The most romantic day of the year is around the corner, and though it may look different this year, with more private, socially-distant celebrations, Valentine’s Day is still an important time to celebrate your relationship—perhaps this year more than any before. It’s also the time to celebrate something just as important: good food. Nothing makes a Valentine’s Day complete without a romantic dinner, whether it be dining out or staying in to enjoy the comfort of your own home.
From North to South Jersey, these restaurants are doing their best to make this holiday something special, preparing prix fixe menus and takeout options. Below, a list of Valentine’s Day specials in New Jersey, listed in alphabetical order.
Aarzu, Freehold
Head over to this modern Indian bistro—on our Best Restaurants in NJ list—for a night full of love and surprises. For $105 per person, six unique courses will be served to you and your date. Aarzu is known for its creative dishes, including coconut tamarind fish curry and rasmalai (sweet cheese dumplings), and each dish is made with a mouthful of flavor. Limited space is available and the menu will only be served on Valentine’s Day. Reservations must be made online or via phone to attend.
Aarzu, 30 East Main Street, Freehold; 732-333-0933
B2 Bistro & Bar, Point Pleasant Beach
Available for curbside pickup, home delivery, and in-house dining, B2 Bistro’s special Valentine’s Day menu will be available the whole weekend leading up to the holiday. Beef tartare and lamb lollipop appetizers will pair nicely with roasted salmon and gnocchi with mushroom ragu for entrées. If you’d rather split a meal with your date, try the surf ‘n turf for two, which comes with prime ribeye, lobster, shrimp, crab and other delicious side dishes. End your night with a dark chocolate mousse topped with black cherries and maple brandy gastrique. Check online for other Valentine’s Day menus available at other B2 & Bistro locations.
B2 Bistro & Bar, 709 Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach; 732-295-0709
Beach Plum Farm, West Cape May
Between chef Wes Thompson’s menu and the beautiful Beach Plum Farm setup, Valentine’s Day will be more than just a romantic evening. Dinner will take place in the farm’s heated air hoop house, with twinkling lights above socially distant tables. The multi-course meal will be made with the farm’s fresh meats, vegetables, and herbs and will start with a complimentary champagne toast. Make your reservations online for the one-night only event: Friday, February 12 at 6:30 pm.
Beach Plum Farm, 140 Stevens Street, West Cape May; 833-327-6268
Bistro D’Azur, South Orange
Chef Richard Krug has prepared a four-course meal for you to enjoy on Valentine’s Day weekend with reservations available online. First course options include half shell oysters, mushroom risotto, or lobster crepe, and choose between a duck confit salad or roasted beet salad for the second course. Exquisite mains like pan-seared scallops, roasted lamb rib chops, and duck, three ways, are on the menu, and the Petit Sucre Trio available for dessert includes cherry chocolate truffles, créme brûlée, and lemon meringue. $109 per person.
Bistro D’Azur, 14 Academy Street, South Orange; 973-327-9725
Brick Lane Curry House, Jersey City
This British-style Indian restaurant recently opened, and will be offering a romantic dinner for two this Valentine’s Day. Meant to be shared, the menu includes goat cheese vada (with sweet chile sauce and honey), paneer pasanda (served with tomato curry), lamb roganjosh and more. End your night with something sweet, like rice pudding or hot masala chai. Available for both takeout and dine-in.
Brick Lane Curry House, 136 Newark Avenue, Jersey City; 201-402-4950
Cedar Rose Vineyards, Millville
Great food is being paired with great wine at this winery in South Jersey. The first course is a citrus and wine poached shrimp (paired with a 2019 Silica wine), second course is a grilled filet of beef (with a 2017 Capello Cabernet Franc), and dessert is a triple chocolate mousse (served with Driftwood Edition #2). Tickets can be purchased online and are $105 per couple. Three seating times are available: Saturday, February 13 at 5:30 pm, and Sunday February 14 at 1 pm and 5:30 pm.
Cedar Rose Vineyards, 431 Kenyon Avenue, Millville; 856-221-3131
The Edge, Jackson
Champagne cocktail specials and entrees for two are being served for one day only at The Edge. Sit down for a romantic dinner on Valentine’s Day with appetizers like Thai lobster bisque, lamb lollipops, and lobster and shrimp avocado salad. Valentine Specials for two include a 36-ounce prime dry-aged tomahawk steak or 46-ounce prime dry-aged porter house steak. With many other add-ons available, and classic Valentine’s Day desserts like chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate cake, it will be a delicious night to remember.
