Planning a special night out with that special somebody? Several restaurants are cooking up romantic prix-fixe dinners that are perfect for couples. Others are featuring special Valentine’s Day-themed menus and giveaways.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve listed prices of the following specials per couple, though not all are exclusive to couples. Prices do not include beverage, tax or tip unless so specified. Reservations strongly recommended in all instances.
$150 and up
Carlos’, 429 Temple Ave., Highland Park, will offer a Valentine degustation (tasting) dinner Friday-Wednesday (closed Tuesday). Menu items will include pan-seared foie gras in brioche, sauteed salmon pinwheel over leek spaghettini and beurre rouge, baby lamb loin wrapped in basil and a special Valentine dessert. Cost is $160. Carlos’ also will offer a Valentine’s Day lunch degustation for $79. Regular menu also available Friday-Monday. 847-432-0770.
Catch 35, 35 W. Wacker Drive, will offer two special prix-fixe seafood dinners Feb. 14-17. The four-course dinner will feature Australian lobster tail, plus appetizer, soup or salad and dessert. The five-course dinner will feature pan-seared turbot with braised fennel, mushroom ragout and garlic mashed potatoes. Each couple gets a long-stemmed rose. Cost is $130 (four courses) or $170 (five courses). 312-346-3500.
The Dining Room, in the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 160 E. Pearson St., will feature a five-course dinner that includes Beluga caviar parfait over crab ceviche, artichoke heart ravioli and Maine lobster. Ladies will receive a gift bag filled with Georgette Klinger cosmetics and a gift certificate. Seatings are from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Cost is $190. 312-573-5223.
Entre Nous, in the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive, will offer a four-course Valentine’s Day menu along with live dance music and a horse-drawn carriage ride and champagne for two. Cost is $160. 312-565-7997.
Everest, 440 S. LaSalle St., will serve a special seven-course Valentine’s Day menu. Cost is $290. 312-663-8920.
Kinzie Chophouse, 400 N. Wells St., will serve a five-course Valentine’s dinner, including a bottle of wine, Wednesday through Feb. 17. Menu includes blackened sea scallop salad, penne pasta with smoked chicken and grilled filet mignon with crispy onions. Cost is $150. 312-822-0191.
Molive, in the Whitehall Hotel, 107 E. Delaware Pl., will offer a five-course dinner featuring so-called aphrodisiacs such as oysters (soaked in champagne with tarragon-caviar sabayon) and artichoke hearts (adorning a butter-poached Maine lobster). Cost is $120 ($150 with pink champagne pairings). 312-573-6300.
North Pond Cafe, 2610 N. Cannon Drive, will serve a four-course menu that includes lobster, crab and shallot turnover, rack of lamb, citrus-poached Maine lobster and hazelnut-chocolate fondant. Cost is $150. 773-640-0980.
RL, 115 E. Chicago Ave., will feature a five-course Valentine’s Day degustation menu that includes lobster salad, heart-shaped ravioli, albacore tuna with gewurztraminer sauce and chateaubriand, plus a special dessert. Each course is paired with a glass of still or sparkling wine. (Items on the degustation menu are also available a la carte.) Cost is $200.
Seasons, in the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Pl., will feature a Taste of Romance, a multicourse dinner for two including entrees such as noisettes of lamb and butter-poached Maine lobster. Cost is $152, $250 with matching wines. 312-280-8800.
Saussy, 1156 W. Grand Ave., will offer a six-course dinner featuring dishes inspired by the world’s most romantic cities. The dinner will also include a sampling of supposed aphrodisiacs. Seatings will be at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. At the end of the meal, guests will be invited to go on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Cost is $150. 312-491-1122.
Trio, 1625 Hinman Ave., Evanston, will offer a five-course prix-fixe menu on Valentine’s Day. Cost is $150. 847-733-8746.
$100-$149.95
Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph St., will offer a sharing menu for two on Valentine’s Day. Each couple will enjoy two each of four courses, plus extra nibbles. Courses include seared cod with garlic brandade, roasted bobwhite quail breast with serrano ham and seared loin of venison. Cost is $120, including a glass of champagne. 312-715-0708.
Chilpancingo, 358 W. Ontario St., will serve a five-course tasting menu with a passion fruit margarita and three glasses of wine. Cost is $110; cost without beverages is $70. 312-266-9525.
Courtright’s, 8989 Archer Ave., Willow Springs, will feature a four-course menu on Valentine’s Day. Choices include seared sea scallops with black truffles, apple- and potato-crusted halibut, Maine lobster and Asian poached pear. Cost is $120. 708-839-8000.
