Even during a pandemic, Valentine’s Day is alive and well, but dining out is still a cause for caution. A romantic alternative is to forgo a night out in favor of snuggling at home and tucking into a gourmet meal prepared by one of Houston’s best chefs. Many locales have curated celebratory to-go menus perfect for enjoying at home. Feel the love with our round-up of tasteful fare for every budget.

Cypress

Marvin’s Italian Steakhouse, 24002 Northwest Freeway: Pick up romance to-go with a three-course dinner available February 14. It includes choice of appetizer such as strawberry crab salad, entrée such as lobster rose linguini or bacon-wrapped filet, and dessert such as Grand Marnier-filled strawberries or tiramisu. It costs $79 per person and it is available from 3 p.m. to close. To order, call (832) 220-7200.

Downtown

Xochi, 1777 Walker: Share a special couple’s dinner Valentine’s weekend (February 11 – 13) that costs $100 per couple. To start, choose masa cakes with tomatillo salsa or a Oaxacan tortilla cooked over wood with Oaxacan beans and chicken mole negro. Each person then selects one appetizer and one entrée. Selections include creamy lobster soup, toasted masa pancake with braised beef cheeks and mole pasilla, grilled head-on shrimp with a watercress salad, duck confit in mole almendrado and pork osso buco with huaxamole, quelites and tortillas de yuca. Dessert includes a raspberry cake with chocolate textures. The full menu is online. There is a special brunch menu available on Valentine’s Day, too. Call (713) 400-3330 to place to-go orders.

EaDo

Southside Pizza, 2240 Navigation: This casual Austin-based pizza parlor is a good choice for low-key revelers and there is a special deal as well. Get 10-percent off all orders February 12-14. Choose from pies such as The Southsider with pepperoni, ham, sausage, red onion, bell peppers, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese or The Greensider piled high with mushrooms, bell peppers, red onions and black olives.

Galleria/Uptown

La Table, 1800 Post Oak: A special three-course menu, available to go, begins with an amuse-bouche of salmon caviar. Then select from appetizers including avocado salad and pâté de Champagne, main dishes such as black angus filet with au gratin potatoes, and dessert choices of an apple tart or flourless chocolate, hazelnut and almond cake. See the full menu here. The cost is $95 per person. To order, call (713) 439-1000.

Galveston

Fish Tales, 2502 Seawall Blvd: The holiday chef’s feature includes two seafood stuffed flounder roulades topped with chipotle cream sauce served with rice pilaf, sautéed vegetables and two Shrimp Kisses. The offer is available for dine-in and to-go February 12 through 14 and costs $26.99 per person. Make reservations online or call (409) 762-8545.

Greenway Plaza

Tony’s, 3755 Richmond: When it comes to romance, this Houston classic tops nearly every list. Bring that romance home with a Valentine’s Dinner for Two that includes a three-course offering of appetizers, entrées and desserts. Options include ribbons of ahi tuna, Trevisio salad, grilled sea bass, truffled prime rib, tuxedo cake and a raspberry lemon tart. The cost is $150 per couple, but guests can upgrade with items such as rack of lamb for two for an additional $30 or truffle risotto for two for an additional $78. See the menu and order online. Pick up is available only on February 14 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Heights & Heights-ish

 

Harold’s, 350 West 19th: For Valentine’s Day, start with a sparkling cocktail, then choose from appetizers such as Mini Crab Cakes, Creole Oysters Rockefeller and Pear Salad. Six entrée choices hit a range of flavor profiles, such as Tropical Snapper served with butter lemon sauce and pasta, Filet Mignon with peppercorn sauce and risotto alongside and saffron-spiked Spanish Paella. The decadent desserts include Red Velvet Cake, Granny Cupcake and Chocolate Divine. The cost of this romantic, multi-course meal is $75 per person plus tax and gratuity — or pick and choose what you want as a la carte selections. Harold’s is offering not only socially distanced dine-in, but also sports a popular upstairs patio. To-go orders are available, and delivery is free within a five-mile radius. Visit the Harold’s web site for reservations.

