Where to Eat on Valentine's Day

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

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.

Photo by Becca Wright

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

holidays dinner

bring on barnaby's

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

Courtesy of Barnaby's Cafe

Barnaby's Cafe is coming to the Stomping Grounds this fall.

Earlier this week, real estate developer Bryan Danna promised “big news…very soon” about a new tenant for the former LuLoo’s Day & Night space at his Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks. That news is that Houston favorite Barnaby’s Cafe has claimed the space for a new location that will open later this year.

When a Barnaby’s decal appear on the restaurant’s door a couple of days ago, news of the restaurant’s imminent arrival spread quickly on social media. It will be Barnaby’s tenth location, joining outposts in Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights, and more.

The restaurant will occupy a 2,250-square-foot space at the Stomping Grounds. It will offer a to-go window for people hanging out in the development’s green space as well as a gated, dog-friendly patio. Houston artist Roberto Cervantes will contribute works to the restaurant’s interior.

Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Jeff Gale, Barnaby’s is known for its wide-ranging and affordable menu of classic American fare, including salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, and dinner entrees. Customer favorites include the Lebanese chicken fattoush salad, chipotle black bean burger, baby back ribs, and green eggs, which are scrambled with spinach and artichoke hearts. Dogs can snack on a special “puppy menu” of ground beef, sliced chicken breast, or scrambled eggs over brown rice.

Stomping Grounds green space A to-go window will expedite orders for people in the Stomping Grounds' green space.Courtesy of Stomping Grounds

“Bringing Barnaby’s to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest has been on my wish list for more than a decade, so I’m incredibly grateful that Jeff Gale and his team saw Stomping Grounds as the right fit,” Danna said in a statement. “Jeff and I go back to his first Heights location, which was one of Barnaby’s first big moves north of Montrose, and I have always respected what he and his longtime team have built. Thirty years in the restaurant business is a serious accomplishment. You do not make it that long unless you know how to take care of people, build loyalty, and become part of the neighborhood.”

When it opens this fall, Barnaby’s will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It will join other restaurants at the Stomping Grounds, including Fat Cat Creamery, Tex-Mex restaurant La Mex, Bollo Woodfired Pizza, casual sushi restaurant Himari, Little Sister Cake Shop, and High Five Mini Bar. Earlier this week, casual Vietnamese restaurant Pho Prime announced that it had claimed the space formerly occupied by The Pho Fix for a new location that will also open this fall.

news-you-can-eat openings stomping grounds barnaby's cafe