Boston's best: Valentine's Day restaurants

Whether you’re planning on making googly eyes across the table at your hot date or getting silly with a bunch of fellow singles, Valentine’s Day is one holiday on which you’re going to want to splurge a little. Try one of these top restaurant picks to honor Cupid’s birthday or greeting card sales or whatever this holiday is meant to celebrate.

Blu
Blu’s open, airy atmosphere features vast windows with expansive views of bustling downtown Boston and a chic vibe that’s up to snuff for the movers and shakers among us. Special features on the Valentine’s Day menu include smoked salmon Carpaccio with cucumbers, red bliss potatoes, chives, capers and dill crème fraiche ($11); curried parsnip soup with butter-poached lobster tarragon and crispy shallots ($12); and bacon-wrapped haddock with fennel-saffron risotto, Swiss chard and apple relish ($25). Chocoholics can try the Belgian chocolate cake for dessert ($9), and those looking for something on the fruity side can go for the passion fruit and mango Bavarian cream cake ($9). 4 Avery St, Chinatown, Boston (617-375-8550, blurestaurant.com)

Gargoyles on the Square
With huge windows overlooking Davis Square, this quirky, candlelit dining room has a decidedly relaxed ambience. Gargoyles offers modern American cuisine with subtle Asian influences. This year’s menu is a three-course prix fixe for $50 with first-course selections like Louisiana oysters and braised veal. For the main course, one of the standouts is a crusted lamb loin for two. For the most romantic dish on the menu, Gargoyles is touting the SweetBox—an array of tasty desserts for sharing. 219 Elm St, Davis Square, Somerville (617-776-5300, gargoylesonthesquare.com)

Hamersley’s Bistro
One of the South End’s most well-known restaurants, Hamersley’s offers up hearty bistro delights based on seasonal, local ingredients with a French influence, all served in a bright, homey atmosphere. The four-course menu ($110) includes enticing choices like a torchon of foie gras on brioche with black currants and candied fennel; cream of celery root soup with black truffle crostini; and a salmi of pheasant with fig and bleu cheese spoonbread—which actually has nothing to do with cuddling up to your dinner date. 553 Tremont St, South End, Boston (617-423-2700, hamersleysbistro.com)

La Morra
Run by husband-and-wife team Jennifer and Josh Ziskin, La Morra gives you a taste of the romance of northern Italy with seasonal cuisine that’s often prepared in the restaurant’s authentic Tuscan-style wood grill. The $85 four-course prix fixe V-Day menu is no exception and features choices like an antipasto misto that comes with grilled fennel, oysters, bacala cake, fluke Carpaccio and Maine shrimp. Other options include lobster risotto or golden tilefish with shrimp scampi, capers, and baby artichokes with crème brulee. Finish with a trio of sorbets for dessert. 48 Boylston St, Brookline Village (617-739-0007, lamorra.com)

Lolita Cocina
The provocative, sultry atmosphere at Lolita Cocina is absolutely perfect if your evening will be based on sex appeal as opposed to wholesome romance. With shadowy corners, red lighting and a hot and spicy upscale Mexican menu, this new Back Bay joint is kicking it up for your special night out. Dinner specials for the evening include a half-dozen Pemiquid oysters with a spicy “bloody Maria sauce” ($14); a lobster-poblano relleno with roasted corn, fingerling potatoes, and roasted garlic-corn sauce ($18); filet mignon with lump crab huevos rancheros, and slow-cooked black beans ($36). For dessert, try the Bomba del Chocolate!—a warm Mexican chocolate pudding cake with tart cherry sauce and red wine crème fraiche granite ($10). 271 Dartmouth St, Back Bay, Boston (617-369-5609, lolitaboston.com)

North 26
Housed in the Millennium Hotel, North 26 is a vast, sleek space with beautiful woodwork, a tremendous wine selection and progressive American cuisine that’s focused on natural and sustainable cooking. For the big day, North 26 offers up $52 entrees for sharing. Choose between options like their take on surf and turf that includes butter-poached lobster and braised beef short ribs with pancetta, white sweet potato, baby carrots, and brussel sprouts or a pan-seared veal cutlet and sea scallops with caramelized fennel, foraged mushrooms, house made gnocchi, and a truffle Madeira glaze. For dessert, a rich chocolate fondue is served with a variety of berries and petit fours. 26 North St, Downtown (617-523-3600, millenniumhotels.com/millenniumboston/restaurant)

Sel de la Terre
If you’re looking for quantity and quality, the $85 French-inspired prix fixe menu at Sel de la Terre features a robust five courses. Pony up another $30 more, and you can try out the vintner’s wine pairings. Selections include baked stuffed clams; sautéed squid with house sausage and confit tomato; beef tenderloin au poivre with lobster-studded purple potato croquette; and a vegetable barigoule with poached egg. Leave room for the cheese course followed by dessert options like chocolate apricot Napoleon and honey-vanilla coeur a la crème. 255 State St, Waterfront, Boston (617-720-1300, seldelaterre.com)

Tapeo
Spend a romantic evening in a Spanish villa—or at least pretend to. Tapeo’s intimate, continental atmosphere is perfect for sharing tasty tapas plates by candlelight. The V-Day menu features a four-course prix fixe meal ($39 per person), and you can add a glass of wine, sangria or some bubbly Cava for an extra $6. Cold and hot tapas choices include marinated olives, sinfully rich sizzling garlic shrimp, chuletillas (baby lamb chops with apricot sauce), and a seasonal vegetarian crepe. Finish the evening with your choice of postre, from a classic flan to the slightly more dangerous flourless chocolate cake. 266 Newbury St, Back Bay, Boston (617-267-4799, tapeo.com)

Temple Bar
The exposed brick, giant mirrors and dark oak paneling at Temple Bar set the stage for a sophisticated evening. Standouts on the $49 three-course prix fixe menu include slow-braised rabbit with semolina gnocchi and a cocoa Madeira jus, roasted pheasant breast with a house-made juniper and blackcurrant pheasant sausage. For the ultimate finish, you and your companion(s) can take turns nibbling on a selection of handmade truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and coconut macaroons. Belly up to the impressive copper bar for an after-dinner cocktail to finish off your night—or, you know, get things started. 1688 Mass Ave, Porter Square, Cambridge (617-547-5055, templebarcambridge.com)