With the 14th of February less than two weeks away, it's time to call and make a reservation, to a special destination, for a charming getaway.
This is the time when love is at its prime, and we have the perfect places to dine for you and your Louisville Valentine.
Varanese
From Friday, February 12th to Sunday, February 14th, Varanese will host "A Taste of Love Aphrodisiac Dinner." Reservations will be required to enjoy this enchanting feast that will feature fried oysters with savory mustard remoulade, succulent Angus rib eye steak with baked white truffle cavatappi, macaroni and cheese and seared scallop/lobster ravioli tossed with spinach and oyster mushrooms.
2106 Frankfort Avenue
(502) 899-9904
Image: Chris Gray
Garage Bar
Switch gears this Valentine's Day and cruise into the Garage Bar to do something a little different. Their "Anti Valentine's Beer Dinner", running from February 12th to February 14th, will showcase a citrus salad, roasted half chicken, and a double chocolate cookie with dark chocolate mousse (fittingly dubbed "Death by Chocolate"). Wash all that down with beer tastings for $30, presented by the Moody Tongue Brewing Company.
700 East Market Street
(502) 749-7100
Wiltshire on Market
This intimate and refined restaurant - emphasizing meals made with fresh, local ingredients - is a lovely place to have a romantic dinner. With an accommodating wine list, Wiltshire on Market offers wine by the glass and by the bottle, from a wide variety of regions. As detailed on their website, their menu changes weekly to "reflect the local and seasonal bounty of Kentucky," so you can be sure to experience a meal that is carefully thought-out and meticulously prepared. Open Thursday though Sunday evenings, Wiltshire is the perfect place to celebrate this affectionate holiday if you're looking for a place quaint and appealing.
636 East Market Street
(502) 589-5224
Image: Chris Gray
Bristol Bar & Grille
Bristol Bar & Grille downtown invites all couples to join them for a magical Valentine's Day evening. Starting a 5 p.m. on the 14th, feast on a multi-course meal with special bourbon cocktails. Also on this magical night, magician Richard E. Darshwood is scheduled to put on a mesmerizing performance. Take advantage of this V-Day dinner and special presentation for $79 per person (with taxes and gratuity included).
614 West Main Street
(502) 582-1995
Butchertown Grocery
Although it doesn't have a name that elicits thoughts of a beautiful night filled with romance, don't let this stylish, cozy and European-inspired restaurant slip under your radar this Valentine's Day. On the 14th, they are offering an excellent six-course dinner (yes, six) that will feature tender Maine lobster, delectable diver scallops with smoked celery, delicate wagyu beef tartare, and, of course, delicious chocolate for dessert. For $85 per person, you can share this outstanding spread with your valentine that will also offer carefully selected wine pairings.
1076 East Washington Street
(502) 742-8315
Image: Chris Gray
Napa River Grill
Take that special someone by the hand, and sweetly saunter into Napa River Grill on February 12th through the 14th. All weekend long, couples will be able to enjoy a sumptuous "Surf and Turf Tasting for Two", for $150. Both can enjoy a shared appetizer, choice of soup or salad, and a 28oz Creekstone Porterhouse with U7 scallops. Mini-desserts are also included in this special spread. Napa River Grill's regular menu will also be available Valentine's Day weekend.
1211 Herr Lane
(502) 423-5822
Seviché
This elegant Latin restaurant owned by highly regarded chef, Anthony Lamas, is situated at the corner of Bardstown Road and Stevens Avenue. It is an ideal destination for dinner on Valentine's Day. Seviché stays true its name by offering a variety of seviché dishes containing your choice of wild caught shrimp, oysters, or tuna. Entrées include: swordfish with yucca, smoked tomato, chorizo, and jumbo lump crab; chicken tinga with black bean tostada, salsa verde, and charred onion; and mahi mahi tacos with cumin lime aioli, cabbage and pico de gallo. This posh and polished restaurant also features an extensive wine list for starry-eyed lovers, which includes wines from Napa Valley all the way to Spain.
1538 Bardstown Road
(502) 473-8560
Image: Chris Gray
The Brown Hotel
A magnificent four-course meal awaits all lovebirds at The Brown Hotel's English Grill. On the 14th of February (and the day before), undeniably appealing dishes like lobster consommé, Verlasso salmon florentine, and dark chocolate bavaroise millefeuille will be featured. Dine here on Valentine's weekend for $80 per person.
