9 places for a Valentine's Day dinner in Fayetteville — including a make-at-home option

Taylor Shook, Fayetteville Observer
Updated ·4 min read

One of the most-anticipated date nights of the year — Valentine’s Day — is nearly here, and it’s time to make dinner plans.

Fayetteville restaurants offer such luxurious options as steak, lobster tail and short ribs to treat someone special. At least one grocery store offers meal deals for two.

Some restaurants have prix fixe menus, while others are serving specials alongside the typical menu. Most spots accept reservations, while some have a first-come, first-served policy.

Here’s a sampling of romantic spots to consider for dinner.

Antonella’s

Address: 300 Hay St.

Antonella’s, a quaint and elegant dinner spot downtown serving southern Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh ingredients, offers a prix fixe menu for two on Valentine’s Day. At $150 per couple, the deal includes a choice of starter, appetizer, entree and dessert for $150.

The restaurant does not accept reservations.

Chris’s Steak & Seafood House

Address: 2620 Raeford Road

Chris’s Steak & Seafood House serves the regular menu on Valentine’s Day, which includes ribeye, filet mignon, prime rib, salmon and lobster. The old-school steakhouse has served fine cuts of meat cooked over an open charcoal hearth since 1963, and the full bar has daily drink specials.

Reservations are available on Valentine’s Day, but owner Greg Kalevas said Thursday that nearly all the tables were already booked.

To check if any reservations are still available, call 910-485-4242.

Circa 1800

Address: 108 Person St.

Circa 1800, known for its upscale southern comfort food and craft cocktails, offers a special menu from Valentine’s Day to Feb. 17 featuring ribeye, lobster risottoe, coq au vin and seafood hot pot. The family-run restaurant sources ingredients locally, including North Carolina wine and beer.

To make a Valentine's Day reservation call 910-568-4725.

The Fresh Market offers Valentine's Day dinner deals for two.
The Fresh Market offers Valentine's Day dinner deals for two.

The Fresh Market

Address: 230 Glensford Drive

Rather eat at home? The Fresh Market offers $60 meals for two with a choice of lobster tail, crab cakes or filet mignon. Each comes with mascarpone whipped potatoes, asparagus with red peppers and sea salt butter, eight chocolate-dipped strawberries and a dozen roses. The meal requires some cooking and reheating.

A $55 prime rib meal comes with mascarpone whipped potatoes, seasoned green beans and horseradish aioli.

Fancy cuts of beef are on sale for the holiday, like American wagyu steaks at $50 per pound and American Wagyu ribeye at $45 per pound.

Meal pickup is Feb. 9-18 and orders can be placed online at thefreshmarket.com through Feb. 12.

The Friend’s Table

Address: 253 Westwood Shopping Center

The Friend’s Table, a trendy spot with Southern cuisine and creative cocktails, offers a five-course tasting menu for two on Valentine’s Day for $249. Shrimp scampi skewers, Caesar salad, Tuscan soup, tomato-alfredo pasta with chicken or salmon, braised short rib with mashed potatoes and spinach, and strawberry cheesecake are on the menu.

Reservation times are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. To make a reservation, call 910-339-7257.

Little Italy Pizzeria & Restaurant

Address: 1400 Walter Reed Road, Suite 130

Little Italy Pizzeria & Restaurant specializes in steak, pizza, and pasta, served alongside cocktails and a large wine selection. Owner Giuseppe Scibilia, who immigrated from Sicily at age 17, said the special menu on Valentine’s Day includes including lobster and steak.

The restaurant does not accept reservations.

A cook puts the finishing touches on a steak in the kitchen at Luigi's Italian Chophouse and Bar.
A cook puts the finishing touches on a steak in the kitchen at Luigi's Italian Chophouse and Bar.

Luigi’s Italian Chophouse and Bar

Address: 528 N. Mcpherson Church Road

Luigi’s Italian Chophouse and Bar, which offers a chic but comfortable dining experience, has served seafood, hand-cut steaks and chops and from-scratch pasta since the 1950s. The cocktail menu features a dozen specialty martinis, and the wine list is 1,500 strong. On Valentine’s Day, the restaurant serves specials alongside its regular menu.

To make a reservation, visit luigisnc.com or call 910-864-1810.

Chef Sheldon China smokes pork ribs outside his restaurant, Melvin's at Riverside at 1130 Person St.
Chef Sheldon China smokes pork ribs outside his restaurant, Melvin's at Riverside at 1130 Person St.

Melvin’s at Riverside

Location: 1130 Person St.

Melvin’s at Riverside, a popular spot along the Cape Fear River, serves Southern comfort food favorites like marinated pork ribs, pork chops, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, fried seafood and housemade desserts.

On Valentine’s Day, the restaurant serves its regular menu and a few specials.

To make a reservation, visit melvins-atriverside.com or call 910-339-3059.

Pierro’s Italian Bistro

Address: 217 Hay St.

Pierro’s Italian Bistro offers a special holiday menu alongside its typical fare, including appetizers, pizza, pasta, and dessert. The downtown restaurant has a patio and full bar, and borders on fancy — patrons can wear jeans or dress up. If you happen to be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Friday or Saturday, check out the Sky Lounge, the restaurant's upstairs martini and wine bar.

To make a reservation, call 910-678-8885.

Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com or on Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Best restaurants for Valentine's Day 2024 in Fayetteville, NC