarch is featuring a decadent four-course prix fixe menu — make reservations here.
Kessaku is the sister restaurant of Monarch one floor up on the 50th story of The National. It's one of the coolest and most luxurious sushi, sake and cocktail lounges in town. From their amazing Tuesday night Ramen Special to their limited-time Omakase offerings, the whole menu is a masterpiece, as are the views. Make Valentines Day reservations here.
9. boulevardier
Everything is beautiful at Boulevardier, including but not limited to those luscious Texas Wagyu Steak Frites ($39) pictured here. It's a joy to eat at the venerated Boulevardier, which is probably why it has become one of the signature spots in Bishop Arts since it opened in 2012.
10. Rye + apothecary
Looking to dive into unique seasonal dishes with your plus one this Valentine’s Day? Rye is the cozy and intimate spot to share a variety of plates during the season of love. Their ever changing menu paired with hand crafted cocktails makes for the perfect duo to enjoy an evening of romance in Lower Greenville. Don’t be scared to try something new and branch out from your usual dishes. Each one is concocted with the freshest seasonal ingredients! Their 7-course Valentine’s meal includes caviar, wild boar terrine, sott’olio veggies and more like steak and a chocolate dessert!
Apothecary is the avant-garde cocktail lounge next-door, brought to you by the team at Rye. Our favorites include the short ribs ($30), the Chicken 65 ($14) and the torched Wagyu nigiri ($18). But the cocktails are full co-headliners here. We love their gin drinks, but you truly cannot go wrong with closing your eyes and blindly pointing at something. Try a 20th Century (gin, creme de cacao, cocchi americano and lemon) or a Martinez (Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, cherry brandy, luxardo and orange bitters)
11. nobu
If you haven't been to Nobu in in Uptown, well there is no time like the present. And if you're a seasoned Nobu veteran, you already know about the jewel of Japanese food just off the lobby of the Hotel Crescent Court. But you will also be happy to learn that this is another fine dining option in Dallas that will feature a special Valentine's Day menu this year. At $200 per person, the Nobu Valentine's Omakase Menu includes six courses, plus dessert, and a glass of Nobu Grand Cru champagne for toasting to the one who is worth all this and more. Check it out here.
12. town hearth
"Town Hearth has got all the pomp and circumstance Dallas is known for, witih unmissable steakhouse classics," Conde Nast's "Traveler" once wrote about the shiny experience of eating here. How can they list a 1974 Ducati Sport on the sides menu (for $75,000), park an actual MG Roadster in front of the kitchen and suspend a yellow submarine from the ceiling, yet still manage such a warm and cozy ambiance? It's the mystery (and the Demonico, a perfect 16oz boneless ribeye) that keep us coming back for more. Not up for a steak? The seafood options are always a hit as well at Town Hearth.
13. fachini
Fachini is Highland Park's homage to Italian American fine dining of a bygone era. Stellar digs, stellar wine list and drinks, and overall it's a stellar red sauce joint offering house-made pastas and wood oven broiled steaks, chops and seafood. Make Valentines Day reservations here.
14. ser steak + Spirits
Breathtaking skyline views and even better cuts of prime beef live at SER Steak + Spirits in the Design District. It's the PERFECT place for any celebration, including Valentines Day Dinner. The table-side preparation here is a really nice touch here, so go BIG with the Cadillac if you're going all-in this Valentines Day. It's a 38-oz tomahawk carved just for you, right at the table, so you can see the perfectly cooked, juicy steak with your name on it. The Cadillac also comes with foie gras and a flight of sauces: red chimichurri, au poivre. and it's topped with béarnaise. Make your Valentines Day reservations here.
15. georgie
The Valentines Day Menu at Georgie by Chef Curtis Stone looks to be pretty darn spectacular this year: for $150 per person, you're in for an extravagant three-course affair with an optional, supplemental pasta course between your starter and main. Georgie leans hard into amazing, impeccably sourced steaks and its great wine list, but it also completely upends any preconceived notions you may have about the "old-school" steakhouse experience. Get your Valentines Day reservations in here.
