Restaurant Review: Love in the air at Chicago’s Restaurants on Valentine’s Day 💗
Valentine’s Day is just days away. While many of Chicago’s finest restaurants are fully reserved for Saturday, February 14, we at Dean’s Team Chicago are looking out for you, and have found a few places still accepting reservations.
Now, you can romance your partner in style!
At Fulton Market’s Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market, you and your partner can opt for a special Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu that starts with Steak Tartare, made with sprouted buckwheat, radish, cured egg yolk, fried oysters, and whipped mandarin butter, on Publican Quality Bread, followed by Roasted Sea Bass with braised leek and lobster terrine and eureka lemon creme fraiche. Lamb for 2 is a roasted loin, shank hot pot, with glazed baby turnips and grilled dates. Their full menu is available as well. To inquire about Valentine’s Day reservations, call them at (312) 733 – 9555. For more information, click here.
At the St. Regis Hotel’s Miru, 401 E. Wacker Drive, you and sweetie can enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Brunch for $150 for two! Sharing is a must when the offerings include a Savory Breakfast Bao and Crispy Waffles with Japanese Fried Chicken to an elegant assortment of Nigiri and Maki. Top off your feast with a glass of rosé. This experience is available on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15. For reservations, click here.
Ahoy, seafaring lovebirds! Romance your partner under the stars on Lake Michigan at City Cruises on Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue. They still have Silver Ticket Packages available for $152 and up, which includes a Champagne Toast and Single Rose. A plated, three-course meal, starts with your choice of a Honeycrisp Apple Salad with mixed greens, feta cheese, and candied pecans in a mandarin orange vinaigrette, Corn and Potato Chowder, made with aged cheddar cheese, Yukon gold potatoes, and chive oil, or a Local Cheese and Charcuterie withlavash, seasonal fruit compote, and roasted almonds, followed by your choice of Pan-Seared Chicken Breast with scalloped sweet potatoes, broccolini, and Koval chicken jus, Smoked Chili-Rubbed Atlantic Salmon with vegetable succotash, Yukon gold potatoes, charred tomato vinaigrette and house giardiniera. Za’atar Flat Iron Steak with tamari marinade, roasted butternut squash, wild mushroom ragout, and balsamic demi glace. Finish your romantic meal with your choice of Chocolate Toffee Crunch Cake with Kahlua, chantilly cream and raspberries. Spanish ‘Basque Style’ Cheesecake is a cheesecake souffle with macerated blueberries, and chocolate and vanilla bean sauces, or an Orange Olive Oil Cake, with cardamom and pomegranate reduction. On Saturday night, you’ll get the chance to see Navy Pier’s dazzling fireworks show from an unobstructed vantage point on the water. For reservations, click here.
You may have missed Christmas, but in the Loop, The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room, 111 N. State Street, still has openings on Saturday for their $55 per person, three-course prixe fixe Valentine’s Day Menu, completewithaglass of Cava or Töst! Start with your choice of a Celebration of Beets Salad withgolden, red and candy cane beets in a tangerine vinaigrette, or their signature Lobster Bisque with sherry and chive, followed by your choice of Pan-Seared Halibut Puttanesca with grilled asparagus and quinoa, or Braised Short Rib withsweet potato puree, roasted wild mushrooms and rainbow Swiss chard. Finish your romantic meal with one of the Walnut Room’s signature desserts, including Cinnamon French Toast Bread Pudding, Frango Mint Cheesecake, or Carrot Cake. For reservations, click here.
While not specifically a Valentine’s Day menu, River North’s Pinched on the River, 443 E. Illinois Street, offers a Mediterranean-inspired three-course dinner for $39.95 per person.
From now through March 31, choose your dinner (or lunch) from starters like Chicken Veggie Soup, White Bean Soup, Mediterranean Salad, or Hummus and Pita, followed by your entrée of Chicken Shawarma, Chicken Kabob, Beef Chevaps, or Falafel. Finish up with a sweet treat such as Baklava with Honey or a Beignet with Chocolate Sauce. The meal also includes your choice of beverage, including imported or domestic beer, their house white, rosè, or red wine, or a non -alcoholic beverage. For reservations, click here.
Here’s to love and spectacular memories! 💕
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
