Metro Detroit restaurants have special menus for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day and Galantine's Day are just days away.
Going out for a fancy dinner to mark the occasion is one of the top gifts on which Americans splurge. This year, consumers are expected to spend nearly $26 billion on candy, cards, flowers or an evening out, according to the National Retail Federation.
Restaurant chefs are answering the call by dreaming up inviting menus and events. With Valentine's Day falling on a Tuesday, many restaurants are featuring special menus over multiple days leading up to the holiday.
In case you're wondering what the heck Galentine's Day is, it's a made-up holiday celebrated on the eve of Valentine's Day. It started more than a decade on hit sitcom "Parks and Recreation" when character Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) set out to find a way to honor female friendships. And yes, there's a Malentine's Day aimed at guys, but it's still relatively new.
Here's a sampling of several metro Detroit restaurants with special Valentine's Day menus. It's best to plan ahead as most require reservations and fill up quickly.
Adachi
Birmingham
Known for its Japanese-inspired cuisine, downtown Birmingham's Adachi has a specially curated omakase menu for two Feb. 10-16. The multi-course menu is $350 per couple and includes items such as Hokkaido scallops with citrus vinaigrette, a nigiri tasting with seared scallops and pan-seared dover sole and a sashimi tasting with A5 wagyu-braised short ribs and grilled wagyu strip loin. The meal ends with a shared plate of dessert offerings. The main menu will also be offered.
For info: adachirestaurant.com
Andiamo
Multiple locations
A three-course dinner menu is being paired with music and scenes from "The Phantom of the Opera." The dinner show is on select days at various Andiamo locations from Feb. 10-14. A cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m. Prices and menu offerings vary by location. For example, the Livonia Andiamo menu includes Italian rice balls as an appetizer and a main course choices of a 6-ounce filet mignon served with two shrimp or chili-glazed cedar plank salmon with blistered tomatoes. For dessert, it's chocolate decadence cake with raspberry sauce and whipped cream. The cost is $89.95 ($99 at the Fenton location) per person.
For info: andiamoitalia.com
Apparatus Room
Detroit
Dinner: Chef Thomas Lents and his staff have created a tasting menu for two at the Apparatus Room inside the Detroit Foundation Hotel. Items on the prix-fixe menu include East Coast oysters with rose granita, red wine pasta with mushroom Bolognese and crispy leeks, and a dry-aged ribeye with truffle potato pave and bitter greens. The cost is $175 for two.
Chocolate: Executive pastry chef Duncan Spangler has created chocolate boxes ($48) that include 16 pieces of chocolate with flavors that include yuzu, blueberry, raspberry, hazelnut and passion fruit. Order by emailing lmartinez@detroitfoundationhotel.com for pickup Feb. 10, 11 and 14.
For info: thedetroitfoundationhotel.com
More:Martha Stewart, Wolfgang Puck and a devoted grandma create a recipe for a great gift
More:Ann Arbor Restaurant Week kicks off today
Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill
Almont and Armada
On Valentine's Day, Blake’s is offering special dinners at its Tasting Room at Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill and the Tap Room at Blake’s Backyard in Almont.
Tasting Room at Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada
The menu includes a choice of a charcuterie board or shrimp cocktail appetizer followed by soup or salad. The entreé choices are apple and potato pork roast, lemon and garlic pasta (with grilled chicken or salmon) or a char crust prime rib. Dessert is a choice of cherry doughnut bread a la mode or chocolate lover’s cheesecake.
Blake's Backyard Tap Room, 5590 Van Dyke Ave., Almont
The menu features a choice of fried brussels sprouts, El Chavo shrimp cocktail or Cajun steak bites as an appetizer followed by soup or salad. The entrée is a choice of coconut chicken, angel hair salmon palomino, a farm bowl or herb-encrusted prime rib. Dessert choices are Valentine’s Twinkies or Red Velvet Cupcakes.
The price is $84 for two and includes two pints of beer or cider or one bottle of house wine, or $94 for two, including one bottle of Cool Mom’s Bubbly.
For info: blakefarms.com
Cafe Cortina
Farmington Hills
A special Valentine's Day menu includes appetizers, pasta and salad options. Guests can choose from seven entrées. All desserts are handmade. Café Cortina also offers vegan and gluten-free options. The curated menu is available Friday through Sunday. Valentine's Day is sold out. The cost is $125 per person.
For info: 248-474-3033 or cafecortina.com
Madam
Birmingham
Madam in the Daxton Hotel in downtown Birmingham is offering a five-course menu plus an amuse-bouche. Menu items include beets with white asparagus, caracara, carrot and yogurt, quail with duxelles, pommes paolo and pomegranate, lamb with langoustine and bisque, and milk chocolate mousse torte. The cost is $125 per person or $200 with a drink pairing menu.
For info: daxtonhotel.com
Melting Pot
Troy
The establishment on West Big Beaver Road is offering several options for Valentine's Day and Galentine's Day. On Valentine's Day, a fondue experience ($85 per person or $170 per couple) features a starter, cheese fondue, salad, entrée and chocolate fondue. Each couple also receives a special gift bag. On Feb. 15, you can celebrate Galentine’s with Melting Pot’s Best Fondue Friends Forever menu. It's a three-course menu featuring cheese fondue, fresh salad and chocolate fondue for $35 per person. On Thursdays, the Melting Pot features Thursdate with a four-course dinner for two featuring its sparkling chocolate fondue served on a table covered with rose petals and candles. The cost is $45 per person.