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1. Casa Pollastro
This Brazilian-Italian fusion joint in North Dallas is so hot right now! For $35 at Casa Pollastro, you get a four-course, all-you-can-eat experience that we can't get enough of. Make reservations soon, becuase this place fills up fast.
2. SueÑo
For some of the most gorgeous drinks in town, try Sueño in Richardson! For dinner, start with the ceviche made with citrus-marinated snapper, tomato relish and avocado, then try the birria enchiladas or the brochetas if you're a shrimp lover.
3. The Glen
Live up north? Check out The Glen at The Star in Frisco this Valentines Day. The menu focuses on incredible seafood dishes, and for us, the caviar corn dogs, the lobster pasta and naturally — the fresh seafood tower — stole the show! They'll have their full menu available on February 14, plus an alternate prix fixe option for all you lovers out there. The hand-pressed cocktails are also not to be missed. The Glen is also a perfect destination for your Galentines gathering if your Feb. 14 is moving in that direction!
4. escondido
We were absolutely blown away at how beautiful the place was the first time we walked into Escondido in North Dallas. This is another spot on this list that is great for either a date night OR a February 14 Margarita-based outing with the crew you love the most. The guajillo glazed shrimp with Mexican fried rice is a really interesting and unique dish that you won't find at just any Tex-Mex spot, so give it a try on your next visit!
5. bowen house
The perfect spot for drinks after your fancy Valentines Day Dinner — or maybe for a little sip before the big swanky meal — is definitely Bowen House. No knock at all on the food options at the posh cocktail bar in the Harwood District, but it's definitely a spirit-forward kind of spot. We love their Sotol & Spice, an almond-Horchata-based cocktail, as well as the plucky Killer Queen, made with creme de cacao, amaro nonino, amarula and a nice coconut porter. If you are staying for dinner, we LOVE their brown butter Branzino.
6. terreli's
Terreli's was named Best Italian spot and Best Celebratory Dinner in East Dallas last year by the Lakewood Advocate, and what is Valentine's Day but a celebration of love, no? For the record, the family-owned East Dallas mainstay pulled in three Readers Choice Awards from the Dallas Observer last year as well, so what do we really need to add at this point?
The Italian Nachos, shortened first by the Dallas masses, then on the menu as "Italchos," (starting at $9 and up with toppings) are just one of the delicacies Terreli's is known for. Don't load up on them, either, because the stunning dinner menu awaits. Every visit is a special one, even if you don't have to get all gussied up just to walk through the door on Greenville Avenue. Your date will appreciate a night out at Terreli's.
7. the finch
This new neighborhood grill and raw bar at Mockingbird Station somehow manages to feel both laid back and upscale at the same time. The fresh feels, fresh seafood and super fresh cocktail options are the clear headliners at The Finch. We love the red pepper hummus crudites or a jumbo prawn cocktail to start, and at the raw bar you can order à la carte to combine your favorites and create the perfect spread.
8. Wagamama
The popular London noodle and bao chain Wagamama is now open in Downtown! The ambiance here is gorgeous, and the food is 10/10! They serve a variety of shared plates, ramen, curry, rice and noodle bowls, bars, and desserts. The space is lively and modern with a really cool butterfly origami installation that you've just got to see!
9. Seapot
Plano's Seapot is one of the best hotpot and Korean BBQ spots in town, hands down! You can craft your own hotpot by grabbing your favorite ingredients from their handy conveyor belt, and customize your own sauce if you choose Korean BBQ instead! It's a very hands-on experience and a very tasty experience, and you can make it a unique dining experience every time!
10. sassetta
The stunning Italian hotspot Sassetta reopened with a bang in September 2022 after a brief pandemic-related hiatus, and we couldn't be more thrilled that this place has returned to the Dallas dining scene, to its rightful place abutting the Joule Hotel Downtown. The decor is Italian chic meets modern romance, so it's PERFECT for a lovely Valentines Dinner date. They make all their pastas and pizza doughs in-house, and we haven't had anything on the menu that wasn't SPECTACULAR.
