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    Where to Eat on Valentine's Day

    14 best Houston restaurants to love for dining out on Valentine's Day

    Elizabeth Rhodes
    Feb 4, 2020 | 10:30 am

    Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away, so it's time to start making plans to celebrate the occasion with your beloved.

    With an array of multi-course dinners, as well as a few more casual options, we've rounded up the 14 best Valentine's celebrations Houston has to offer. As with any Valentine's Day, we highly recommend reserving your seats in advance.

    Emmaline
    Get cozy and celebrate with four courses and a glass of champagne at this stylish Montrose restaurant. Prix fixe options include squid ink linguini with lobster fonduta, seared fresh sea scallops, and lamb chops, as well as delicious desserts including a buttermilk panna cotta and a dark chocolate espresso torta. Guests can add a romantic floral arrangement from Petals and Palette Design Co. for an additional $75. The menu costs $75 per person. 3210 W. Dallas St.; 713-523-3210

    Verdine
    Celebrate at Verdine with a completely vegan menu inspired by traditional steakhouse fare. The three-course, prix fixe menu includes choices like Maryland “crab” cake, Beyond Meat filets, and tempeh piccata, as well as dessert options like a brownie banana split and white chocolate cheesecake. The menu is $60 per person and reservations are required. 449 W. 19th St.; 713-876-4768

    Le Colonial
    Enjoy a romantic dinner at hotspot Le Colonial with a three-course, prix fixe dinner highlighting the restaurant’s upscale Vietnamese cuisine. The menu presents decadent options such as tuna tartare, truffle and squash dumplings, pan-seared sea bass, and roasted Hudson Valley duck. The menu is $85 per person and reservations are suggested. 4444 Westheimer Rd.; 713-629-4444

    Arnaldo Richards’ Picos
    At Arnaldo Richards’ Picos, guests can take a culinary adventure without the travel. A special Valentine’s menu showcases the traditions of Spanish cuisine and features paella, tapas, charcuterie, and dessert. The menu is $85 per person. 3601 Kirby Dr.; 832-831-9940

    Bistro Menil
    Bistro Menil offers a special prix fixe menu on February 14 and 15, allowing for a bit of flexibility with your Valentine’s plans. The four-course menu includes entree options like seared diver scallops with beurre blanc, caviar, and creamy lemon risotto or sous vide duck breast with tart cherry sauce and savory roasted chestnut puree. The menu is available for $110 per person or $79 without wine pairings. 1513 West Alabama; 713-904-3537

    The Annie Café and Bar
    For an unforgettable evening featuring dinner, drinks, and dancing, check out Supper Club at The Annie on Sunday, February 16. The restaurant will present live musical entertainment from the Richard Brown Band, as well as a three-course, prix fixe menu from executive chef Robert Del Grande. Tickets are $150 per person and seatings take place at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Reservations are required. 1800 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 6170; 713-804-1800

    Helen Greek Food and Wine
    Head to Rice Village hotspot Helen Greek Food and Wine for a cozy Valentine's dinner for two. The special menu, available on February 14 and 15, features three shareable courses, including an entree of either lamb shank or whole plaki fish. The menu is $90 for two people or $115 with a bottle of wine. 2429 Rice Blvd.; 832-831-7133

    State of Grace
    Enjoy a romantic evening at State of Grace with a special, prix fixe menu from Chef Bobby Matos. The menu features dishes like tuna carpaccio, smoked chicken and andouille gumbo, and chargrilled oysters, as well as entrees like pan roasted diver scallops, pancetta-wrapped monkfish, Berkshire pork cheeks, and petit filet mignon. The menu is $85 per person and reservations are recommended. 3258 Westheimer Rd.; 832-942-5080

    Davis Street at Hermann Park
    Join Davis Street at Hermann Park for a four-course, prix fixe menu highlighting chef Mark Holley's Southern fare with pan Asian flair. The menu features offerings like grilled lamb chops, Thai-style fried snapper for two, or harissa-dusted Cornish hen, as well as decadent desserts including their down south coconut cake. The menu is $80 per person. 5925 Almeda Rd.; 877-328-4778

