LOVE AT FIRST BITE Valentine’s Dining in OC

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, here are some top restaurants in Orange County creating special Valentine's prix-fixe dinners and menu items.

The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar — TUSTIN & NEWPORT BEACH
Celebrate Valentine’s Day, The Winery Way! On Monday, February 14, Executive Chef Yvon Goetz and his talented team at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar will be offering a 3-course prix-fixe menu with amuse focusing on contemporary California regional cuisine. They will be offering a limited a la carte menu offered Friday, February 11 through Sunday, February 13 for those looking to make the holiday a weekend celebration. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Tustin at (714) 258-7600 or Newport Beach at (949) 999-6622. thewineryrestaurants.com.

Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar — ORANGE  
It’s love at first bite as Haven Craft Kitchen+Bar Executive Chef Craig Brady presents a special 3-course prix-fixe menu available Friday, February 11 through Monday, February 14. For the first course, guests have a choice of San Diego-Caught Ahi Tuna Tartare or Slow-Poached Gonestraw Farm's Egg, followed by an entrée choice of Braised Short Rib or Diver Scallops. For dessert, guests have a choice of Sticky Toffee Pudding or Flourless Chocolate Cake. This menu is priced at $75 per guest and may be enjoyed alongside full bar offerings. Find more information and make reservations, guests may call (714) 221-0680 or visit havencraftkitchen.com.

Knife Pleat — (South Coast Plaza) COSTA MESA  
Michelin-starred Chef Tony Esnault is offering a special Valentine's Tasting Menu on Friday, February 11, and Saturday, February 12. The 6-course dinner features Kampachi Crudo, Beet Risotto, Dover Sole, Quail, and Beef Tenderloin, all carefully curated by Chef Esnault. To finish, diners will be treated to a Heart & Roses dessert with raspberry, rose buttercream, almond crumble, and lychee sorbet. Reservations are limited and the price per guest is $245 (does not include beverages, tax and service charges). Wine pairing is available for $125 per guest and cocktails are available for purchase during the dinner. The restaurant is also offering a limited edition box of hand-made macarons for Valentine’s Day featuring Vanilla, Coconut, Rose, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Hibiscus flavors ($22 per box). Guests may view the complete Valentine’s Tasting Menu and make reservations at knifepleat.com.

Fable & Spirit – NEWPORT BEACH
This Valentine’s Weekend, Fable & Spirit will be offering its award-winning menu, as well as two incredible specials, from Friday, February 11 through Monday, February 14. Executive Chef David Shofner is presenting 12-Hour Kurobuta Porchetta with parmesan polenta, Calabrian chili, chimichurri, roasted romanesco, and smoked braising jus; and Seared Diver Scallops with sunchoke puree, roasted hedgehog mushrooms, asparagus tips, and truffle veal glace. Complete your meal with wine recommendations from Sommelier Ali Coyle and unique cocktails by Director of Spirits Drew Coyle. 

Although the restaurant is usually dark on Mondays, Fable & Spirit will be open for Valentine’s Day on Monday, February 14. For more information and reservations, visit http://www.fableandspirit.com.

Dublin 4 Gastropub and Wineworks For Everyone – MISSION VIEJO
Chef David Shofner is offering two specials for lovers to enjoy – Seared Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast with seared foie gras, pommes lyonnaise, roasted purple Brussels sprout petals, and sour cherry reduction; and Seared Diver Scallops with sunchoke puree, roasted hedgehog mushrooms, asparagus tips, and truffle veal glace. 

The specials will be offered Friday, February 11; Saturday, February 12; and on Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14. The restaurants will also be offering their full menu. Space is limited. For more information, please call 949-582-0026 and visit here for Dublin 4 Gastropub reservations and wineworks for Wineworks For Everyone reservations.

Sushi Roku — NEWPORT BEACH 
Chic, innovative and sexy! Spend your Valentine's Weekend at Sushi Roku for a dynamic culinary experience featuring three specials, offered Friday, February 11 through Monday, February 14, alongside the restaurant’s full dinner menu. Guests will be able to enjoy Peruvian Dynamite with lobster, snow crab dynamite, charred lemon, roasted Brussels sprouts, and aji Amarillo; Seared Scallop Carpaccio with seared scallop, ama ebi, ikura, caviar with red peppercorn, and yuzu vinaigrette; and Three Cocoa Pebble Ice Cream Tacos with dulce de leche, vanilla, and cookies & cream ice creams in Cocoa Pebble taco shells. Reservations are recommended by calling (949) 706-3622 or visiting sushiroku.com.

ADYA — ANAHEIM 
It’s a known fact that Indian food is laden with mood-boosting ingredients that are thought to have aphrodisiac qualities, so what better way to spice up your Valentine's Weekend than with ADYA’s Valentine’s Dinner for 2? 

Fresh Indian flavors come through in a special menu that begins with Roasted Tomato Pepper Rasam, a spiced tomato soup with mustard seeds and roasted peppers. Entrée options include Chili Garlic Lobster or Crispy Paneer Cake with Fenugreek Cream Sauce. Chefs Shachi Mehra and Sandeep Basrur include Broccolini, Saffron Pulao, and a basket of Rosemary & Garlic Naan to this special meal, which ends with a decadent Chocolate Dessert created by local favorite, Crema Artisan Bakery. This meal is $95 (serves 2; excludes tax) and must be ordered in advance to enjoy at home by emailing info@adyaoc.com by Tuesday, February 8. Dinners may be arranged for pick-up on Friday, February 11 through Monday, February 14 at ADYA at the Anaheim Packing House. https://adyaoc.com

O SEA – ORANGE
Treat your Valentine to a refreshingly modern seafood experience at O SEA! On Valentine’s Weekend, they will be offering a special three-course dinner with optional wine pairings. This high energy, yet refined seasonally driven restaurant delivers bold, global flavor profiles with high-quality seafood. The special menu will be available, in addition to the restaurant’s regular menu, on Friday, February 11 through Monday, February 14. For more information and reservations, please visit https://eatosea.com.