11. French Room Bar
Experience the art of Cocktail Hour at the French Room Bar inside the always stunning historic Adolphus Hotel downtown. Gather around the roaring fireplace or elbow up to the black marble bar beneath a shining gold ceiling. This distinctive, edgy space is filled with custom chairs, barstools, banquettes, antique portraits, and an original fireplace transformed into the focal point of the room with a new bold red finish.
12. Revolver Taco Lounge
You've got to try to get you and your date into this incredible seven-course dinner experience in the back room of Revolver Taco Lounge! That's right — Revolver is hosting a Chef’s Tasting room for up to 8 people! This intimate dinner is nothing short of amazing! Chef Rojas prepares each course right in front of you, and every dish was unique and perfectly executed! A ticket to this dinner comes in at around $180, but this is an experience! Chef Rojas teaches you about these traditional dishes while he’s serving them and every item is top of the line quality!
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1. rodeo bar
God save the Rodeo Bar, the relaxed, come-as-you-are bar that feels like home to any Texan, attached to the Adolphus Hotel Downtown. Grab your friends and have a rootin-tootin Galentines with a few Rodeo 'Ritas — they're some of the best Margs you'll find Downtown. The menu is full of down-home tasty bar bites, burgers and salads — may we recommend the Carne Asada combo plate, bathed in their delightful chimichurri, and he El Tejano burger, which comes with smoked pork adobado, guacamole, pickles and chipotle aioli. Wash it down with one of their Boilermaker selections: ask for their Mexican Handshake, and your night is off and running.
2. Olivella's Pizza & wine
If you’re looking for some of the best pizza in Dallas, Olivella's will be a contender for the top spot! They serve Neapolitan and Roman-style pizza right next to the SMU campus, and we are in love! We recommend trying the pistachio and sausage pizza if you want to experience a unique flavor combo or the black truffle pizza for a rich and savory taste!
3. Las Palmas
It may be the best happy hour spot in Dallas, but we wouldn't frown at a casual Valentine's Day dinner at Las Palmas, either! It's never the wrong time for their nachos and few fiero spritzes!
4. Wriggly Tin
Wriggly Tin in Fair Park is SUCH a vibe. It's a gorgeous space, and it doesn’t close until midnight so it’s the perfect place for hangouts or date night! The true star of the show here is the pizza and draft beers! The crust was so crispy, and the sauce + cheese combo is to die for! The outdoor space here is huge so it’s great for big parties, work gatherings, and more!
5. surf camp
This rooftop bar in Downtown Dallas brings maximum beachey vibes no matter what the weather is doing! The best part is you have a PERFECT skyline view of downtown Dallas while you sip and snack on your tiki-themed delights.
6. Tequila social
Every day is the perfect day for a margarita, in our opinion! And, a meal at Tequila Social on the Katy Trail is the perfect way to treat yourself after a great workout, a stroll with your friends, or just because! This 10,000-square-foot space is the perfect place to kick back and relax, whether you enjoy the A/C on the inside or chill on the dog-friendly patio outside!
7. delucca Gaucho Pizza & Wine
With locations in the Design District, Plano, Southlake and Fort Worth, Delucca offers great pizza and wine pairings and a separate $24.50 tasting menu that is an incredible value for your Valentines Day dollar. It starts with a chef-made lobster bisque and continues with a salad course followed by meatballs, pizza and ending with a selection of their delicious dessert pizza. If you're there for just pizzas, try their Chicken Tikka Masala pizza — you won't find anything else like it around town.
8. The Meteor Cafe
From sunup til’ sundown, The Meteor Cafe in the Design District can do it all. Enjoy coffee and cafe-style bites by day, and pizza and wine by night! This quirky cafe has something for you and your date no matter what mood you're in!
