12 Special Valentine’s Day Dinners in Calgary

Treat your beloved to a special Valentine’s Day meal at one of the city’s best restaurants.

Valentine’s Day is worth the splurge, especially if you’re enjoying multiple courses of fantastic food prepared by a few of the city’s best chefs. If you’re planning on going out, make reservations now – all of these restaurants are sure to fully book.

Alloy

Chef Rogelio has created a mouthwatering four-course plus dessert Valentine’s Day menu. The menu options include sake steamed manila clams, lemongrass and yuzu “chowder,” fennel crusted albacore tuna, sous vide tenderloin, lobster ravioli and Chambord-marinated strawberries. Diners are also able to express their love with a custom floral arrangement. Alloy has partnered with Catherina Blaker of “How Sweet” to offer diners hand-tied bouquets for an additional $65. Now that’s romantic. Dinner $75 per person.

220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255, alloydining.com

Bensonhurst

If New York-style pizza is the way to your beloved’s heart, take her to dinner at Bensonhurst. Enjoy either two five-ounce glasses of wine or two pints, a Bensonhurst Napa salad, a 14-inch pizza and chocolate cheesecake for $65 each.

100, 933 17 Ave. S.W., 403-455-5561, bensonhurstpizza.com

Cibo

The Italians are known for their romance – think Petrarch, Casanova or Leonardo DiCaprio. Cibo’s meals are made to share: order a few scodellina and a few pizzas before finishing the evening with something sweet, like gelato or sorbetto. In addition to the regular menu, Cibo is preparing a Valentine’s Day feature sheet with a special antipasti and main.

1012 17 Ave. S.W., 403-984-4755, cibocalgary.com

Cravings Market

Celebrate your love in the ambience of a French marketplace at Cravings Market between February 12 and 14. Special menu items made for two from each station include cream of roasted cauliflower and crab soup for $10, a seafood platter for $16.95 or herb-crusted beef tenderloin from the grill for $39. Finish it off with a fruit pizza or dark chocolate dessert with caramel and roasted pecans, each $8.

7207 Fairmount Dr. S.E., 403-252-2083, cravingsmarketrestaurant.com

Farm

Farm offers a delicious, four-course dinner in a home-style atmosphere. Start with bubbles and bites before moving to the appetizer: there’s a choice between the venison tartar, a warm beet salad and a roasted cauliflower soup. A cheese fondue will cleanse the palate between the appetizer and main, of which there is also three choices. Finish the meal off with a mascarpone mousse. The dinner costs $75 per person.

1006 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-2276, farm-restaurant.com

Home Tasting Room

They say home is where the heart is, so why not book a spot at Home Tasting Room for Valentine’s Day? The upscale contemporary five-course tasting menu is $85 with optional wine pairings for $35.

110 8 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8100, hometastingroom.ca

Ox and Angela

In addition to its regular menu, Ox and Angela is offering a family-style, set menu for Valentine’s Day. Treat your date to romantic Spanish tapas for $65 per person and wine pairings if you wish. The set menu is made up of favourites from the regular menu, including Persian dates with serrano, manchego, walnut and pomegranate molasses, grilled albacore tuna, the well-loved Patatas Bravas and a chocolate terrine.

528 17 Ave. S.W., 403-457-1432, oxandangela.com

River Caf

This cozy restaurant on Prince’s Island is offering three Valentine’s Day options. On February 13th make reservations for the four-course Petite Romance Dinner ($60 per person). On February 14th try the Champagne Romance Brunch with three-courses and, of course, Champagne ($49 per person). Later that evening the five-course Celebrate Romance Dinner is five-courses for $95 per person. The menus aren’t posted yet, but they will be soon.

25 Prince’s Island Park, 403-261-7670, river-cafe.com

Selkirk Grille

For a vintage Valentine’s Day dinner that will whisk you both away from reality for just a little while, head down to the Selkirk Grille at Heritage Park for an exclusive six-course dinner. Highlights from this special menu include Canadian Rougie foie gras, scallops and veal sweetbreads, the choice between smoked sable fish and Alberta lamb loin for the main course and Champagne mouse with chocolate ganache. $89.95 per person.

1900 Heritage Dr. S.W., 403-268-8607, heritagepark.ca

The Lake House

A perfectly romantic setting, a four-course meal prepared by chef Neukom and chef Coville and wine pairings make for a memorable Valentine’s Day. Start out with either duck confit and butternut squash tortellini or crispy wild boar belly, followed by celery root and fennel soup. The choice of mains on offer are either a seared pheasant breast, grilled beef tenderloin or seared trout. The special dessert hasn’t been released yet, but be sure to save room for it. The tasting menu on its own is $70 per person and the optional wine pairings are an additional $50 per person.

747 Lake Bonavista Dr. S.E., 403-225-3939, lakehousecalgary.com

Modern Steak

Taking place only on Saturday, February 14, Modern Steak is offering a special four-course dinner. Start off with a raw oyster amuse bouche, followed by a modern Caesar salad and shrimp cocktail. The main is sure to please: share a 24-ounce steak, twin lobster tails and mashed potato before finishing up the meal with a chocolate dessert trio. The dinner costs $89 per person. Beverages aren’t included.

107 10A St. N.W., 403-670-6873, modernsteak.ca

Yellow Door Bistro

Chefs Quinn Staple and Duncan Ly have prepared a memorable five-course meal for Valentine’s Day, with the optional addition of regular or premium wine pairings. Expect high-quality dishes such as preserved lemon potato croquette, truffled mushroom en croute and roasted pheasant coq-au-vin. The special menu is only offered on February 14 and costs $85 per person. The regular wine pairings are an additional $40 per person and the premium wine pairings are an additional $70 per person.

119 12 Ave. S.W., 403-206-9585, yellowdoorbistro.ca