Valentine's 2010: the best deals / dinners in Houston

It's the sweetest day of the year. It also has scary hazards and freakish expectations. It's Valentine's Day and, as always, it's Feb. 14. That means that you can expect a long weekend of crazy. Feb. 12-15, Thursday through Monday, the latter of which is a holiday for many people, could be crazy in Houston restaurants.

All of these deals, unless otherwise stated, are per person but don't include tax, tip and gratuity. And, guys and gals, don't even think of going without a reservation.
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For well under $100

Barry's Pizza [1]: Dinner for two served Sunday, Feb. 14, for $26.99 per couple includes salad, heart-shaped pizza and brownie a la mode and tea or soda. Beer and wine specials available.

Gringo's Mexican Cafe [2]: Share the Plato Carino -- beef fajitas, barbecue ribs, grilled shrimp and four chocolate-covered strawberries -- Friday-Sunday, Feb. 12-14, for $32.99.

Magnolia Bar & Griil [3]: On Feb. 14, the Valentine's special is surf and turf for $22.95. A 6 ounce sirloin steak and six grilled shrimp.

Hungry's Cafe & Bistro [4]: Three courses for $40 per couple offered Feb. 12-14. Any bottle of wine is only $20 with dinner. Sample meal: black bean soup, poblano grilled chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and white and dark chocolate mousse cake.

Ray's Gourmet Country Grill [5]: Valentine's brunch will be served 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 14. For $25, you can get omelets with biscuits and gravy, grilled tilapia, prime rib and berry cobbler.

Taco Grill [6]: Served on Valentine's, Feb. 14, fajitas (beef, chicken or combo) for two plus a choice of quacamole or queso for $18.99. Also all-day happy hour with $2 drafts and $3.25 margaritas.

P.F. Chang's [7]: Four-course dinner for $39.95 per coupleserved Feb. 14. Sample meal: egg drop soup, crab wontons (shared), Kung Pao Chicken and a selection of mini desserts.

For $100 and under per couple

Block 7 [8]: Three courses served Friday-Sunday, Feb. 12-14, for $40. Sample meal: seafood bisque, sauteed lobster with a saffron and dried tomato risotto and molton chocolate cake.

Laurenzo's Grille [9]: Four-course menu for $37.50 all day Feb. 14. Sample meal: spinach dip, mixed green salad, prime rib and choice of dessert.

The Broken Spoke [10]: Three-course menu for $45 served on Feb. 14. Sample meal: scallops in cream sauce, duck breast in an orange sauce and apple tart.

D'Amico Italian Market Cafe [11]: Four-course menu for $35 served Feb. 12-14. Sample meal: fried calamari, Caesar salad, lobster ravioli and tiramisu.

Andalucia Tapas and Taverna [12]: Four-course dinner with flamenco entertainment for $49.95 beginning at 4 p.m. Feb. 14. (Dinner with wine pairings for $69.95.) Sample menu: grilled shrimp tosta with grapefruit relish, cream of asparagus soup with fennel, lobster crepe with peppered brie and flourless chocolate cake with berry compote.

Guayaba Latin Grill [13]: Four course dinner on Feb. 14 for prices ranging from $34.95-$38.95. Sample meal: steak-and-cheese wontons, salad with hearts of palm and Thai-citrus vinaigrette, grilled mahi mahi and ice cream-stuffed lychees served with a complimentary glass of raspberry champagne.

Sullivan's Steak House [14]: Three course-menu for $79 per couple served Feb. 12-14. Sample menu: lobster bisque, crab-stuffed shrimp with creamed spinach and Bananas Foster.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House [15]: Three-course dinner for $89 per couple 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. (After 6 p.m. both days, price rises to $109 per couple.) Sample meal: wedge salad, prime rib with mac and cheese and warm bread pudding.

Azzarelli's [16]: Four-course menu for prices ranging from $35 to $60 on Feb. 14. Sample menu: spring greens with cranberries, gorgonzola, pears and black berry vinaigrette, crab cake with pineapple relish, rosemary-smoke veal chop with saffron risotto and tiramisu.

Bistro Don Camillo [17]: Three-course dinner for $48 served beginning at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14. Sample menu: watermelon and mixed green salad with gorgonzola dressing, Chateaubriand and peach cobbler a la mode.

For $150 and under per couple

The Big Mamou [18]: Five courses served on Feb. 14 for $120 per couple. Sample meals: smoked oysters on the half shell with green tomato relish, tomato bisque, mixed green salad, venison chop with rice pilaf and roasted butternut planks and chocolate cake with chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Benjy's [19]: Four courses for $64 served Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. Sample meal: roasted green tomato cappuccino, white cheddar grits, tempura-stuffed peppers and strawberry tres leches.

Crapitto's Cucina Italiana [20]: Three-course menu for $59.95 served on Feb. 14. Sample menu: shrimp scampi, veal chop with risotto and homemade cheesecake.

Backstreet Cafe [21]: Prix-fixe dinner that includes complimentary half bottles of Prosecco for $59 served Feb. 12-14. Sample menu: sherried wild mushroom soup with goat cheese toast, grilled lamb with smoked wild mushroom risotto and dessert sampler.

