DC Does Valentine's Day

Warning: In the world of restaurant speak, Valentine's Day is an amateur night. But Metrocurean understands the sexy allure of pressed white table cloths, bulbous glasses of red wine and, best of all, not having to do dishes. So here's a list of some of the best Valentine's Day specials around town. (Most prices exclude tax and gratuity.)

• Ardeo
What: Three-course tasting menu with an amuse bouche, including dishes like baked stuffed oysters with mushrooms, spinach and Champagne sabayon, and tuna and foie gras with carrot mousee and port reduction.
Price: $75 per person
Reservations: 202.244.6750

• Bankgok Joe's
What: Four-course menu featuring Thai-inflected dishes like saffron poached prawn and lobster ravioli with ginger-lobster cream sauce.
Price: $49 per person
Reservations: 202.333.4422
Extra: Brut rose Champagne tasting to start

• Bastille
What: A five-course chocolate menu with dishes like saffron cauliflower soup with white chocolate shavings; grilled quails in port-chocolate sauce; and yellow fin tuna with szechuan and cocoa rub.
Price: $69 per person, $30 wine pairing
Reservations: 703.519.3776

• Bombay Club (at right)
What: Three-course tasting menu including an amuse bouche, including dishes like tandoori lamb chops, seafood biryani and five vegetarian options including truffle paneer kofta.
Price: $75 per person
Reservations: 202.659.3727

• Charlie Palmer Steak
What: Valentine's Day through Feb. 17, Charlie Palmer is offering a three-course menu featuring dishes such as roasted black truffle chicken for two with truffle potato puree, caramelized root vegetables, and marjoram jus. Also special for the Valentine’s Day weekend will be flights of champagne and sparkling wines.
Price: $65 per person; personalized wine pairings will be available for $25
Reservations: 202.547.8100

• D'Acqua
What: Chocolate and Champagne Happy Hour will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Valentine’s Day through Saturday, Feb. 16. Head to the bar for a glass of Champagne and three chocolate-dipped strawberries for $8.

• Dino
What: Four-course meal offering dishes like roasted cauliflower cappuccino, porcini mushroom and truffle flan with old balsamico from Villa Monodori, and Chateaubriand for two with confit potatoes and roast heirloom carrots.
Price: $65 per person, wine pairings add $32 per person
Reservations: 202.686.2966

• Domaso
What: Sunday, Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 17, Domaso will offer a four-course Italian menu including fresh baby diver scallops with gratin sauce and hackleback caviar; ravioli filled with wild arugula, sheep milk ricotta and quail egg with goat milk butter, fresh thyme and Parmigiano Reggiano; and chocolate and ricotta cheesecake with passion fruit sauce.
Price: $50 per person
Reservations: 703.351.1211

• Firefly
What: Four-course menu with dishes like oysters Rockefeller, Maine lobster pie and warm apple crisp.
Price: $75 per person
Reservations: 202.861.1310

• Hudson
What: Hudson is offering three seatings for the night and a five-course menu. Dishes include pan-seared Hudson Valley foie gras with spiced pineapple and huckleberry sauce; braised osso bucco with goat cheese polenta; and chocolate Grand Marnier souffle.
Price: 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. seatings are $65 per person; 7:30 p.m. seating is $80 per person
Reservations: 202.872.8700

• Locanda
What: Four-course dinner with dishes such as steak tartare with quail egg, chive fettuccine and scallops, and Valhrona chocolate and blood orange gelato.
Price: $75 per person and $35 for wine pairings
Reservations: 202.547.0002
Extra: glass of Prosecco to start

• Mio
What: Valentine's Day through Feb. 17, Mio will offer a four-course menu of aphrodisiac dishes like and oyster and Champagne cocktail; plancha seared scallop tartar with vanilla and truffle; and pan-seared quail with sea urchin sauce.
Price: $65 per person
Reservations: 202.955.0075

• Nage
What: An a la carte menu of suggestively named dishes like the menage au foie (foie gras three ways) and the birds and the bees (honey glazed wood cock, duck confit, cornmeal bread pudding, and natural honey).
Price: a la carte
Reservations: 202.448.8005
Extra: A take-home jar of housemade chocolate body paint with brushes

• Oval Room (at right)
What: Three-course menu including dishes like poached lobster vindaloo, compressed jicama and Asian pear; prime strip loin of beef with porcini jam and toasted garlic soy butter; and chocolate pudding with red beets and pistachio ice cream.
Price: $85 per person
Reservations: 202.463.8700

• Poste Modern Brasserie
What: Six-course menu with dishes like seared sea scallops with slow smoked pork belly; and red wine-braised rabbit with poppyseed tagliatelle.
Price: $75 per person
Reservations: 202.783.6060

• Rasika
What: Four-course tasting menu offering dishes like chili chocolate shrimp( grilled shrimp, crushed red chilis and chocolate sauce); oyster karawari with Long Island oysters, red chili, tamarind, garlic and semolina; and the popular palak chaat.
Price: $75 per person, wine pairing for $45 per person
Reservations: 202.637.1222

• Roof Terrace at the Kennedy Center
What: Three-course menu featuring dishes braised boneless short ribs with sweet potato puree, lemongrass marinated shrimp and Meyer lemon tiramisu.
Price: $75 per person
Reservations: 202.416.8555

• Seasons
What: A multi-course menu including dishes like Colorado lamb ribeye with dark chocolate and blackberry jam, parsnip puree and pancetta; and rose petal panna cotta.
Price: call 202.342.0444

• Taberna del Alabardero
What: Five-course dinner featuring classic Spanish cuisine including grilled tuna with mushrooms wrapped in brick pastry; sauteed venison over green beans and cinnamon apples; and a chocolate trio dessert.
Price: $85 per person
Reservations: 202.429.2200

• Vegetate
What: Four-course vegan menu offering dishes like roasted winter squash soup with coconut milk, kaffir lime and chipotle oil; herbed risotto with Oregon black truffles.
Price: $45 per person
Reservations: 202.232.4585

• 701
What: Three-course menu with an amuse bouche, including dishes like a salmon belly trio; pan roasted prime rib of beef, poached langoustine, potato rosti, vanilla bourbon and black truffle glaze; and a dessert sampler featuring strawberry champagne sorbet, white chocolate passion fruit truffle, tuxedo strawberries and panna cotta with lime water syrup and warm chocolate cake.
Price: $85 per person
Reservations: 202.393.0701
Extra: live jazz music