    La Lucha
    Enjoy a cozy evening at La Lucha with a three-course, prix fixe menu to share with your loved one. The menu features Southern dishes with an upscale flair, including potato pancakes with caviar, fried chicken with roasted winter squash, and sweet potato spoonbread. The menu is $49.95 per person. 1801 N. Shepherd Dr.; 713-955-4765

    Verandah Progressive Indian Restaurant
    Celebrate Valentine's Day with an exotic tasting menu at Verandah Progressive Indian Restaurant in Upper Kirby. The four-course, prix fixe menu features dishes representing all of India's regions and includes a glass of champagne for each diner. The menu is $75 per person and wine pairings can be added for an additional cost. 3300 Kirby Dr.; 281-501-0258

    BOH Pasta
    Chef Ben McPherson's Italian restaurant at Bravery Chef Hall offers a four-course, prix fixe menu that's designed to be shared by two people. Dishes include beef carpaccio, lobster and crawfish ravioli, and Borolo-braised short rib. The meal costs $105 per couple and seatings are available at 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30. 409 Travis St.; 713-364-5502

    Politan Row
    The nine food vendors and cocktail bar at Rice Village's food hall unite for an evening dubbed "Solamente Amor: Single Bites from Around the World." Designed for people who are singled or coupled up, the menu features dishes such as lemon cake from Italian restaurant Bronson's House, Peruvian ceviche from Pasha Nikkei, and crispy chicken dumplings from Kin. Tickets are $50, and the party starts at 7 pm. 2445 Times Blvd.; 713-489-2546

    Street to Kitchen
    Make it a vegan Valentine's with a five-course menu of dishes from chef Benchawan Painter, who serves authentic Thai flavors using locally-sourced ingredients. Her menu includes garlic chive pancakes, royal pad Thai and black truffle dumplings, and mango sticky rice. Tickets, $85, also include mimosas made with sparkling wine and freshly-squeezed juices from Juice Girl owner Gretchen Todd. 2424 Times Blvd.

    Celebrate with a cozy four course dinner and champagne at Emmaline.

    Emmaline Valentine's Day champagne
    Photo by Becca Wright
    Celebrate with a cozy four course dinner and champagne at Emmaline.
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    food news roundup

    6 things to know in Houston food: Openings, a closing, and more

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 27, 2026 | 3:34 pm
    Atlantic Ocean food spread
    Photo by Madelynne Grace
    Atlantic Ocean recently opened on Washington Avenue.

    From an intimate new Italian restaurant in West U. to the surprise shutter of a Midtown pickleball venue, the Houston food scene moves pretty fast. Read on to find out how Winsome Prime is celebrating its anniversary, an Atlanta chef who just opened his first Houston restaurant, and an exciting new dinner series that’s bringing one of Austin’s best chefs to the Heights for a one-night-only meal.

    Openings and closings

    Osteria di Mercato has opened in West University Place. A sister concept to Mercato and Company, a gourmet grocer that opened last year, the 30-seat, dinner-only restaurant aims to serve traditional Italian fare in an intimate environment. The menu features dishes such as saffron arancini, tuna crudo with passion fruit chili sauce, fettuccine with braised rabbit, smoked ricotta and spinach agnoloti, swiss chard-stuffed quail.

    Executive chef Mauricio Alvarado spent 16 years working for various Tony Vallone restaurants, including Ciao Bello, Vallone’s, and Tony’s. The Michelin Guide designated general manager Marco Thompson as Toronto’s sommelier of the year in 2023.

    The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30-9:30 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

    Atlantic Ocean has opened in the former Passerella space at 6011 Washington Ave. Open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, the wide-ranging menu offers seafood dishes from around the globe.

