With Valentine’s Day falling on a Tuesday this year, and the Super Bowl happening on Sunday, some couples have a big decision: go out for Valentine’s on Saturday or the actual holiday? There are even some restaurant options if you want to go out on Monday (highly recommended if you like a quieter setting or are an industry professional who’s working the busier days), and if you don’t care about football, Sunday is the best bet for getting a reservation at your preferred time. 

To make it easier to find a great restaurant near you, this article is organized by neighborhood. For an expanded list of options, you might also want to check out our list of Houston’s most romantic restaurants. 

Downtown and Midtown

Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith: The esteemed elegant-yet-fun restaurant is offering diners several choices of how to celebrate Valentine’s. First off, there’s a special three-course dinner package over the weekend, which is February 11 and 12. It’s $85 per person. On Valentine’s Day, Brennan’s of Houston is offering “Cupid Goes Creole”, also a three-course menu for $85 per person. (Note that on this night, because the kitchen is going to be busy serving a restaurant full of lovebirds, the à la carte menu will not be available. It’s the Valentine’s feast or nothing for you, buddy.) Those who just want to go out and celebrate with their gal pals have an option, too: the Galentine’s Brunch, complete with a balloon display for your Instagramming needs. Call (713) 522-9711 for more information and reservations, or make reservations online. 

The Lymbar, 4201 Main: If you, like me, have missed some Cordua family cooking, you might want to consider celebrating Valentine’s Day at one of downtown Houston’s newest restaurants. Chef David Cordúa’s three-course menu includes appetizer options such as Snapper, Shrimp and Octopus Ceviche and Crispy Chicken Chicharrones and entrées like Stuffed Chicken Ballotine and Beef Tenderloin Tacos Arabes. For dessert, the Hazelnut Chocolate Torte sounds very tempting, but it’s always hard to turn down the Cordúas’ tres leches. 

Saint Arnold Brewing Company, 2000 Lyons: If your significant other (or your bestie) is a craft beer fan, then this special Valentine’s beer dinner is a great option. It starts at 6:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, and is six courses with pairings for $100 per person — and that includes tax and gratuity. A few highlights include oysters Rockefeller paired with Bishop’s Barrel No. 11, duck confit with cannellini beans and merguez teamed with H-Town Pils and Poached Pear and Chocolate Bread Pudding with cinnamon crème anglaise paired with Divine Reserve No. 19. We advise not waiting too long to get tickets, as seating is limited. 

East Side

The Original Ninfa’s, 2704 Navigation and 1700 Post Oak: Nothing says “I love you” like Tex-Mex and tequila. Both locations of this Houston classic are offering executive chef Alex Padilla’s special three-course Valentine’s menu as well as cocktails created just for the occasion, such as the Red Rose Margarita with Herradura silver, rose petal-infused syrup, lime juice and triple sec for $13 and Valentine’s 75 with Hendricks Gin, strawberry syrup, chocolate bitters, lemon juice and Champagne for $11. 

The Valentine’s meal is called Acenar con Amor (Dining with Love), and it starts with a half-dozen of Roasted Oysters topped with blue crab and mezcal crema. Next up is a petite filet with grilled Gulf Shrimp and potato mousseline, which you’re going to resist speeding through, because dessert sounds impressive. It’s chocolate mousse with Grand Marnier sauce accompanied by chocolate-dipped strawberries.  The cost is a very reasonable $80 for two, plus tax and that gratuity you’re going to leave because everyone deserves love, including your server. The prix-fixe menu is available both Valentine’s weekend and Valentine’s Day. 

Galleria

Caracol, 2200 Post Oak: Celebrate Valentine’s coastal-style at H Town Restaurant Group’s Mexican seafood restaurant. Caracol is serving a special Couples’ Menu both over the weekend of February 10 and 11, and on Valentine’s Day. (Note that reserving for Sunday when others are watching the Super Bowl is your best bet. As of press time, only outdoor seating was left for Valentine’s Day, and there’s a 50% chance of thunderstorms.) The cost is $89 per person plus tax and gratuity; optional pairings are $36. Reservations are required and can be made online, or the meal can be ordered to go. 