For info: meltingpot.com
Oak and Reel
Detroit
Valentine's Day weekend at Michelin-starred chef Jared Gadbaw's Oak & Reel has multiple options. From Friday through Monday, you can choose from a prix fixe menu or a la carte dishes. On Valentine's Day, a four-course meal curated by Gadbaw is available as well as a few special dishes. Prices vary. Prix fixe menu is $110 per person.
For info: oakandreel.com
One-Eyed Betty's
Ferndale
One-Eyed Betty's is offering a prix fixe Dinner for the Lonely Hearts on Valentine's Day along with its regular menu. The prix fixe menu includes charred Caesar salad and a choice of four entrees: New York strip au poivre, chicken cordon bleu, vodka lobster ravioli or blackened balsamic tuna. For dessert, it's chocolate mousse. The meal includes your choice of a house cocktail, draft beer, glass of wine, mocktail, or non-alcoholic beer in a souvenir Betty's glass. Cost is $50 per person.
For info: oneeyedbettys.com
Pop's for Italian
Ferndale
Dinner for two includes a select red or white wine at $30 a bottle and a passion martini or its Mezcal classico for $15 each. The menu includes choices of a New York strip tagliata, limone (lemon) agnolotti pasta or steak tartare. Prices range from $16 to $60. A chocolate mousse cake is $15 for two people. The regular dinner menu will also be available.
For info: popsforitalian.com
Prism Steakhouse
Detroit
At the Hollywood Casino Greektown, chef Petro Drakopoulos curated a four-course pre-Valentine's experience for two. There's an amuse-bouche of butter-poached lobster followed by a starter course choice of brie and pesto wild green salad or peach and goat cheese tartine. The main entrée is a shared balsamic glazed, bone-in ribeye served with shrimp herbs de Provence and mushroom de Paris. Dessert is roasted hazelnut and pots de creme. The cost is $200 per couple. Prism's regular menu will also be available.
For info: hollywoodgreektown.com
Public House
Ferndale
In addition to its regular menu, Public House is serving a three-course dinner that includes a house salad, 16-ounce New York strip and shrimp Ooscar with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. For dessert, it's strawberry panna cotta for two. The meal is $75 per couple.
For info: publichouseferndale.com
Rugby Grille
Birmingham
A prix fixe menu begins with an amuse-bouche of an oyster on the half shell with rose water, pickled shallot and ice wine granita. The first course choices are smoked salmon served with cucumber noodles or buffalo mozzarella with pickled persimmon and grilled olive bread. There are three entree choices: beef tournedos with roasted vegetables; lobster tail duo with caviar butter, citrus salad and lobster mac-and-cheese; and curry pappardelle with marcona almond butter, lacinato kale, sweety drop peppers, and pecorino. For dessert, there's a chocolate flourless cake with gianduja (a chocolate blend) mousse and milk chocolate mousse topped with a praline crunch.
For info: rugbygrille.com or 248-642-5999.
Seasons 52
Troy
You can order off the seasonal menu (where everything is less than 595 calories) or order a curated Green Box for dinner at home. The Green Box Valentine's Day dinner for two features two wood-grilled filet mignons with roasted mushrooms and red wine sauce, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, broccolini,a field greens salad, two desserts and a bottle of wine. You need to preorder 24 hours in advance for pickup Feb. 11-14. The cost is $110 and available for take-out only.
For info: seasons52.com
Symposia
Detroit
This Mediterranean-inspired fine dining restaurant is inside the Atheneum Suite Hotel and Conference Center in Greektown. Its Valentine’s Day feature is a duck ragout with tomato, Michigan cherry, pappardelle, basil and pecorino Romano. Symposia's regular menu will also be available.
For info: symposiadetroit.com
Toria
Northville
This downtown Northville eatery is billed as a European-style café and bistro. Its Valentine's Day menu features a four-course dinner with options including foie gras pate and wild mushroom quiche. The main course is a choice of A5 wagyu steak or ricotta and mushroom cannelloni — both served with sides. Dessert is crème caramel. The cost is $100 per person and seatings are at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
For info: torianorthville.com
Zana
Birmingham
Downtown Birmingham's newest restaurant is creating modern American fare with European flair. Its Valentine's Day menu is four courses, and entree options are Wagyu strip, sablefish or duck. The dessert is baked Alaska. The cost is $135 per person. During the evening, there will be a live performance by local harpist Laura Palmieri. Fashion sketch illustrator Nicole Jarecz will be available with limited spots.
Zao Jun
Bloomfield Hills
On Valentine's Day, Zao Jun will serve several specials, including an eggplant and burrata salad, lobster lettuce wraps, king crab fried rice and 12-hour braised short rib with wasabi mashed potatoes. A dessert special is yuzu and raspberry bread pudding with kaffir lime ice cream. Prices vary.
For info: zaojunnewasian.com
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Valentine's Day: Special menus at metro Detroit restaurants