The Edge, 109 N. County Line Road, Jackson; 732-408-3343
Four City Brewing, Orange
Switch up your typical celebration with an “Ale-Entine’s Day Beer Dinner” at Four City Brewing. Mi Bois will provi
de sandwiches during the private event, and chef Will Prunty will serve a four-course meal, paired with four craft beers from the brewery. Reservations must be made online to secure your spot at the event. Five tables of two and three tables of four are available for the two nights, $99 per person.
Four City Brewing, 55 S. Essex Avenue, Orange; 973-630-1411
Harvest Bistro, Madison
Fresh food is coming right to your table thanks to Harvest Bistro, so you can enjoy a romantic dinner from the comfort of your own home. Pick and choose what you want off of their special menu, from appetizers (stuffed mushrooms, bacon wrapped scallops, crab cakes and shrimp), to salads (Greek or chopped), to veggie side dishes (Brussels with bacon or steamed broccoli). Main courses include surf ‘n turf, seared salmon, herb-roasted chicken and stuffed pork loin. Dessert is supplied by Sugarlips, with the option of donut pops and chocolate covered strawberries. Orders must be in by noon on Friday, February 12 to pick up between 2–3pm on the 14th.
Harvest Bistro, 50 ½ Main Street, Madison; 973-822-3644
It’s Greek to Me, Ridgewood
Experience an authentic Mediterranean meal at It’s Greek to Me this Valentine’s Day with the chef’s prix fixe menu, available all weekend. The first course is a choice of hummus and pitas, fried zucchini chips with tzatziki or spanakopita. The second course is a choice between two soups (chicken avgolemono or lentil), and the third is a fresh Greek Salad. Gyro platter, sautéed Swordfish, moussaka, chicken mykonos, and grilled chicken specials are your main course options, with housemade dessert options like baklava, rice pudding, or galaktoboureko (custard wrapped in filo dough with a syrup drizzle). You can enjoy the menu for $32.95 per person in the restaurant’s heated outdoor greenhouses.
It’s Greek to Me, 21 E Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood; 201-612-2600
Rat’s Restaurant, Hamilton
Romance is in the air at Rat’s this Valentine’s Day, with delicious French cuisine and beautiful atmosphere. The dine-in only menu includes grilled octopus in a blood orange cream, crabmeat-stuffed lobster tail with mushroom risotto and roasted broccolini, and a porterhouse steak for two served with potatoes and grilled asparagus. The Valentine-inspired dessert on the menu is a chocolate ganache with strawberry (topped with chantilly cream). Wines are available for purchase as well as Rat’s Sparkling Flight that includes three different glasses of Champagne.
Rat’s Restaurant, 16 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton; 609-584-7800
Shumi Japanese Cuisine, Ridgewood
Shumi is highlighting their omakase (chef’s select tasting menu) for the special holiday weekend. Choose between the regular option (with 14 pieces of sushi and one hot appetizer) or the special option (21 pieces of sushi with five hot appetizers). Everything will be chosen by the chef, giving you a surprise dinner that you’ll be sure to enjoy with significant others and friends. Seating is available in Shumi’s eight outdoor bubble tents, with heated chairs and seating pads to keep you warm.
Shumi Japanese Cuisine, 70 E Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood; 201-345-0808
Spuntino Wine Bar & Tapas, Clifton
Kicking off Valentine’s Day weekend on February 11, Spuntino will be serving a five-course prix fixe menu, complete with wine pairings for each meal. The menu includes roasted beet and burrata salad (topped with wild herb vinaigrette), crab cakes with creamed lobster reduction, lobster ravioli, and filet mignon (served with Gorgonzola polenta and buttered leeks). End the night with a delicious French vanilla bread pudding served with poached pears and a port wine reduction. $60 per person or pay an additional $25 per person for wine pairings with your meal.
Spuntino Wine Bar & Tapas, 70 Kingsland Road (Clifton Commons), Clifton; 973-661-2435
Click here to leave a comment