Valentine’s Day date guide

Nick Bonadies
Spectrum editor

By the time you have your mitts on the next issue of The CT, it will already be Valentine’s Day – and, tragically, far too late for you to make dinner reservations.

Your mate will be most displeased.

Avoid the silent treatment: Call in early to any of these fine Richmond dining establishments, compiled here by hard-working CT analysts for their student-friendly, under-$100 pricetag.

On the big day, look out for goodies to please any heart in SPECTRUM VALENTINE’S EDITION, including Sadie Zarkin’s Why You’re Single and How Not To Be, the revelation of the lucky couple chosen for an all-expenses-paid CT blind date (fancy dinner, romantic activities, chauffering and CT coverage included),* and much more!

*Still dateless and alone for the 14th?  It’s not too late – submit a brief bio, what you’re looking for and a recent photograph of yourself to spectrum@commonwealthtimes.com for a chance to meet the guy/gal/etc. of your dreams.

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ACACIA

$49 per person

2601 W. Cary Street

804.562.0138

Four-course pre-fixe menu for $49 per person. Four to five choices per course. Dinner served from 5:30 p.m to 9:15 p.m.

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AMICI

$35 per person

3343 W. Cary Street

804.353.4700

“Lover’s Special” for $35 per person. Dinner served from 5:30 p.m to 10 p.m.

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AVENUE 805

$35 dinner for two

805 N. Davis Avenue

804.353.0339

Valentine’s Day falls on Monday this year, which happens to be Avenue 805’s Cheap Date Night. Dinner for two for $35. Choice of wine, Caesar or house salad, “big bowl” of pasta to share, followed by chef’s choice for dessert.

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BELLE VIE

$80 dinner for two

1244 Alverser Plaza

804.379.3338

On the 13th and 14th, pre-fixe, four-course dinner for two for $80. Menu available on bellvieva.com.

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COUS COUS

$40 dinner for two

900 W. Franklin Street

804.358.0868

Monday is also Cous Cous’s Date Night: three-course dinner for two for $40. Your pick of soup or salads, three main courses from a select menu, a dessert to share and 1/2 carafe of sangria.  Try this week’s $1 “mystery beer” afterwards.

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HANOVER TAVERN RESTAURANT & PUB

$90 dinner for two

13181 Hanover Courthouse Road

804.537.5050

Special four-course dinner for two for $90. Dinner served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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MEZZANINE

$65 dinner for two

3433 W. Cary Street

804.353.2186

Four-course dinner for two for $65, with two to three choices per course. Finish off with a red velvet chocolate dessert roll.

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MOSAIC

$34.95 per person

6229A River Road (River Road Shopping Center)

804.288.7482

Four-course menu for $34.95 per person, including a wide selection of seafood, pork, beef and game dishes.

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OLIO

$45-$50 dinner for two

200 1/2 W. Main Street

804.355.5182

Filet mignon or rockfish dinner for two for $50; vegetarian butternut squash ravioli dinner for two for $45. Both served with sides and a bottle of red or white house wine.

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PESCADOS CHINA STREET

$49 per person

626 China Street

804.644.3474

Pescados China Street’s pre-fixe Valentine’s menu for $49 per person. Choose from three seatings: 5:30pm, 7:30pm, and 9:30pm.

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SECCO

$40-$45 per person

2933 W. Cary Street

804.353.0670

Five-course menu for $45 per person, $40 for vegetarian option. Pair each course with wine for an extra $25. Offer by reservation only, limit four guests per table.

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STRAWBERRY STREET CAFE

$49.95 dinner for two

421 Strawberry Street

804.353.6860

Three-course dinner for two for $49.95 offered all weekend, including choice of soup, entree, and gigantic dessert to share (chocolate cake garnished with chocolate dipped strawberries or red velvet cake).

TJ’s

$35 per person

101 W. Franklin Street

804.649.4672

Special menu at $35 per person – or if you have a few hundred bucks to spare, select “TJ’s Valentine’s Day Dinner Package,” which features a pre-fixe menu by Chef Schroeder, as well as deluxe accommodations, room service breakfast, dinner and breakfast gratuities and valet parking. (Deluxe Room: $315; Studio Suite: $415 — taxes not included).