10 Boston Restaurants You’ll Love This Valentine’s Day

Whether you’re looking for a romantic restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Boston—or you’re seeking a place to avoid the holiday entirely—we’ve got you covered with this list of 10 restaurants that are serving up special menus for February 14.

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The Sinclair

Harvard Square’s The Sinclair is cooking up a three-course Valentine’s Day Prix Fixe Menu titled “(I Just) Dined in Your Arms Tonight,” and a show from soul singer and Boston native Eli “Paperboy” Reed. “Our Valentine’s Day menu is pretty quirky, but we’re really proud of it,” says chef Matt Cunningham. “Each dish is inspired by a classic romantic love song, so we had a lot of fun with it.” Examples? “The Last Kale” by Dan Fogelberg, “Ballad of Peter Pumpkin Bread” by XTC, and “When I Look Into Your Pies” by Firehouse.

$65 per person, tickets from $16.95. Friday, February 14, 5 p.m., The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Cambridge, 617-547-5200, sinclaircambridge.com.

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Estelle’s Southern Cuisine

Dive into Cotuit Bay oysters two ways, grilled Rhode Island Littlenecks with scotch bonnet sausage and black-eyed peas, and blackened bacon-wrapped scallops with creamy cheddar grits, then top it off with molten chocolate-chile cake. “Our specials are inspired by Southern, spicy seafood, so they’ll warm your belly while you warm your heart,” says executive chef Eric Gburski. “I wrote the menu while keeping in mind that it launches the day Red Sox start Spring Training down South.”

A la carte pricing. Friday, February 14–Sunday, February 16, 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Estelle’s Southern Cuisine, 782 Tremont St., Boston, 857-250-2999, estellesboston.com.

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Legal Harborside

If you’re looking for a restaurant with a view, Legal Harborside is dishing out a six-course chef’s tasting menu on their second floor overlooking the beautiful Boston Harbor. As you’d expect, the seafood-focused menu includes French kiss oysters, Bay scallop tiradito, butter-poached lobster, and Atlantic halibut.

$85 per person; $125 with wine pairings. Friday, February 14, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Legal Harborside, 270 Northern Ave., Boston, 617-477-2900, legalharborside.com.

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Prezza

If you’re looking for a great Italian restaurant in the North End for a romantic dinner, get ready to fall for Prezza. Chef/owner Anthony Caturano will be dishing out four exclusive specials for one night only: Nantucket Bay scallop crudo, homemade ricotta gnocchi with lobster, red snapper milanese, and grilled rack of lamb.

A la carte pricing. Friday, February 14, 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Prezza, 24 Fleet St., Boston, 617-227-1577, prezza.com.

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The Hampshire House

Many people say you “eat with your eyes,” but at the Hampshire House, you don’t have to. Get ready for a unique dining experience as you eat your Valentine’s Day dinner in the dark. You’ll enjoy a four-course dinner served in the Beacon Hill mansion, plus music and a story that ties the experience together. It’s part fine dining, part interactive theater. 

$72.40 per person excluding alcohol. Friday, February 14, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., The Hampshire House, 84 Beacon St., Boston, 617-227-9600, hampshirehouse.com/special-events/index.php.

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The Beehive

The Beehive is turning a one-day holiday into a weekend-long celebration featuring VDay-inspired dishes from executive Chef Marc Orfaly like pressed foie gras with artichoke terrine, seared Maine scallops with black caviar, and an Australian rack of lamb with whole grain mustard potatoes, while the jazz line-up includes Greg Hopkins, Mr. Nick, and the Karma Exchange.

Thursday, February 13,-Sunday, February 16. The Beehive, 541 Tremont St., Boston, 617-423-0069, beehiveboston.com.

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Area Four

If you’re a hater, Area Four is a haven for the broken and cold-hearted. On Friday, February 14, and Saturday, February 15, they’ll have a menu filled with spite and spice, including jerked chicken, irate rice, and skewered lamb neck. The restaurant will have black roses, be playing a sad soundtrack, and showing a roster of films that prove love sucks.

Friday, February 14, and Saturday, February 15. 5 p.m.-10 p.m., bar open until 12 a.m., Area Four, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, 617-758-4444, areafour.com.

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John Harvard’s Brewery

John Harvard’s Brewery in Cambridge is perfect for lovers…of beer, that is. Their special menu is designed to pair with their beer: the Massachusetts lobster bisque comes with Trippel Point, the grass-fed tenderloin medallions pair with Ration Porter, and even the dessert, a farandole de chocolat with a truffle raspberry coulis has a complementary ale. “Jason [Taggert, head brewer] and I had a great time coming up with this menu,” says executive chef Aldrin Asencio. “Valentine’s Day is a time for indulgence and treats—hence the lobster, steak, and chocolate. The robust beers that Jason is brewing this time of year were just right for the type of food I wanted to serve.”

$39.99 including beer pairing, Friday, February 14, 5 p.m.- 10 p.m., John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House, 33 Dunster St., Cambridge, 617-868-3585, johnharvards.com.

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Local 149

If a big, fancy dinner isn’t really your thing, Local 149 offers a more casual and comfortable solace. In addition to their regular menu, they’re offering a five-course tasting menu that includes white asparagus soup, slow-braised beef short ribs, and rich chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. “Special touches like bottarga and smoked salmon mousse on our menu help make the evening extra memorable,” says chef David Nevins. “But, of course, there are ingredients we have to include, too. What would Valentine’s Day be without chocolate?”

$55 per person or $75 with wine pairings. Friday, February 14, Local 149, 149 P St., South Boston, 617-269-0900, local149.com.

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Abbey Lane

If you’re not really feeling the love this Valentine’s Day, make sure to go to the “Broken Heart Bash” at Abby Lane for a DJ and dancing, plus fun party foods like mini Big Macs, fried Snicker Bars with whipped cream, and chili & cheese fries—sure to mend your broken heart. “Valentine’s Day is a lot of pressure for most people,” says chef/owner Jason Santos. “This is a way to have fun with the holiday and potential meet someone who feels the same way you do about Valentine’s Day in a tongue-in-cheek way.”

Friday, February 14, 9 p.m., Abbey Lane, 255 Tremont St., Boston, 617-451-2229, abbylaneboston.com.