Some people can’t imagine Valentine’s Day without candy, flowers, jewelry and dinner at a swanky eatery. And while that’s all well and good, these are the exact types that restaurateurs go after with their overpriced prix-fixe meals, glasses of champagne and towering chocolate desserts.
I’m really not against Valentine’s dining. Hell, I’m a restaurant blogger – eating out is my favorite thing to do. I understand people love to plan special dates, and I respect that couples have favorite restaurants that they return to year after year. I just believe that restaurant owners go out of their way to make these diners pay for so-called romance.
Therefore, this post by food blogger Brooke Burton spoke to me. She explains the reasons why couples should think twice about dining out on (or in this case, around) this holiday. Among the rationale: high-stakes dining (with elevated expectations), inflated prices and rushed seating times.
For years, my now-husband and I would go to Chandler’s Restaurant at the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield, Mass. The dining room is candlelit and cozy, and outdoor lighting reflects off the snow. But on our last visit, two years ago, we were utterly unimpressed by the tiny prix-fixe menu and absurd pricing.
So last year, for a fraction of the price, we stayed home and cooked. We made a seafood casserole and homemade chocolate-dipped strawberries, and I picked up an $8.99 cava at our local liquor store. This year, we’re having tenderloin and I’m going to try to replicate the ridiculous fontina fondue we had at Bin 228 last month. To drink? A gift bottle of Veuve Clicquot we’ve been saving since our wedding. Maybe. I also have a $10 bottle of Mionetto prosecco. Try ordering a martini for under $10 at a restaurant this weekend.
The only problem – I’d really love some fresh raw oysters. and I don’t want to shuck them at home.
And do not even get me started on Valentine’s Day proposals…
Leeanne Griffin is a freelance writer and food enthusiast.