Just a few of the intriguing selections are Infladita de Pato, fried masa cake topped with shredded duck, refritos, crema and mole de higo (fig), Ceviche de Langosta, thinly sliced lobster tail adorned in red apple rosettes, salsa bruja and berries, Sopa de Elote y Erizo (corn and sea urchin soup) and Cordorniz Rellena, oven-roasted quail with mushroom tamal stuffing, pomegranate mole and seasonal vegetables. At the end is a romantic dessert for two: Coco Enamorado, a white chocolate coconut shell filled with raspberry foam, raspberry ganache, passion fruit, cocoa nibs and vanilla buttercream. 

URBE, 1101 Uptown Park: Of all the H Town Restaurant Group places, it’s this newest entry that has the best availability for Valentine’s Day reservations. The special Valentine’s Dinner for Two is also available on February 10, 11 and 13, so there’s lots of flexibility for scheduling. It’s an interesting menu, with dishes such as Garnacha de Camote, roasted sweet potato with requesón (ricotta), goat cheese and salsa macha, Striped Bass Ceviche and Arrachera, wood-grilled Black Angus skirt steak with roasted pineapple-tomatillo salsa, guacamole, refritos, salsa costeña and flour tortillas. 

To drink alongside, there will be pitcher cocktails, drink flights and other special cocktails for the night. The cost of the special menu is $95 per person plus tax and gratuity. Even if you can’t dine in, you might want to drop by before Valentine’s Day and pick up some of the holiday-themed pastries made by the in-house bakery, such as heart-shaped conchas and cookies, and boxes of housemade chocolates from sister restaurant Xochi.  

Heights

Better Luck Tomorrow, 544 Yale: “Bar known for its pasta” are words I never thought I’d write, but here we are. Since Valentine’s falls on what’s normally Pasta Tuesday, Better Luck Tomorrow is pulling out the stops and offering spaghetti and meatballs all day, as well as Caesar salad and shrimp cocktail. No date? No problem; bring your pup to keep you company on the dog-friendly patio and sneak him a meatball. 

Harold’s, 350 West 19th: This restaurant located on the second floor of a historic building is offering a special Valentine Indulgence prix-fixe meal. Choose from a selection of appetizers such as Harold’s Chicken and Andouille Gumbo or Sesame Wings. Then, pick an entrée from choices that include lamb chops and Gulf snapper. Then, finish the meal on a sweet note with a special dessert flight featuring chocolate-covered strawberries, Salted Caramel Cake Balls and a Granny Cake Cupcake. The dinner is $65 plus tax and gratuity; add optional wine or cocktail pairings for $85. Looking for something casual? Consider drinks and snacks in the first-floor tap room. Book on Resy.

Katy

Phat Eatery, 23119 Colonial Parkway: Choose either Monday, February 13 or Tuesday, February 14 to enjoy a four-course, Malaysian dinner for $58 per person at this acclaimed eatery in Katy Asian Town. Start by choosing an appetizer of lobster bisque (Phat Eatery does not skimp on the seafood in its version), Crispy Shrimp Balls or Caviar Shrimp Siu Mai with Black Truffle (a big hit with guests both at The Truffle Masters and our recent The Perfect 10 Gala), the move on to an entrée choice of Braised Short Rib Rendang, Honey Pork Chop or Chilean Sea Bass. For dessert, there’s Honey Truffle Ice Cream. We recommend a reservation, but the newly expanded restaurant also welcomes procrastinat— um, we mean, free spirits who decide to just show up. Choosing a drink alongside won’t be difficult thanks to a new cocktail program developed by longtime Houston bartender and consultant Linda Salinas. 

Montrose

Hugo’s, 1600 Westheimer:  This is one of the most popular restaurants in Houston thanks to being the namesake of James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, so if you want to celebrate Valentine’s here, your best bet for a reservation is on Sunday (especially if you’re not a football fan). Adjusting your plans and being flexible might be worth it, as a four-course menu for $89 per person is being served. There are dish choices for every course, but a sample meal option is Sope de Pato, sweet potato masa cake topped with piloncillo-roasted duck, followed by Sopa de Hongos, creamy mushroom soup. Then, move into the entreés with Cremoso con Camarones Asados — garlic-roasted shrimp with chipotle pepper and creamy rice — and end with a special dessert from pastry chef Ruben Ortega (Hugo’s brother), a Bomba de Chocolate, which is a criollo chocolate sphere with yuzu custard center, raspberry-lychee sauce and yuzu gel.