Mutiny Wine Room, 1124 Usener: Order the Champagne and Dessert Take-Away special at this Napa Valley-inspired space, which available February 12 to 14. It includes a bottle of exclusive Veuve J. Lanaud, Cuvée du Cinquarntenaire and chef Eduardo Alcayaga’s Belgian Chocolate Gluhwein Cake. Place orders and select the pickup time 24-hours in advance. The cost is $75.00. To order, call (832) 618-1233 or email the wine bar.

Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella: This revered eatery has served Houston for over 40 years, and part of that success is being willing to change with the times. To that end, it’s offering a to-go special to meet almost all the needs of lovers who want to celebrate in the privacy of their own home. The Valentine’s To Go package includes sparkling wine, a multi-course dinner and even a gift bag — only available with the Valentine’s to-go orders — with lavender bubble wash, lip balm, a candle and more. You can even add the Lodge Bouquet from a local Houston florist for $99. Visit the website for details and to place an order.

Revival Market, 550 Heights: Those wishing to have a quiet brunch at home should pick up this Heights spot’s Brunch Box, which features a dozen eggs, eight housemade breakfast sausages, four buttermilk biscuits and mixed berry jam and butter. Collect it on Saturday, February 13  for breakfast on Valentine’s Day. The cost is $45. Order online.

Memorial

Treebeard’s, 9655 Katy Fwy: This comfort-food favorite offers a Valentine’s special for two. It includes deviled eggs, roasted salmon with mustard sauce with a choice of two sides, along with any bottle of wine. The cost is $80. Guests can pick up their orders between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. To order and for more information, call (713) 228-2622.

Montrose

Montrose Cheese and Wine, 1618 Westheimer: Grab a picnic bag to go to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The “I Like You” option is $50 and includes two jambon-beurre sandwiches on Magnol demi baguettes, a bottle of June’s Rosé and chocolate dipped fruit and nuts. Or, go for broke with the $225 “My Whole Heart,” which comes with two jambon-beurre sandwiches, a bottle of Bollinger Brut Rosé, an ounce of Kaluga caviar with a jar of crème fraîche, two bags of Torres chips and a six-pack of chocolate bon bons. Order online.

Rosie Cannonball, 1620 Westheimer: DIYers will dig this option: make your own soufflé with vanilla anglaise. Purchase the kit for $50. It includes pre-measured ingredients and the recipe, along with a video of pastry chef Shawn Gale, who will guide home cooks through its creation. He’ll also be on Rosie’s Instagram live at 8 p.m. on Valentine’s Day to answer questions. Order the kit online . Pickup at The Chalet at Rosie Cannonball between 2 and 6 p.m. Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14.

Travelers Table, 520 Westheimer: For a great Valentine’s Day breakfast in bed, consider this globally inspired eatery’s Valentine’s Day Brunch To Go. The two-course meal includes choices such as homemade biscuits and gravy, tropical fruit, Shiitake Edamame Dumplings, Louisiana Fried Chicken, Indian Eggs Masala and shrimp and grits. All brunch orders include a bottle of sparkling wine. The cost is $90. The special menu is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 13 and 14. Order online.

Underbelly Hospitality, 1100 Westheimer: Attend a virtual cooking class with newlyweds chef Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown on Saturday, February 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. They’ll explain how to create a multi-course meal inspired by Pêche, one of their favorite New Orleans restaurants. The cook-at-home kit includes all the ingredients to make dishes such as Smoked Tuna Dip, Baked Seafood Rice, hanger steak with salsa verde and key lime pie. The cost is $200. Order online.

Rice Village

Fajitas A Go Go, 5404 Kirby: The restaurant’s Fajitas Mariscos de Campechana package adds a dressy spin to classic fajitas. The surf-and-turf dish includes four ounces of Angus beef tenderloin and two shrimp skewers, along with traditional fajita sides, as well as spicy tomato salsa and a dessert of red velvet cake in the shape of a heart. Bonus: it comes with a margarita kit. The cost is $89. Order online.