Georgia’s Restaurant — ANAHEIM & LONG BEACH 
Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day at Georgia’s Restaurant, where charismatic mother-daughter duo, Gretchen “Nana” Shoemaker and Nika Shoemaker-Machado, have something Southern and savory for lovers and friends, alike. From special dishes to share like their famous Fried Chicken cooked in a Brazilian buttermilk brine and seasoned crispy cornmeal crust; to their St. Louis BBQ Ribs, a half-rack of slow-roasted pork ribs in Georgia’s Restaurant signature house-made BBQ sauce, there’s something to satisfy every taste. Of course, your “soul-delicious” Valentine’s Day celebration would not be complete without a sweet Southern ending – Nana Gretchen’s delectable Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato Pie, Lemon Cake, or Pound Cake. Georgia’s will be open all Valentine’s Weekend. For more information, please call Georgia’s Restaurant at the Anaheim Packing House at (714) 906-1900 or at the Long Beach Exchange at (562) 420-5637. Menus and online ordering are available at georgias-restaurant.com.

Driftwood Kitchen - LAGUNA BEACH 
Driftwood Kitchen Executive Chef Rainer Schwarz is offering Valentine’s dinner specials alongside his menu of fresh seafood, hand-shucked oysters and steaks, on Saturday, February 12 through Monday, February 14. Among the dishes is a Black Truffle & Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi with wild mushrooms, leeks and parmesan crisps; Double R Ranch Petite Filet & Grilled Thai Shrimp with celery root pure, haricot verts, charred endive, and huckleberry demi glaze; and a Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cake for Two, with ganache, chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries, and whipped cream. Guests will be able to enjoy two Valentine’s Martinis – Mi Amor, with Belvedere Blackberry & Lemongrass, blackberries, lime, and sage; and Forbidden Flower, with Belvedere Lemon & Basil, lemon, elderflower, and basil. A selection of Bubbles will be offered by the glass and bottle. Reservations are recommended for Valentine’s Weekend. For reservations at Driftwood Kitchen, call 949.715.7700 or visit driftwoodkitchen.com.

Hendrix Restaurant & Bar — LAGUNA NIGUEL
Hendrix is offering LOVEly Valentine’s dinner specials from Saturday, February 12 through Monday, February 14, alongside their regular menu. Among the special dishes is a Black Truffle & Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi with wild mushrooms, leeks, and parmesan crisps; Double R Ranch Petite Filet & Grilled Thai Shrimp with celery root puree, haricot verts, charred endive, and huckleberry demi-glaze; and a Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cake for Two, with ganache, chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries, and whipped cream. Guests will be able to enjoy two Valentine’s Martinis – Mi Amor, with Belvedere Blackberry & Lemongrass, blackberries, lime, and sage; and Forbidden Flower, with Belvedere Lemon & Basil, lemon, elderflower, and basil. A selection of Bubbles will be offered by the glass and bottle. Reservations are recommended for Valentine’s Weekend. For more information and reservations, please call 949.248.1912 or visit hendrixoc.com.

Taco Rosa – IRVINE & NEWPORT BEACH 
This Valentine’s Day, Chef Ivan Calderon offers a 3-course menu that begins with Halibut & Avocado Ceviche, followed by Stuffed Char-Pineapple with choice of skirt steak, shrimp or chicken breast, served with cilantro rice, black beans, and choice of tortillas. This special dinner ends with Churros & Crema Catalana, Taco Rosa’s famous freshly milled fritters dusted with cinnamon and sugar cane, and served with Spanish crema Catalana. The price per person is $45 (does not include beverages, tax, and gratuity). Special cocktail for Valentine’s Day is the Goodnight Kiss, a wild hibiscus martini with egg white foam. For more information or to make reservations, guests may call Taco Rosa Newport Beach at 949-720-0980 or Irvine at 714-505-6080, or visit http://www.tacorosa.com/.

Mario's Butcher Shop – NEWPORT BEACH 
This Valentine’s Weekend, Mario Llamas, whose namesake Mario’s Butcher Shop has become a local favorite, is offering house-made charcuterie boards for two, created from the finest in-house cured meats. Make your Valentine’s dinner special with a Porterhouse for Two, which comes with bone marrow butter and salt from Colima, as well as vegetable and potato side dishes. Mario’s selection of high-end cuts, wood-grilled and smoked meats will impress your Valentine! To learn more and place orders, call 949-316-4318 or visit mariosbutchershopdeli.com.

Bruxie — ORANGE & BREA
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Bruxie is featuring its Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Shake and The Love Bruxie! With Dark Chocolate Sauce, California Strawberries, Fresh Whipped Cream, and Powdered Sugar, it’s like treating your Valentine to chocolate-covered strawberries… on a waffle! Available in the month of February at all Bruxie locations. For more information on Bruxie offerings in Old Towne Orange, Brea Downtown, and Santa Monica, visit https://bruxie.com.