Museum District

Davis St. at Hermann Park, 5925 Almeda: Executive chef Mark Holley has created a special four-course menu for Valentine’s evening. Start with a lagniappe of Burrata with Texas Caviar and Confit Tomato accented with herb oil and crispy basil, and served with grilled corn bread. The remaining three courses have options. One possible progression is the excellent Seafood Mezcal Martini followed by an entrée of Gulf Flounder Nantua with crawfish, fennel, heirloom carrots and rapini and Chocolate Trio for Two for dessert with raspberry mousse, white chocolate lavender truffles and satin flourless chocolate cake. The cost is $95 per person; 20% gratuity is automatically added, so yay, no math required.  

Oak Forest/Timbergrove/Garden Oaks

Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella: As is typical for this restaurant, which is often cited as one of the most romantic in Houston (and is the site of many marriages and receptions), Valentine’s night dinner is already sold out. However, Rainbow Lodge management has made the extremely rare move to be open the one day of the week it’s normally closed — Monday — to allow more guests to book an experience there. 

The menu includes many Lodge classics, such as Taste of the Wild, a medley of wild game appetizers. Main dish choices include Rack of Spring Lamb and Pan-Roasted Atlantic Halibut Filet. Then, finish off the meal with your choice of dessert options, including the decadent Flourless Chocolate Cake. Go online to make reservations.

Pearland

Biryani Express, 10223 Broadway: For Valentine’s Day, this Indian restaurant that offers Hyderabadi, South-Indian and North-Indian cuisine is hosting a special buffet from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Call us (832) 588-3399 to reserve your table.

River Oaks

Backstreet Cafe, 1103 South Shepherd: Restaurateur Tracy Vaught’s most longstanding Houston restaurant is a favorite for comfortable yet romantic meals. Her husband, James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, has crafted a special four-course menu for Valentine’s, and it’s available both the weekend of February 10 and 11, as well as on the holiday. For dine-in, as of press time, only early and late dining reservations are still available on Valentine’s Day, but note that the meal can also be ordered to go if you want to celebrate at home. Just a few of the dish choices include lamb meatballs with cucumber, yogurt, lemon, parsley-mint pesto and feta, and tenderloin with crispy scalloped potatoes, wild mushrooms and bleu cheese compound butter.  The cost is $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. Beverages are separate, but you really should look at adding the optional beverage pairings for a modest $37.

State Of Grace, 3258 Westheimer: This Ford Fry restaurant helmed by longtime Houston chef Bobby Matos is serving a prix-fixe menu for $145 per person. It starts with an amuse-bouche of caviar service and oysters with prosecco granita and citrus. From there, diners can select one of multiple options for appetizers, pasta and entrées. An example meal is roasted bone marrow followed by Brown Butter Tagliatelle with roasted mushroom and shaved  truffle (add $20 to cover the truffle) and Oak Roasted Trout with marinated olives, citrus, fennel and tomato preserve. For dessert, there are two choices: Gâteau au Chocolate with crème fraîche, brown butter and almonds, or. Strawberry Pudding Cake with hot buttered rum, strawberries and vanilla cream. Make reservations on OpenTable.  

Washington Avenue

Bayou Heights Biergarten, 3905 Washington: When it comes to Valentine’s, the Super Bowl or time with your pup, you don’t have to choose thanks to this dog-friendly celebration. On Sunday, February 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., this new addition to Houston’s pub scene is hosting “Puppy Love: A Valentine’s Paw-ty for Dog Lovers”. The festivities include a doggie fashion show, puppy kissing booth, doggie speed dating, vendors, raffles and a silent auction. There are pup cups for your pet to enjoy while you treat yourself to a cocktail, beer or wine and something from chef Teddy Lopez’s menu, such as a brisket grilled cheese. Then, stay and watch the big game. 

Multiple Locations

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille: Props go to this Houston-grown steakhouse chain for offering several options for enjoying a romantic meal. All Perry’s locations are offering a Valentine Candlelight Dinner from Saturday, February 11 through Tuesday, February 14 starting at 4 p.m., and then again on Sunday, February 19 for those who don’t want to deal with crowds (or just weren’t able to celebrate earlier). The highlights are the 12-ounce filet mignon roast with bearnaise, truffle-merlot and peppercorn sauces and two accompanying lobster tails, and Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Kisses for dessert. It’s $185 per couple ($10 less on February 19) and available as a to-go experience, too, for $145. On Valentine’s Day, there’s an additional option: a three-course, prix-fixe dinner for $79 per person ($69 for those who dine before 5:30 p.m. or get it to go). Go online to view each menu.

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.