Valentine's Day is Feb. 14. Have you made your plans?
Valentine's Day is Feb. 14 and it will be here before you know it. Not sure where to go? Here are some ideas to celebrate the holiday.
Kornerstone Bistro: Kornerstone Bistro in Porters Neck will have more than one Valentine's Day dining experience. The restaurant will host a Valentine's brunch 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. A special Valentine's Day dinner menu will be available along with the regular menu from 4-9 p.m. from Feb. 12-14. The special menu starts with a choice of lobster bisque, watermelon radish carpaccio, French kiss oysters served with mignonette, lemon confit and cocktail sauce or lump blue crabcakes. Entrees include a porcini mushroom encrusted salmon, grilled beef medallions with a Gorgonzola herb crust and black truffle mashed potatoes, and chicken confit. The menu is available as a three-course set for $34 or a la carte as priced. Call 910-686-2296 for more information. (8262 Market St.)
Platypus & Gnome: The funky restaurant is hosting a Valentine Wine Pairing, at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13. For $60 customers will get charcuterie and housemade pickles paired with a rose, curried vegetables, wild boar ravioli and chocolate cherry cheesecake -- each with its own wine pairing. Call 910-769-9300 to book a spot. (9 S. Front St.)
Wrightsville Beach Brewery: Head to Wrightsville Beach Brewery at 5 p.m. on Valentine's Day for a special five-course menu. Start with local oysters smoked with rosemary and thyme, enjoy a She-crab soup or tomato basil bisque and a salad of poached pear with arugula, walnuts and cranberries. Choose between roasted duck breast with orange and cherry gastrique, a chef's catch of the day with crab and sauteed spinach or roasted stuffed portobello cap with arugula salad. For dessert, choose between turtle cheesecake or a gluten-free chocolate torte. The four-course meal paired with wine and beer is $36 per person. Make a reservation by calling 910-256-4938. (6201 Oleander Drive)
Sweet n Savory: The sandwich and soup bistro is putting on white tablecloths and lighting candles for a special Valentine's menu. Seatings are available from 5-9 p.m.; reservations are required. Prices for the four-course meal are based on entree selection, and range from $32.95 to $46.95. Choose between lobster, crispy pork belly or eggplant caviar to start; pick between three different salads and a bisque. For the main course choose a rack of lamb served with beans, asparagus and sweet pea mint puree; a wild caught sockeye salmon with polenta, roasted mushrooms and red pepper-Dijon sauce; a charred beef short rib with lobster croquette, rapini, glazed carrots and roasted garlic sauce; half chicken served with crispy skin, collards and cauliflower gratin; or a red pepper risotto with sweet potato, corn, cilantro and mascarpone. Dessert options are: cheesecake, fresh berry and custard tart, flourless chocolate torte and red velvet lava cake. Call 910-256-0115 to reserve. (1611 Pavillion Place)
Waterman's Brewing: A Valentine's Day Beer Dinner will include a special four-course dinner paired with beers. The meal is $35 per person with seatings at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Start with an arugula salad with candied nuts, goat cheese, strawberries, candied ginger and a winterberry with vinaigrette before being served caramelized scallops served over a petite grit cake, tomato compote, bacon jam and red amaranth micro greens. Course three is a pan-seared duck breast served over beetroot risotto with a sunshine reduction, topped with a pickled fennel and endive salad. For dessert the menu lists a Moonlit Descent float with chocolate dipped churro, vanilla ice cream, strawberry sugar rim and chocolate strawberry garnish. Call 910-839-3101 for a reservation. (1610 Pavillion Place)
Cape Fear Food & Wine Club: This cooking demonstration and events club, hosted at The Seasoned Gourmet, will hold a special Valentine's Day event Feb. 14. Chef Annemarie will treat guests to an Italian meal with butternut squash bisque and pumpkin muffins, lamb stew and dessert. The courses will be paired with wines by wine expert Mike Summerlin. The event is $65 per person, and participants must be members of the Cape Fear Food & Wine Club. Annual memberships are $25; temporary memberships available for $5. Call The Seasoned Gourmet for more details and to reserve, 910-256-9488 or reserve online at www.theseasonedgourmet.com. (5500 Market St.)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: This downtown bar is hosting a "Love and PBR" party from 9 p.m. to midnight Feb. 14. There will be hats, shirts, prizes and more along with live music and free admission. Expect craft cocktails for the evening and Pabst Blue Ribbon beers. (111 Grace St.)
Pinpoint Restaurant: Enjoy a special prix fixe menu or order off the regular menu Feb. 14. Reservations suggested. (114 Market St.)
The Sour Barn: Treat your Valentine to drinks and dessert at The Sour Barn beginning at 7 p.m. Feb. 14. Port City Cheesecakes will bring chocolate cheesecake. As a Valentine's Day special, enjoy two Broomtail beers and one slice of cheesecake for $14. (7211 Market St.)
Fermental: Ditch classic wine and beers and go for something unique and sweet. Fermental will hold its annual holiday Mead Tasting from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 14. Mead, beer made from fermented honey, will be showcased in different styles from around the world. Mead is thought to be the oldest alcoholic beverage in history. Taste meads, enjoy live music, dine with a food truck and purchase bottles of mead. Call 910-821-0362 for more information. (7250 Market St.)
JohnnyLukes: JohnnyLukes is hosting a surf and turf Valentine's Dinner Feb. 14-17. In addition to its regular menu, the restaurant will offer a surf and turf dinner for $35 per person. On Feb. 14, enjoy half-price bottles of select wines. Call 910-769-1798 to reserve a table. (5500 Market St.)
Tarantelli's: This Italian eatery is encouraging reservations for its Valentine's Day specials. Enjoy grilled lamb chops with aged garlic Parmesan Brussels sprouts and a homemade raspberry compote; lobster capellini with fresh sauteed spinach and pancetta all tossed in a white wine tarragon cream sauce and served over capellini pasta; finish dinner with homemade dark chocolate mousse, white chocolate raspberry mousse and a strawberry cheesecake mousse, served in miniature glasses. Call 910-763-3806 to reserve. (102 S. Second St.)
Did we skip your restaurant? Send us an email to share your Valentine's Day specials to include in our roundup.
Reporter Ashley Morris can be reached at 910-343-2096 or Ashley.Morris@starnewsonline.com