9. greenville avenue pizza co
Staying on Greenville Avenue, why not spend Valentine's Day with the Pizza Slayers over at GAPCo.? We can't think of any comfort food we love more than a great pizza, and if you and your lover feel the same way, is there really a need to play dress-up on Feb. 14? It's true scratch pizza at Greenville Avenue, with a variety of house-made sauces and a thin-crust backbone to their pies. We love the Pesto Sciutto or the 5-cheese ($20 each) or just popping by for some toasted ravs ($11) from time to time.
10. postino
Deep Ellum's funkiest wine bar may just strike the right note this Valentine's Day. Roll-away garage-style doors give way to an indoor-outdoor bar in one of the most vibrant of Dallas foodie neighborhoods. But within, there are also plenty of nooks for you and your sweetie to get lost in intimate conversation over a nice glass of pinot. The bruschetta spreads ($15.50 - choose 4 varieties) are amazing — probably one of Postino's biggest features. They are beautiful to look at on the board and it only gets better at first bite. If a chill, small-plates-and-wine type night is in the cards for you this Valentine's Day, you'll also love their skewers ($14) or sweet potato wedges ($9.50) to go along with some great conversation.
11. cheapsteaks
If your date has a great sense of humor, or maybe if you're making a group night of Feb. 14 (SOLIDARITY!), head on over to Cheapsteaks, which is also in Deep Ellum. With live music nearly every night of the week on one of two stages, a filet mignon under $25, and Brussels Sprouts of the fried variety on the menu, this place is a true hang. Yes, the steaks are affordable, but you can't shake a stick at them. It's a good steak. If it sounds like everything Dallas is not, then you just haven't been hanging out in Deep Ellum enough.
12. la reunion
For a more casual Valentine's day outing, why not try La Reunion in Bishop Arts? They're primarily known for their coffee and cocktails, but snack boards and sandwiches are available as well. We love to build our own boards and throw back one or two casual elderflower G&T's ($13) from time to time. This is another great spot if you're just trying to avoid "the usual" or if you're trying avoid Valentine's Day altogether this Feb. 14. Have an espresso martini ($13) or a strawberry bullshit ($15) if that is how your day turned out.
13. hawkers
Hawkers' Asian street food menu is as vibrant as the street art in the surrounding Deep Ellum neighborhood. It doesn't HAVE to be a special occasion to go grab some of their delicious grub, but if you wanted to on this particular occasion, no one's going to argue with you. The Roti Canai, a Malaysian flatbread starter, is a must every time we're in the neighborhood. Then it becomes a debate: what's better, the Seoul hot chicken baos? Or the pork belly baos? If you're aimlessly wandering the streets of Deep Ellum this Valentine's Day, grabbing some Hawkers is going to be the best decision you make all night. Guaranteed.
14. taco y vino
🚨 Folks, we have a six (6) tacos and a bottle of wine for $40 alert. 🚨 I repeat, this is an official six (6) tacos and a bottle of wine for $40 alert. 🚨 Do not adjust your television sets. What you are seeing is real. 🚨 This has been your six (6) tacos and a bottle of wine for $40 alert. 🚨 Seriously though, no place blurs the line between fancy and super casual like Taco Y Vino in the Bishop Arts district. There are fine boutique labels available, but somehow they don't leave your wallet on empty. There are unique creations happening between these four walls, for both meat-eaters and those who abstain, that imitate art both on the plate and in your mouth hole. Before you take the plunge on your six (6) tacos and a bottle of wine for $40, be sure to also try the spicy tamale bites ($6.25).
15. sushi house
Sushi House has been blessing The D with truly great sushi at very reasonable prices for more than 20 years, and they get bonus points on this Valentines Day list for being located on LOVERS LANE (get it?). Premium rolls like their Mango Tango (one of our faves at $16.50) go for anywhere in the neighborhood of $11-20, but the feel of the place and the quality of the ingredients and craftsmanship make it an incredible value.
