Make Your Valentine’s Dinner Extra Special

Like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day is big business for restaurants.  Chefs stress over their menus and weeks before the big day – this year it’s the big weekend, because the sweetheart’s holiday falls on a Monday – restaurant reservationists are plinking away at their terminals.

But unlike many other (legal) holidays, the day for lovers or at the very least heart-shaped boxes stuffed with chocolates, is not a break from work. Unless a recipient gets stood up on the big day and eats the whole box of chocolates, and then there is the possibility of Marin General drama.

In any case, phones are ringing, duck breasts are being trimmed, oysters are being shucked and chocolate molten cakes are standing by waiting to go into ovens. 

But if it is not a perfunctory night out, but instead a really special Valentine’s dinner with all the romance either lover can muster or even better maybe a wedding proposal, then it's not only important to pick the right restaurant with appealing food, but also to have the perfect atmosphere. For lovers, that means getting the right table — one where they have some privacy and can steal a kiss if they want to.

• At Left Bank Restaurant (www.leftbank.com) in Larkspur, manager Jennifer Courtney says that some Valentine’s dishes will be served all weekend, in addition to the regular menu, but that the big day is Monday.

Courtney says all the tables in front of the fireplace are popular, but that table 77, which is tucked in the farthest corner of the dining room on the right side is the coziest. However, reservationists cannot guarantee a specific table.

Chef Sean Canavan is adding these specials: creamy oyster and leek chowder, scallops on a lobster risotto and a sponge cake with chocolate and coffee butter cream. The notorious aphrodisiac oysters, here with champagne, come in orders of six or twelve.

• Chef Bruce Hill at Restaurant Picco, (www.restaurantpicco.com) also in Larkspur, says that the window tables in the first dining room, numbers 30, 40 and 50 are made for romance. To snag them, for sure, book them for a 5:30 p.m. dinner.

When you get there, Hill has some luxurious dishes for the weekend. Look for a la carte small bites like Bruce’s potato pillows with caviar and crème fraiche; large plates include a wagyu steak with a black truffle port sauce; or a mesquite grilled lobster tail and a pan-roasted duck breast.

One of the sweet endings is el rey chocolate caramel tart with black truffle crème anglais.

Small bites are $10; large plates $20-$30 and sweets $12.

• Chef Scott Howard at Brick & Bottle in Corte Madera (www.brickandbottle.com) is like Hill, celebrating all weekend and Monday.  There will be the regular menu and a 4 course set menu with choices for $55.

Some yummy features are oysters with American caviar or smoked salmon. Carrot soup heads up the second course along with roasted beets with goat cheese.

Pistachio crusted lamb loin or Ahi tuna are the mains. Patrons will have to decide between molten chocolate and pecan rum cake for dessert. For another $25 a 5-course wine pairing can be accessed.

Howard says in the back dining room, lotsa smooches could be stolen at table 73 or near the kitchen at table 50.

Wherever you go, lift a glass of champagne and make a toast to love.

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In a previous article Patch covered Happy Hour deals in Larkspur-Corte Madera.

The folks at the Cheesecake Factory missed my deadline and I forgot Brick & Bottle. I know, my bad.

Here are their Happy Hour offers:

Cheesecake Factory (www.thecheesecakefactory.com)

The Village, 1736 Redwood Highway, Corte Madera

(415) 945-0777

These trendy drinks are just $5 at the Cheesecake Factory: mojito, Long Island, margarita, cosmo. Other selected well drinks are $5; wines by the glass $5 and draft beers $4.

The following appetizers are $5: sliders, spinach and cheese dip, avocado eggrolls, fried mac and cheese, sweet corn tamale cakes, crispy taquitos, fire-roasted artichoke, shrimp summer rolls, guacamole, Tex Mex eggrolls, fried calamari, chicken sliders, pot stickers and crab wontons.

Happy Hour is 4-6 p.m. in the bar area.

Brick & Bottle (www.brickandbottle.com)

55 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera

(415) 924-3366

Brick & Bottle has a long Happy Hour running from 4-7 p.m. everyday, but only in the bar area.

All beers are $4; the $5 wines include Silver Tap sauvignon blank and Preston of Dry Creek, Rhone blend. Selected cocktails are $6. A slew of bar apps are $5 including deviled eggs, salt cod fritters, pork meatballs, buttermilk and chive biscuits and a steak taco. Both their margherita and mushroom pizzas are half price at $5.50 and $6.50, respectively.