Roma, 2347 Rice: For Valentine’s Day, this well-regarded Italian eatery helmed by owner Shanon Scott and chef Angelo Cuppone is offering a four-course meal filled with delights such as Fritto Misto, or lightly fried Gulf shrimp and calamari, and Salmone Con Cavolo Rosso Brasato, a filet of salmon on a bed of citrus-braised red cabbage. Finish your meal with homemade Limoncello Tarts or Chocolate Cannoli filled with ricotta cheese. It costs $49.50 per guest and the full menu is available online. Dine in a socially distanced, historic home setting, order to-go or enjoy the lovely heated and patio. Call (713) 664-7581 or reserve online.

River Oaks

Ouisie’s Table, 3939 San Felipe: While the restaurant offers its full menu to go as well as a three-course prix fixe option, there is also a special deal on a great bottle of bubbles for Valentine’s Day. Grab a bottle of Marquis de la Mysteriale Champagne for just $40 (regularly priced at $75) on February 13 and 14. All to-go orders must be placed 24 hours in advance. Call (713) 528-2264 to order.

Sugar Land

Nirmanz Food Boutique, 16338 Kensington: Everyone wants their Valentine’s Day to be rather spicy, right? Warm up with Indian curries at this beloved establishment from chef Nirman Shah. The Chicken Vindaloo warms with a red Chile sauce and potatoes, or try the Cilantro Chicken with its complex, cilantro-based green sauce. Call (832) 532-0699 to arrange pickup or order delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash or GrubHub. For more information and the full menu, visit the Nirmanz Food Boutique website.

Upper Kirby

Doris Metropolitan, 2815 South Shepherd: Dinner for two to-go includes a choice of two appetizers, two main courses and one dessert to share. Selections include Jerusalem Salad, artichoke salad, sous-vide New York strip, sous-vide bone-in ribeye and brownies or polenta cake. The cost is $150. Order online. Pickup is available through Saturday, February 13 between 12 and 9 p.m.

Multiple Locations

Morton’s The Steakhouse: This classic steakhouse offers a steak and lobster menu for two for Valentine’s Day at home. Each guest selects a starter, entrée, a side dish to share and a dessert. Selections include iceberg lettuce wedge salad, Baked Five Onion Soup, filet mignon, lobster tails, key lime pie and double chocolate mousse. In addition, guests can select a bottle of JCB No 21, Brut, Crémant de Bourgogne or Raymond Vineyards “Primal Cut” Cabernet Sauvignon. See the full menu here. The cost is $169. Orders must be placed by 5 p.m. on February 13 for pick up on February 14. Order online.

Perry’s Steakhouse: Pull out all the stops with the restaurant’s Candlelight Dinner To-Go. Choose individual salads, then share a 12-ounce filet roast with two lobster tails and choice of Béarnaise, truffle Merlot or roasted-peppercorn sauce, plus a choice of two sides, including char-grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. To finish, share chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert. Each order comes with rose petals and a votive candle and holder. The cost is $99 per couple and is available Thursday, February 11 through Sunday, February 14. Order online.

State Fare, 947 Gessner and 15930 City Walk, Sugar Land: Grab a steak and lobster duo for $49 per person as part of this kicked-up casual spot’s “Galentine’s Day” weekend specials, available February 13 and 14. It includes a petite filet with Truffle Poached and Southern Fried Lobster served over a bed of mashed potatoes. The meal is capped off with red velvet cake presented in a mason jar with white chocolate. Call (832) 831-0950 to order from Memorial and (713) 234-1405 to order from Sugar Land.

Tacos A Go Go: It’s a seldom-spoken truism: Valentine’s Day + tacos = love. Those looking for a casual way to mark the holiday should check out this special, available February 12 through 14. It’s a platter of 13 tacos around a heart-shaped bowl accompanied by toppings such as onions, cheese and cilantro. Order online.

 

Disclosure: Harold’s, Nirmanz, Rainbow Lodge and Roma are all valued Houston Food Finder sponsors that ensure we can pay our writers and keep publishing articles such as this one! Consider sponsoring our work. Email us for details.