Deer Path Inn, 255 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, will offer a four-course menu for two on Saturday and Wednesday. It will include lobster bisque, choice of entrees (beef Wellington with barolo wine sauce, Dover sole and more) and a special trio dessert. Cost, including champagne toast, is $114 to $124, depending on entree. Regular menu also available. 847-234-2280.
D’Vine, 1950 W. North Ave., will offer a four-course, prix-fixe dinner with wine pairings. Cost is $120. Regular menu also available. 773-235-5700.
Geja’s Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., will serve a four-course menu of cheese fondue; salad; beef, shrimp and lobster fondue; and flaming chocolate fondue. Cost is $120 for the 5-7 p.m. and the 10 p.m.-midnight seatings, $140 for the 7:30-9:30 p.m. seating. Prepaid reservations accepted. 773-281-9101.
Great Street Restaurant, at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive, will offer a prix-fixe four-course champagne dinner. Entree choices include pomegranate-glazed chicken breast with caramelized onions and grilled filet mignon with Australian lobster. Desserts include a chocolate heart with white chocolate and Cointreau. Each guest gets a glass of champagne, and each couple gets a long-stemmed rose. Cost is $101. 312-795-3333.
Carnivores and herbivores will be sated at Green Dolphin Street, 2200 N. Ashland Ave., which will offer regular and vegetarian six-course menus. For carnivores, courses include Hudson Valley foie gras, pan-roasted quail and grilled beef tenderloin; for herbivores, there’s beet millefeuille and wood-roasted mushrooms with truffle broth. Cost is $100. 773-395-0066.
The Grill on the Alley, 909 N. Michigan Ave., will offer a three-course Valentine’s Day dinner. Menu choices include lobster bisque, gorgonzola endive salad with spicy pecans, beef Wellington with truffle sauce and pan-fried John Dory with orange butter. Each guest will receive a complimentary heart-shaped brownie. Cost is $55. 312-255-9009.
Harvest on Huron, 217 W. Huron St., will feature a four-course dinner from Wednesday through Feb. 17. The menu includes lobster fricassee, smoked-salmon ravioli and warm chocolate cake. Cost is $110; sparkling wines will be priced from $8 to $18 per glass. 312-587-9600.
Jilly’s Italian Steak Joynt, 1011 N. Rush St., will serve a five-course Valentine dinner for two, including bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne. Entree choices include chateaubriand and N.Y. strip steak. Cost is $149.95. 312-664-2100.
Le Colonial, 937 N. Rush St.., will serve a four-course dinner of Vietnamese specialties on Valentine’s Day. Cost is $120. 312-255-0088.
Le Passage, One Oak Place (the alley alongside 937 N. Rush St.), will offer a four-course prix-fixe menu, with dishes such as lobster salad, Dover sole meuniere, roasted duck breast and chocolate souffle with raspberries. Complimentary glass of Perrier Jouet champagne for each guest. Cost is $120. 312-255-1108.
Le Titi de Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Rd., Arlington Heights, will offer its Valentine’s Day dinner on Feb. 13 and 14. The five-course dinner will include a choice of beef tenderloin with mushrooms and port reduction; veal loin with apples and Calvados cream; or red snapper with sherried beet infusion. Cost is $112. 847-506-0222.
Les Deux Gros, 462 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn, will offer a five-course menu, including glass of rose champagne, Wednesday through Feb. 16. Cost is $140. Menu items may be ordered a la carte. 630-469-4002.
Mambo Grill, 412 N. Clark St., will offer a three-course dinner, with bottle of wine, Wednesday through Feb. 17. Courses include crab cakes with jalapeno-honey vinaigrette and stuffed chicken breast with poblano cream salsa. Cost is $125. 312-467-9797.
Mas, 1670 W. Division St. (773-276-8700), and Otro Mas, 3651 N. Southport Ave. (773-348-3200), will offer four-course nuevo Latino dinners. Both include shrimp and scallop ceviche, duck confit empanada, pork chop with pear-apple compote and petit filet with smoked crab fingers and cilantro-serrano pesto. Seatings are at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Cost is $100.
MK, 868 N. Franklin St., will feature a candlelit tasting menu for two on Valentine’s Day. Dishes include Maine lobster, beef tenderloin and a to-be-determined chocolate finale. Cost is $100. Regular menu also available. 312-482-9179.
Mossant, in the Hotel Monaco, 224 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a four-course menu for two that includes potato “barrel” filled with caviar, pork tenderloin with lobster medallion and caramel-coated spiced raisin cake. Cost is $110. 312-236-9300.
Primavera Ristorante, in the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive, will offer a four-course dinner, with music by the Primavera Singers, Friday through Feb. 18 (regular menu available most days; Valentine’s menu only on Wednesday). Cost is $130. 312-565-6655.
