Valentine's Day is here, and it falls on a Sunday, the day before President's Day, which is Monday, which also means it's a long weekend to wine and dine your love, or impress a tinder swipe and garner an interlude in the nude.
A romantic dinner has always been the traditional way to enjoy Valentine's Day. And in Brooklyn, there's no shortage of restaurants in which to eat your way to intimacy.
We've done the homework and compiled a short list of places with special V-Day pre-fixe menus in the neighborhoods where you live, work and play!
ALICE'S ARBOR-549 Classon Avenue, Clinton Hill Brooklyn $48-3 course menu
This is the third year in existence of Alice's Arbor, the farm-to-table focused restaurant and gourmet store off of Fulton St. in Clinton Hill. And they've had rave reviews for the previous two. It's priced right, and the three course meal also comes with a champagne toast. It's a warm and attractive restaurant with wood throughout and makes diners feel intimate, while also serving cocktails, wine and beer from a large bar that faces the dining room.
You can check out the full menu with photos by clicking here. But my personal recommendation, to set off the amore, is to order the Fisher Island Oysters, pictured here with Chef Mike. Even better, their food is sourced from farms in NY and NJ, so they put less wear and tear on the environment!
FANCY NANCY-1038 Bedford Avenue, Bed-Stuy, $45-4 course menu
Fancy Nancy is your favorite neighborhood restaurant that has been around for five months. The restaurant design has several influences to the eye, with a bit of Miami and a bit of Caribbean Island flavor. Headed up by Jay the Chef and Kristen the Cocktail Queen, they're having a Fancy Nancy and chill-themed Valentine's Day pre-fixe menu, for $45. It's dinner-inspired by your favorite couch cuisines and looks to be fun and delicious at the same time. The menu will feature Couple's Nachos as a starter and ends with an ice cream cup with two spoons. In between, you have dishes like Genaral Tso Chicken w/Chinese broccoli and spicy tuna tartare... like things you order on Grub Hub, while having a Netflix and Chill sesh. Visit their website by clicking here for more information and to find out the complete V-Day menu.
Beso-370 Lewis Avenue, Bed-Stuy, $50 3 course Pre-fixe menu
Beso is a relaxed restaurant in the Stuyvesant Heights area of Bed-Stuy, serving Nuevo-Latin cuisine to a neighborhood of appreciative patrons. They have a brisk bar business as well as a heated back patio-- a great spot to enjoy their V-Day, pre-fixe menu.
Speaking of the menu, it features dishes like roasted beet salad, rib eye steak and pan-seared sea bass, and everyone gets a complimentary passion fruit mimosa.
You can get more information about Beso by clicking here to find out if they're still taking reservations and if the have any room in the back patio for dinner on Valentine's Day.
Wallabout Seafood & Co- 271 Adlephi, Fort Greene, $65 3 course, pre-fixe menu w/glass of champagne
Wallabout Seafood & Co is a wonderful seafood-inspired restaurant on the corner of Adelphi and Dekalb in Fort Greene. If you've lived or visited the area over the last 15 years, you know the address, as it was previously Cornerstone and before that, Red Bamboo and going back to when I lived in the neighborhood, Brooklyn Mod.
What's unique about Wallabout is how the restaurant connects to the neighborhoods seafaring history, to bring a cuisine that's fresh, simple and seasonal, with Chef Peter Larsen joining traditional seafood with Modern American cooking. Offering dishes like Miso Soup and Lobster Stew, it's a Valentine's Days seafood lover's pre-fixe dream, as well as a bargain at $65. Click here to go to the website and see the menu in depth, view the cocktail list and make reservations.
The Crabby Shack-613 Franklin Avenue, Crown Heights $35 pre-fixe menu
The Crabby Shack is a tasty addition to the Franklin Avenue cuisine scene. The room takes diners to a seaside beach town, with lots of worn wood, communal benches and a openness that allows diners to get down to the nitty gritty. Because eating crabs a a ten-finger operation. For Valentine's Day, The Crabby Shack is offering a pre-fixe special that features
- 1/4 pound of shrimp
- Snow Crab Platter
- Dessert
It's kinda crabtastic in the best sense and by far the most favorably priced of the many Valentine's Day pre-fixe menus in Brooklyn. The two owners, Fifi and Gwen, have been crab enthusiast since childhood, and opening the restaurant was a dream come true for both. Visit the website by clicking here for more information on The Crabby Shack
So there you have it: 5 great options for you to eat your way to heaven this Valentine's Day! Just make sure you tip your waiter, because remember: They're sacrificing their love life to make yours happen!