Laurier Cafe [22]: Three courses for $59 (also a $79 four-course menu available) on Feb. 14. Sample meal: duck liver pate, rack of lamb and butterscotch pot de creme with berries. Meal includes complimentary glass of champagne.

Frank's Grill [23]: Four courses for $59.95 served Feb. 14. Sample meals: butternut squash soup, Parmesan souffle, Black Angus filet with foie gras, potatoes and sauteed spinach, molton chocolate lava cake.

Mockingbird Bistro [24]: Three-course menu for $65 offered Feb. 14. Sample menu: sweet corn and crab souffle with butter-poached lobster, sea bass with vegetable ragout blood orange beurre bland and Louisiana bowfish caviar and Granny Smith apple bread pudding.

Cova [25]: Four-course lobster feast on Feb. 14 for $65 at Cova Washington ($75 on Kirby). The meal: cold water lobster with watercress and truffle honey aioli, whole lobster with risotto, beef tenderloin with lobster tail and chorizo cream and bosc pear crisp.

Bistro Calais [26]: A Valentine's buffet will be served at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. seatings Feb. 14. Cost: $55. Among the fare: crawfish bisque, baked lobster tail and beef Wellington.

Hugo's [27]: Three-course menu for $57 served Feb. 14. Sample menu: squash soup, grilled tenderloin with black bean tamale and mole negro and a dessert sampler.

Bistro Provence [28]: Three courses for $58 offered Feb. 12-14. Sample meal: foie gras creme brulee, veal filet mignon with crawfish risotto and iced banana and chocolate parfait.

Bistro Lancaster [29]: Four courses for $75 served from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 14. Sample meal: poached oysters and artichoke, avocado and lobster salad, Veal Oscar and strawberry panna cotta with strawberry and kiwi compote.

$150 and over per couple

Remington Grill [30]: Three courses (plus amuse bouche and intermezzo) offered Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, for $79. Sample meal: seared foie gras and prosciutto waffle, chipotle-braised shortrib ravioli and chocolate raspberry gateau.

Valentino [31]: Five courses served Feb. 12 and Feb. 14 for $89 ($140 with wine pairings). Sample meal: butter seared scallop with citrus salad, crab zucchini cake, asparagus ravioli, grilled tenderloin with lobster medallions and a surprise chocolate dessert.

Jasper's [32]: Four courses for $75 served Feb. 14. Sample meal: wood-fired Gulf oysters, lobster sherry bisque, veal cordon bleu and Grand Marnier creme brulee.

Voice [33]: Three-course dinner for $75 on Feb. 14. Sample menu: oysters with handmade pacentta, filet of beef with black truffle gnochhi and dark chocolate hazelnut bombe with espresso ice cream.

Ray's Gourmet Country Grill [5]: Five-course meals includes wine pairings for $85 served 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 14. The meal: oyster and lobster au gratin, brie soup with cucumber relish, salad with fresh artichoke and asparagus, filet mignon with wild mushroom tart and pistachio-crusted chocolate terrine.

$200 and over per couple

Ouisie's Table [34]: A five-course Five Bubbles Valentine's Dinner that includes sparkling wines from Spain, California and Italy is $120.

Other ideas

Alamo Drafthouse-Mason Road [35] is hosting a Shakespeare in Love Valentine's Day Feast at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. The event -- $45 per person -- includes a four-course dinner with wine pairings with each course and a screening of the 1998 film that carried home seven Oscars, including a Best Actress award for Gwyneth Paltrow. The meal: fried green tomato salad, roasted fingerlings and sausage with red pepper Romesco, cocoa-crusted filet with herbed gnocchi and poached pears stuffed with pecan praline.

Dessert Gallery [36]: Get a Valentine's meal-to-go complete with long-stem red rose. The dinner's are priced and portioned for two with prices ranging from $60 to $87.50. Sample menu: salad, Beef Wellington with twice-baked potatoes and green bean au gratin and dessert sampler. Includes re-heating instructions.

Rioja [37]: The Spanish restaurant is offering free champagne for lunch diners 11 a.m.-4 p.m., as well as its full menu on Feb. 14. For dinner that night, there will be flamenco music.

Two Rows Restaurant and Brewery [38]: Three course a la carte menu served after 4 p.m. Feb. 12-14. Specials include bacon-wrapped shrimp with chipotle Ranch dressing ($6.79), filet mignon topped with shrimp, crawfish and poblano cream sauce ($19.99) and chocolate brownie topped with strawberry cobbler and vanilla ice cream ($4.99). Ten percent off any bottle of wine.

Fleming's Steakhouse [39]: Feb. 12-14, the steakhouse is offering two special meals for two that also come with a $25 gift card to be used at later date. The saucy glazed porterhouse steak for two ($98) comes with a choice of salad, parmesan cheese mashed potatoes and green beans. The blue cheese-crusted filet mignon and lobster en fuego ($89) is served with salad, braised potatoes and roasted cauliflower.

Zushi [40]: Dine at this sushi restaurant and get a $20 gift card for later use with a minimum check of $100 per couple.