Red Light, 820 W. Randolph St., will offer a six-course pan-Asian menu by chef Paul Wildermuth. Items include sesame-crusted scallops with Kobe oxtail and mushroom-ginger ragout, and Peking duck with wild-mushroom Asian risotto. Cost is $110. 312-733-8880.
The Signature Room at the 95th, John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan Ave., will present a four-course Valentine’s Day menu; entree choices include lobster en croute, grilled beef filet, sauteed chicken breast and lemon-pepper fettucine. Dessert is a heart-shaped chocolate mousse cake for two. Live jazz will be featured. Cost is $120. 312-787-9596.
Szechwan East, 340 E. Ohio St., will serve a seven-course surf and turf dinner for two, including a bottle of Tott’s champagne. Cost is $59.95. 312-255-9200.
Nothing says “I love you” more than a gangland slaying, and so Tommy Gun’s Garage, 1239 S. State St., will mark Valentine’s Day with its annual re-creation of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, complete with stage blood. Still hungry? Sink your teeth into prime rib, N.Y. strip steak or chicken Marsala, which are some of the available entrees. Shows take place nightly Wednesday through Feb. 18. Cost is $90-$120. 773-728-2828.
Va Pensiero, 1566 Oak Ave., Evanston, will offer a seven-course menu, with complimentary glass of rose bubbly, by chef Jeff Muldrow. Dishes include brandy lobster bisque, three-cheese ravioli, grilled tenderloin and a surprise dessert. Cost is $130; reservations required. 847-475-7779.
Zinfandel, 59 W. Grand Ave., will feature a Couple’s Aphrodisiac Menu, consisting of an appetizer platter, entrees, cheese course and shared dessert. Cost is $100. Regular menu also available. 312-527-1818.
Under $100
At Adobo Grill, 1610 N. Wells St., the San Valentin menu will feature crawfish crepes topped with mole, roasted poblano chile stuffed with shredded pork and warm strawberry empanadas with chocolate sauce. Cost is $70. 312-266-7999.
Atwood Cafe, in the Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington St., will offer a special Aphrodisiac Menu featuring dishes designed for seduction. Cost is $76 ($96 with champagne pairings). 312-368-1900.
Bar Louie, 913 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, will present a “Louie For Two-y” prix-fixe package consisting of one shared appetizer, two entrees and a shared dessert from a special menu. Cost is $29.95. 847-279-1199.
Bistrot Margot, 1437 N. Wells St., will feature its regular a la carte menu, plus specials such as beef Wellington and stuffed lobster; there also will be a four-course menu for two, priced at $79.90. 312-587-3660.
Bistrot Zinc, 3443 N. Southport Ave., will serve a three-course dinner, with choices in each category, in lieu of its regular menu on Valentine’s Day. Cost is $80. 773-281-3443. At Bistrot Zinc at 1131 N. State St., a slightly different three-course menu is $72. 312-337-1131.
The Cafe, in the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 160 E. Pearson St., will feature a three-course Valentine’s Day dinner, with seatings from 4-11 p.m. Cost is $96. 312-573-5160.
Cyrano’s Bistrot & Wine Bar, 546 N. Wells St., will feature a la carte and prix-fixe menus Saturday through Wednesday (closed Sunday). There will be live music, red balloons everywhere and complimentary boxes of chocolates for ladies. The prix-fixe dinner is a five-course menu for two priced at $69. 312-467-0546.
The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar, 33 W. Monroe St., will offer an “Evening of Enchantment” four-course prix-fixe menu Sunday through Wednesday. Courses include shrimp bisque, shrimp and lobster parfait and beef Wellington; each will be paired with a glass of wine. Dessert offers a choice of champagne service and chocolate dipped strawberries or lavender creme brulee with dessert wine. Cost is $84. 312-960-0000.
JaponiSante, 2044 N. Halsted St., will present a four-course Valentine’s Day dinner of Japanese and French-influenced dishes. Cost is $90. 773-348-8228.
The Kaz Bar, in the House of Blues Hotel, 333 N. Dearborn St., will feature romantic-themed cocktails (Love Potion #9, ‘Tini for Two, Adam and Eve, etc.) and appetizer plates for two. 312-245-0333.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 798 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, will offer a special menu including Australian rock lobster tail, filet mignon, grilled mahi-mahi and jumbo shrimp. Complimentary champagne will accompany the appetizer, and entrees will be paired with wine. Seatings are at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Cost is $98. 847-228-9551.
Watusi, 1540 W. North Ave., will feature a four-course “Jamaican Cruise” menu for two, including jerk shark, conch and papaya salad and peppered rib steak. Cost is $69. 773-862-1540.
