Valentine’s Day in the Emerald City
This year the romantic holiday falls on a Sunday and many restaurants are also offering their Valentine’s Day menus on Friday and Saturday. We know it can be stressful for some trying to plan an impressive and romantic date, but never fear you are covered. Take your Valentine to one of the following Seattle establishments and you’re bound to get lucky.
Just waking up with your significant other on Valentine’s Day? Get your day started by treating your special one to a delicious brunch and freshly squeezed juice at Bacco Cafe in Pike Place Market. You can choose from a variety of juice concoctions such as the “Firenze” which is a combination of kiwi, grapefruit, and lime or the “Abruzzo” which consists of grapefruit and orange. A few brunch favorites are the Dungeness Crab Omelet with avocado and cheese, the Brioche French Toast, and The Ultimate Grilled Cheese. Don’t crawl out of bed too late though as Bacco is only open from 7am - 3pm.
Not only are oysters notorious aphrodisiacs, but at Taylor Shellfish they are incredibly fresh and tasty. If you’re looking to spice up your romantic evening, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar should definitely be your first stop. There are a few locations strategically placed around the city - Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square, and, Queen Anne - allowing you to capture the love that derives from these oysters no matter where you live in the city. Begin the evening with a dozen sustainably farmed, freshly shucked, Kumamotos, Olympias, and Shigokus.
Valentine’s Day with the family? Benihana is a perfect place to take the kids as they will be mesmerized by their own personal chef who demonstrates culinary showmanship while preparing a delicious meal. For the adults, a warm glass of sake or two will keep your romantic coals ignited even after the kids go to bed.
Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, Japonessa is a Japanese restaurant with a Latino flair. Impress your date with your knowledge of the Spanish language by sharing that Japonessa translates to “Japanese Woman”. This restaurant is really for seafood lovers as they serve some of the best sushi in the city. You will find sushi rolls that are uniquely decorated with ingredients like jalapeño and mango. They also have traditional sashimi and yakisoba on the menu.
Place Pigalle is located in a tiny corner right behind the iconic Pike Place Market sign. This quaint and very special restaurant is a perfect place for the romantic couple seeking a more intimate setting. On Valentine’s day only, they will offer a special four-course meal. A few options off this special menu include Veal Sweetbreads, Oysters, French onion soup, Arctic Char, Beetroot Ravioli, and a Bistro Filet. You must end your romantic evening meal with their famous “Pot de Creme” paired with an aged port. This velvety chocolate dish is something that even the nicest person will not be willing to share, so you might consider ordering two.
Although normally closed on Sunday, Matt’s in the Market is open this Valentine’s Day to celebrate this special evening with a few lucky couples. Matt’s is located upstairs in Pike Place Market and nearly every seat offers an amorous view of Puget Sound and the historic market below. Begin your meal with the obvious choice of the ½ Dozen Oysters on the Half Shell, Foie Gras, and Mixed Green Salad. For the main course you will be delighted with any entree, however, you might want to explore the Lamb Osso Bucco or the American Kobe Zabuton Steak prepared with bone marrow stuffing, sunchokes, and creamed spinach.
Remember the romantic spaghetti scene from “Lady and the Tramp”? You can re-enact that sultry moment with your loved one over a bowl of house-made pasta at the dimly lit, ultra-romantic Il Bistro.
That’s Amore!
Okay, you most likely have survived dinner. Now, time to get the juices flowing and the coals of love burning hot. At Spur, a mixologist will interview you on which flavors you prefer in your cocktail and they will craft a unique masterpiece. After your second cocktail it is a wise idea to Indulge in the Duck Liver Pate with pink peppercorn, green grape, and honey.
If you’ve followed our advice for Valentine’s Day, a room at the Four Seasons Hotel just may be where you wake up on Monday morning. If you are lucky enough to pull this off, don’t forget a morning stop at Fonté where they specialize in single-origin espressos. A sprinkle of cayenne pepper on that coffee could re-ignite that Valentine flame.
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