Valentine’s Day dinner menus in Vancouver
Stuck on where to take your sweetie for Valentine’s Day this year? These Vancouver restaurants will help you turn up the romance with special multi-course menus, stunning views, live music and dancing, plus a few extra-special surprises for lovers. Remember, Cupid rewards those who plan ahead so reserve your table early to avoid date-night disappointment. [Image courtesy of Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar]
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
845 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K6Come February 14, Boulevard swaps its classic a la carte dinner service for a special “Yours & Mine” four-course Valentine’s Day menu for all the lovers out there. Prepared by executive chef Alex Chen, the exceptional prix fixe meal ($99 per person) features slow poached oysters, pate en croute, and your choice of entrée: butter poached Atlantic lobster tail or prime New York striploin. End things on a sweet note with dark chocolate mousse or raspberry vacherin. Each couple will also receive a box of Valentine’s petits fours handcrafted for the occasion by pastry chef Jason Pitschke.
Hawksworth Restaurant
750-669 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B4Always worthy of a special occasion, the elegant dining room at Hawksworth is an ideal choice for a very special Valentine’s Day date. The extravagant one-day-only tasting menu ($158 per person; $216 with wine pairings) is a multi-course mélange of sumptuous flavours – think Alaskan king crab, grilled langoustine, pheasant with tarragon gnocchi, and roasted lamb loin and black truffle. If you can’t snag reservations for this in-demand dining event, pop into Bel Café next door and treat your boo to something sweet like a romantic, blush-hued Pretty in Pink raspberry white hot chocolate or a citrusy double lemon tart.
Burdock & Co Restaurant
2702 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E8An intimate dining room in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Burdock & Co. is simultaneously one of the city’s most critically acclaimed restaurants, and a cozy, candle-lit neighbourhood spot with plenty of charm. Chef and owner Andrea Carlson is revered for her sophisticated farm-to-table cuisine, as well as her commitment to sustainability. For Valentine’s Day, the award-winning eatery is offering a ticketed prix fixe menu ($99 per person) featuring beautifully plated dishes that showcase sustainable seafood, organic produce and ethically raised meats from the B.C. region. Naturalist wine pairings will also be on offer for those who wish to imbibe.
Observatory Restaurant
6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9Nothing will get your heart racing like the panoramic views from atop Grouse Mountain. Located high above the city, The Observatory restaurant gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “elevated dining” – especially at sunset. Hop aboard the gondola with your honey and head above the clouds for a memorable Valentine’s date in a real-life winter wonderland. The prix fixe dinner ($120 per person) includes five outstanding courses, with a vegetarian version available. Alternatively, book a unique Valentine’s Day snowshoe fondue tour for you and your sweetie; hour-long guided tours are offered on February 12 and February 14.
Neverland Tea Salon
3066 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V6K 2H1Looking for a cute alternative to a fancy date-night dinner? How about tea for two? This whimsical tea salon in Kits is once again hosting a special Valentine’s themed tea ($40 per person for full High Tea; $25 for Demi High Tea) from February 12 to 14, with extended hours on the big night to accommodate all the lovers. Expect a classic tiered tea service with a romantic twist; nibble your way through pretty plates of Kushi oysters, gourmet finger sandwiches, scones, bite-sized desserts and heart-shaped macarons – plus unlimited tea refills throughout. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free substitutions are also available.
Maenam
1938 4th Avenue W, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M5Maenam is not your average Thai joint; there’s no ketchup-laced pad Thai or greasy curry on the menu at this award-winning Kitsilano kitchen. Critically acclaimed Vancouver chef Angus An specializes in authentic Thai dishes prepared with a modern flair that showcase fresh, sustainable ingredients from the region. The Valentine’s Day family-style menu ($75 per person) is sure to help you turn up the heat – at the dinner table at least. Couples will share an array of creative plates – hot and sour salmon soup, wagyu beef salad, scallop curry, caramelized beef tenderloin and more – all served over four courses.
Grapes & Soda Pantry
1535 6th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6J 1R1A bohemian jewel tucked away in South Granville, Farmer’s Apprentice is a true locavore’s dream. Celebrated chef and owner David Gunawan creates seasonal farm-to-table cuisine that’s honest, creative and occasionally awe-inspiring. For Valentine’s Day, the kitchen will be serving a prix fixe “In Full Bloom” feast ($80 per person; $130 with wine pairings) with early and late seatings available on both Monday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 14. The floral-themed tasting menu features six stunning courses – with distinct options for herbivores and omnivores – plus a different edible flower with each dish.
Federico's Supper Club
1728 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4A3You might find yourself shouting “That’s amore!” after a romantic date night at this longstanding Italian supper club. Offering plenty of Old World European charm, Federicos is sure to be packed with amorous couples during the Valentine’s Day dinner service, which will feature live music and dancing with host (and notable crooner) Federico Fucco. Executive chef Romy Prasad will be serving a set four-course menu ($80 per person; $105 with wine pairings) featuring an assortment of antipasti appetizers, primi pasta plates, and four delicious entrée options: grilled sea bass, braised short ribs, grilled chicken or wild porcini mushrooms. Bellissima!
Bauhaus Restaurant
1 Cordova St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1C8The nouveau German fare at Bauhaus is more haute cuisine than home-style cooking, making this Gastown hotspot a sophisticated choice for a romantic dinner for two on Valentine’s Day – actually, make that Valentinstag. While the dining room is housed in a historic 1890 building, Michelin-star chef Stefan Hartmann takes a contemporary approach in his open-concept kitchen. His four-course Valentine’s menu ($100 per person) features a range of exciting delicacies, including fresh scallops, venison loin, John Dory (a mild, white-fleshed European sea fish), and a final course of chocolate, passion fruit and mango.
Cibo Trattoria
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 0A8In honour of Valentine’s Day, this chic trattoria at the Moda Hotel is inviting lovers to cozy up together with an exceptional dinner for two ($75 per person). Designed by executive chef Ryan Byrd (who previously cooked at the double Michelin-starred Del Posto in New York), the four-course V-day menu includes an array of rustic Italian dishes. Highlights include saffron pasta with fresh Salt Spring clams, wine-braised lamb shank with polenta, and a decadent flourless chocolate cake to share. And hey, if you want to continue the date night after dinner, go ahead and check in to a suite upstairs.
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