Other
The special Valentine’s Day menu at the American Smokehouse, 66 W. Main St., Lake Zurich, features surf and turf, mixed seafood grill (scallops, red snapper, sole), prime rib and barbecue ribs. Diners can also take advantage of discounted bottles of champagne ($25 bottles on sale for $10). 847-726-2272.
Atwood Cafe, in the Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington St., will offer a Love in the Afternoon tea, which includes sandwiches and special sweets, from 3-3:45 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Cost is $34. 312-268-1900.
At all six Chicago Bar Louie locations, couples will receive one complimentary dessert of their choice with their dinner or sandwich order.
Blackhawk Lodge, 41 E. Superior St., will feature a special Valentine’s Day dessert, “Triple Chocolate Debaucherie,” made with three types of chocolate. Patrons will also receive a complimentary “Blackhawk Love Potion” cocktail. 312-280-4080.
Bluepoint Oyster Bar, 741 W. Randolph St., will offer special entrees for two, including a shellfish platter, surf and turf and chateaubriand; price range is $45.95-$75.95. All couples will receive a keepsake photograph. 312-207-1222.
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, 2024 N. Halsted St., will offer a special selection of tapas, including oysters on the half shell with red pepper vinaigrette. Everyone gets a complimentary glass of champagne, and ladies get a complimentary flower and a heart-shaped chocolate-strawberry dessert. A strolling violinist will provide atmosphere. 773-935-5000.
Coco Pazzo, 300 W. Hubbard St., will augment its regular menu with specials, including an appetizer of grilled diver scallops with asparagus and black truffle vinaigrette, and an entree of veal tenderloin with forest mushrooms and lemon-thyme reduction. Each couple will receive complimentary roses and chocolates. 312-836-0900.
Coco Pazzo Cafe, 636 N. St. Clair St., will offer a variety of Valentine’s Day-inspired specials. Entree options include heart-shaped ravioli filled with sea bass and served with a rock shrimp sauce. For dessert there are flourless chocolate cake and banana amaretto cream pie. 312-664-2777.
Cosi, with locations at 230 W. Washington St., 116 S. Michigan Ave., 57 E. Grand Ave. and 3201 N. Clark St., will offer complimentary do-it-yourself s’mores on Valentine’s Day. All of the ingredients — marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate bars and graham crackers (or Oreos, if you prefer) — are delivered to your table, along with a fire pot and skewers. Purchase required.
Cucina Bella Osteria, 1612 N. Sedgwick Ave., will dish up heart-shaped portobello-mushroom pizzas, plus special desserts such as chocolate and peanut butter mousse served in a chocolate “love nest.” 312-274-1119.
Deleece, 4004 N. Southport Ave., will augment its regular menu with special dishes, such as herb-crusted rack of lamb and several themed desserts. A few tables are being set aside for last-minute reservations (which is now). 773-325-1710.
Harry Caray’s, 33 W. Kinzie St. (312-828-0966) and 10233 W. Higgins Rd., Rosemont (847-699-1200), will offer a la carte Valentine menus in addition to the regular menu. Tables will be decorated with candles, and Frank Sinatra tunes will play in the background.
Bring your marriage certificate to Geja’s Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., on Monday or Tuesday, and your food purchase will be discounted at double the years you’ve been married (married 10 years, 20 percent food discount). 773-281-9101.
Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted St., will offer a special a la carte, aphrodisiac-inspired menu and “Rosemopolitan” cocktails garnished with rose petals. Dishes include ancho chile-rubbed rack of lamb with manchego and chile potato gratin. Strolling costumed performers will serenade diners with torch songs. 773-525-1111.
Lou Lou Caffe & Bar, 2145 N. Damen Ave., will offer heart-shaped cracker-crust pizzas on Valentine’s Day, and present couples with get a complimentary glass of champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries. 773-782-9700.
Millennium, 832 W. Randolph St., will augment its regular menu with a la carte specials on Valentine’s Day. Specials include seasonal oysters, chateaubriand and poached pears in port wine. 312-455-1400.
Nick & Tony’s Italian Chophouse, 1 E. Wacker Drive, will feature special entrees for two, including osso buco and chateaubriand. Each couple will receive a comp-limentary rose and keepsake photograph. 312-467-9449.
Tilli’s, 1952 N. Halsted St., will offer a special a la carte Valentine’s Day menu and drink specials. Entrees include grilled portobello and parmesan pasta, tempura lobster tail and wood-grilled beef tenderloin. 773-325-0044.
Heart-shaped ravioli will be on the menu at Trattoria No. 10, 10 N. Dearborn St., through Wednesday. 312-984-1718.