335 West Broadway
(877) 926-7757
Corbett's
This extremely alluring and picturesque restaurant invites the impassioned lovers of Louisville to enjoy a five-course prix fixe, on February 12th through February 14th. Verlasso salmon, black tiger shrimp, and decadent chocolate truffle cake with cherry cordial ice cream highlight the Valentine's Day weekend menu. It is $85 per person with suggested wine pairings available. Take advantage of an extravagant meal and an inviting atmosphere at Corbett's this Valentine's Day.
5050 Norton Healthcare Boulevard
(502) 327-5058
Image: Chris Gray
LouVino
This simple, yet stylish, tapas bar in the Highlands will be hosting Valentine's dinner on February 13th and Valentine's brunch February 14th. For $50 per person, a unique four-course dinner including plates such as grilled skirt steak, baby spinach with fig dressing, seared scallops with citrus roasted beets, and vanilla crème brûlée will be prepared for your dining pleasure. An optional $30 wine pairing with each course will also be available. Reservations can be made on their website for their 5:00pm, 7:00pm, or 9:15pm seatings. For Sunday brunch on the 14th, the normal brunch menu will be featured with bottomless mimosas for only $10 (reservations can also be made on their website).
1606 Bardstown Road
(502) 365-1921
Harvest
Harvest is a highly recognized seasonal farm-to-table restaurant, and the perfect place to indulge with your valentine. Here you can enjoy sweet potato gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and Brussels sprouts; buttermilk fried chicken with smoked peppercorn gravy and seasonal hot sauce; or Crystal Bride largemouth bass with golden beets and ginger-bourbon butter. Their menu is much more simple than others detailed on this list. However, their use of local ingredients and their casual, yet distinguished, ambiance promises to provide a memorable dining experience for couples seeking something different from the lavish and glitzy.
624 East Market Street
(502) 384-9090
Image: Chris Gray
Roux
Spice up Valentine's night with your amour at this Cajun and Creole dining destination. The doors will open at 10am, on the 14th, with a full dinner menu, brunch dishes, and "OysterFest". This celebration is complete with bottomless mimosas from 10:00am - 3:00pm and live music from 12:00pm - 2:00pm and from 6:00pm - 10:00pm. Reservations are highly recommended.
1325 Bardstown Road
(502) 530-0531
Bistro Le Relais
Bistro Le Relais is situated on the historical Bowman Field, and it presents a dining experience that will be the pinnacle of your Valentine's Day evening. Come here for exquisite French cuisine on Sunday night that boasts enticing menu options. Here you can have Steak au Poivre: a prime New York strip with crushed black pepper, caramelized shallots, brandy cream sauce and creamed spinach. Another equally as attractive option is the Scottish salmon with lobster velouté (lobster sauce), herbed fregula couscous, pea shoots and roasted carrots. These are just a couple menu items that your valentine and you can savor on this memorable night. Reservations are recommended.
2817 Taylorsville Road
(502) 451-9020
Image: Chris Gray
Mesh
For the approaching romantic holiday, an assured romantic evening can be found at Mesh. Open from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Sundays, your sweet someone and you can enjoy an innovative cuisine featuring: mussels with house-made fennel sausage, smoked trout salad, braised lamb shank and a ham and pear panini. These are just a few of the creative menu options Mesh has to offer on one of the most beloved days of the year.
3608 Brownsboro Road
(502) 632-4421
Brasserie Provence
Another place to dine that serves delightful French fare is Brasserie Provence. Their Valentine's celebration will entail a three-course prix-fixe dinner menu on February 13th and 14th. At $68 per person, your special someone and you can each choose one appetizer, one entrée, and one dessert. A few of your choices for appetizers include: lobster ravioli, arugula smoked duck salad, or a warm tomato goat cheese tart. For your main course, you can enjoy a grilled beef tenderloin with bordelaise sauce; a roasted French cut chicken breast with seared duck froie gras; or sea scallops Nantua with crab tomato polenta. For dessert, satisfy your sweet tooth with a honey and almond cheesecake, pistachio macaron cake, or a blackberry, fig and blood orange sorbet trio.
150 North Hurstbourne Parkway
(502) 883-3153
Image: Chris Gray
Cover image: Flickr