    Starters include cornmeal-crusted crab cake, chargrilled oysters, clams calabrese, and Moroccan lamb shots. Entrees offer similar diversity, ranging from blackened redfish and grilled branzino with chimichurri and citrus mojo to a soy-martinated ribeye and lobster pasta that’s made with butter-poached claw meat.

    Chef-owner Virgil Harper is best known for Toast on Lenox, his acclaimed brunch concept in Atlanta. He’s joined in the kitchen by executive chef and partner Aliyah Watley.

    "Atlantic Ocean was created to deliver a dining experience where every detail feels intentional, from the quality of the seafood to the warmth of the service and the atmosphere around you,” Harper said in a statement. “Houston’s dynamic food culture makes it the perfect home for this concept, and we’re excited to share a menu that respects seafood traditions while bringing a fresh, creative perspective."

    Midtown pickleball bar Solarium has closed, according to its Instagram page. Opened in April 25, the bar transformed the former Holman Draft Hall space with six outdoor courts and five private rooms to watch the action.

    Solarium was a joint venture between the Kirby Group and Rex Hospitality, the restaurant group owned by Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. and his business partners, Juan Carlos de Aldecoa and Jimmy Doan. Earlier this year, Rex closed its Maven Coffee location in Sawyer Yards to concentrate on its wholesale business that sells coffee products such as cold brew concentrate.

    Other news and notes

    Zaranda, Hugo Ortega’s California-inspired restaurant in downtown, is now open Sunday. It will serve an a la carte brunch from 11 am-3 pm. Options include cornbread with Mandarin-honey butter; tostada de campechana with octopus, shrimp, raw oysters, cucumber, avocado, ancho-morita purée, Clamato, Maggi, soy, and olive oil; steak and eggs with refried beans, guacamole, salsa, and flour tortillas; Baja breakfast burrito with bacon, chorizo, scrambled eggs, potato, onion, salsa roja y verde, avocado, and cheese-crusted sobaquera; chilaquiles with shredded chicken, sunny-side-up eggs, totopos, salsa verde, crema, and housemade queso fresco; and more. It will also be open for dinner from 4-9 pm.

    Winsome Prime is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a limited time menu. The three-course, $50, prix fixe menu includes choices such as chili-glazed shrimp, crab beignets, spinach and artichoke dip, kung pao pasta, and chicken royale. Upgrade to the signature Hawaiian ribeye — a nod to the location once being home to Houston’s — for $10. Choose one of three desserts to complete the meal.

    Food events

    Doke concepts will host a series of guest chef dinners in April, May, and June. Each evening will begin with champagne and hors d’oeuvres at Lazy Land. Diners will then be driven to The Green Room for a three-course dinner, followed by dessert cocktails and s’mores at Heights & Co. The lineup includes chefs recognized by the Michelin Guide and the most recent winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas.

    • April 15: Joseph Geiskopf, chef and co-owner of The On’ry, a traveling culinary concept based out of Houston, formerly of Ciel and Credence
    • April 29: Kevin Fink, chef and co-owner of Emmer and Rye Hospitality, which operates Michelin-recognized restaurants Emmer & Rye, Hestia, Isidore, and others.
    • May 13: Louis Maldonado, a former Top Chef contestant who held one Michelin star at Cortez restaurant in San Francisco.
    • May 26: Thomas Bille, chef-owner of Belly of the Beast in Spring and 2025 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Texas
    • June 10: To be announced
    • June 24: Ryan Lachine, executive chef of State of Grace, formerly chef-owner of Riel

    Atlantic Ocean food spread

    Photo by Madelynne Grace

    Atlantic Ocean recently opened on Washington Avenue.

    “This dinner party series is designed to give our guests an upscale, unique dining experience while highlighting each of our restaurants' distinct personalities,” Doke Concepts owner Brian Doke said in a statement. “With the help of our incredible guest chefs, we’re confident we’re going to give our guests an unforgettable evening.

    Tickets will be available via the Lazy Lane website.

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