Procrastinator's Guide

13 best Houston restaurants for a romantic Valentine's Day date

Valentine's Day is only a week away, so it's time to start making plans to enjoy the evening with your beloved. As with any Valentine’s Day dinner, reservations are usually a must, so here are 13 dinners and events that are still available and even a few that don't require reservations.

While most of the options are multi-course dinners ideal for couples to enjoy, there's also some events specifically geared to bring single folks in on the fun, too. So whether it's looking for an upscale meal, a casual date night, or an evening of mixing and mingling, we've got you covered.

Helen in The Heights
Trendy Greek eatery Helen in The Heights presents a three-course Valentine’s Day dinner featuring options such as Santorini tomato fritters, cuttlefish with fennel, and lamb dumplings. Dessert options like orange custard pie and fried rice pudding complete the casual yet romantic meal. The menu is $50 per person with optional wine pairings. 1111 Studewood St.; 832-582-7146

Relish Restaurant & Bar
Chic River Oaks spot Relish is simplifying Valentine's Day by offering dinner, dessert, and flowers all in one place. From February 14 to 16, the restaurant will offer their nightly menu as well as off-menu dinner specials, including butter-poached lobster carpaccio, seared foie gras, NY strip steak, and linguine vongole. In addition to dinner, Relish is offering decorated sugar cookies and a variety of pre-made bouquets perfect for your sweetheart. 2810 Westheimer Rd.; 713-599-1960

The Classic
Cozy up to your date with shareable entrees from The Classic, including options like a 44 Farms bistro filet with red wine au jus, a Texas bone-in short rib with artisan grits, and a fennel pollen crusted whole fish with citrus salad. Prices range from $48 to $52 for two people. 5922 Washington Ave.; 713-868-1131

Harold’s
Show your date some Southern hospitality with Harold’s four-course dinner, full of updated takes on classic dishes. The menu features options ranging from she crab soup and fried heritage pork chops to scallop risotto and buffalo bolognese, and don’t forget about to save room for desserts like flaming créme brulee or a red velvet trifle. The menu is $69 per person. 350 W. 19th; 713-360-6204

Public Services Wine & Whisky
In honor of Valentine's Day, Public Services Wine & Whisky is transforming their bar into an Italian restaurant for the evening. With food provided by Theodore Rex, the downtown bar will serve up spaghetti and meatballs, as well as tiramisu for dessert, and offer a special selection of cocktails and Italian wines. No reservations are required. 202 Travis St.; 713-516-8897

Poitín
Celebrate your love with an amazing skyline view at Poitín while taking advantage of their elegant three-course menu. The evening begins with sparkling wine on arrival and the menu features options including East Coast oysters, rabbit, Nordic salmon, venison and more, as well as a decadent chocolate flight for dessert. The menu is $75 per person, or $115 with wine or cocktail pairings. 2313 Edwards St.; 713-470-6686

Roka Akor
Treat your sweetheart to a four-course tasting menu at contemporary Japanese steakhouse Roka Akor. Options include signature appetizers, steak, seafood and sushi, as well as a decadent chocolate strawberry lava cake for dessert. The menu is available from 5 to 11 pm at $98 per person with a two person minimum. 2929 Weslayan St.; 713-489-6717

Field & Tides
Upscale casual Heights eatery Field & Tides created a three-course culinary experience that highlights the restaurant’s unique flair. The menu features options like pan seared market fish, she crab soup, and fried beef short rib, as well as desserts like Alabama chocolate stack cake and pineapple upside-down cake. The menu is $60 per person. 705 E. 11th St.; 713-861-6143

Roost
Cozy bistro Roost presents a creative three-course dinner, begun with a quintessential glass of champagne. The menu features appetizer options including wild boar gumbo and Gulf shrimp cocktail, as well as entree choices of pan-seared Gulf fish, roasted duck breast, and dry-aged Angus ribeye steak. The meal wraps up with a choice of dessert and a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries to take home. The dinner is $95 per person and walk-ins are welcome. 1972 Fairview St.; 713-523-7667

Chapman & Kirby
Romance will be in the air at the luxurious east downtown hotspot Chapman & Kirby, offering a four-course dinner as well as live music. The menu features items ranging from espresso-braised beef short rib and lobster bisque to seared diver scallops and delectable dessert options like marbled chocolate bread pudding and créme brulee. The menu is $55 per person. 2118 Lamar St.; 713-636-9615

La Lucha
Snuggle up close to your beloved with a family-style dinner at La Lucha, a charming spot in The Heights well-regarded for its Gulf Coast cuisine. The menu features Johnny cakes with Cajun caviar, beef carpaccio with smoked oyster mayo, and Carolina gold rice porridge with spiced pumpkin seeds, as well as bananas foster over housemade soft-serve. The dinner is $49.95 per person and the restaurant is offering $1 oysters all evening. 1801 N. Shepherd Dr.; 713-955-4765

B.B. Lemon
While celebrating the day is generally reserved for couples, the evening also brings some serious excitement for single folks with B.B. Lemon’s Anti-Valentine’s Day Party. DJ Johnny J will spin from 9 pm to 1 am and guests can mix, mingle, and enjoy “anti-love” drink and food specials. All black attire is encouraged and reservations by phone are required. 1809 Washington Ave.; 713-554-1809

The Rustic
Join in on the fun with a Singles Awareness Day Party at East downtown hot spot The Rustic. Live entertainment will be provided by the Whiskey Daniels Band from 7 to 10 pm and online dating service Bumble will be on-site with icebreakers and speed dating games. The free-entry party kicks off at 6 pm and the first 50 guests to order the "Bourbon Is My Boyfriend" cocktail will receive a tank top from Jim Beam. 1836 Polk St.; 832-321-7799

East downtown eatery Chapman & Kirby presents an inspired four-course dinner as well as a romantic atmosphere.

Courtesy photo

East downtown eatery Chapman & Kirby presents an inspired four-course dinner as well as a romantic atmosphere.

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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