Are you stuck wondering about where to take your loved one for Valentine’s Day? Here are five ideas that are sure to have something for every appetite and budget, from pastas to pints, and from black truffles to huitlacoche espuma.
Michael’s Downtown
This five-course prix fixe menu includes porcini & cheese fondue with broccoli florets & wood-fired bread; a two heart salad with hearts of palm and artichoke hearts; a choice of pesto rigatoni with basil pesto and ricotta, or saffron gnocchetti with salmon in saffron cream with sweet peas. The fourth course offers a choice of beef tenderloin with portabella with pink peppercorn sauce and roasted garlic, or grilled jumbo shrimp in champagne and green peppercorn sauce with leeks. The final course is a chocolate tiramisu to round out the evening.
$65 per person. Reservations required.
Michael’s Downtown, 210 E. Third St. 562-491-2100.
El Barrio Cantina
A five-course prix fixe menu that features Hamachi Crudo with passion fruit Leche de Tigre, winter citrus and uni; truffle poblano pasta; Japanese A5 wagyu rib eye with heirloom beans and huitlacoche espuma; cordornice with arroz rojo, baby carrots, and salsa miel de ancho chili; chocolate ganache. Call for reservations.
$85 per person including cocktail and wine pairing.
El Barrio Cantina, 1731 E. Fourth St. 562-612-0585.
The Attic
A prix fixe menu featuring oysters Rockefeller; market lettuces with sesame croutons, heirloom radishes, and buttermilk dressing with rosemary country bread; lobster Fra Diavolo Agnolotti; chateaubriand with cherry brandy jus and grilled oyster mushrooms; and chocolate strawberry tart.
$89 per person (minimum 2 guests). Reservations required. Service starts Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.
The Attic, 3441 E. Broadway 562-433-0153.
Sala Coffee & Wine
In collaboration with Chef Avanthi Dev of @kala.losangeles, Sala Coffee and Wine is hosting a five-course prix fixe menu that includes a marinated beet salad with strawberries, fennel, pine nuts, and goat cheese. Handkerchief pasta with seared mushrooms, brodo, and fresh black truffles. A 4-ounce NY strip steak with pomme puree, brown butter baby potatoes, and chimichurri, followed by a small cheese course and dessert of molten cocoa brownie.
$90 per person for parties of two to four. Reservations required.
Sala Coffee & Wine, 3853 Atlantic Ave. 562-269-0476
Long Beach Beer Lab
Long Beach Beer Lab is offering a dessert pairing of stouts and sweets.
A unique dessert pairing putting four of their delectable sweets alongside four Valentine’s Day stouts:
- Strawberry stout paired with strawberry shortcake mousse bites.
- Peppermint Pattie stout paired with house made chocolate and peppermint turtles.
- Cinnamon babka stout paired with cinnamon babka bites.
- Vanilla cream stout paired with custard filled brioche bites.
$25 per person available Feb. 11 through Feb. 14.
Long Beach Beer Lab, 518 W. Willow St. 562-270-3253.