Best Prix Fixe Meals For Valentine's Day In The North Bay

Enjoying a Valentine's Day meal with your honey is one of the sweetest ways to show just how happy that special someone makes you feel. The picturesque North Bay, with its charming towns and scenic countryside, is the perfect setting for celebrating the most romantic day of the year.

Date: Feb. 8, 2014

Amphora is a small, boutique winery that primarily produces red wines. Located in the Timbercrest Farms complex along with about 10 other wineries in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, Amphora specializes in Rhone varietals Petite Syrah and Syrah, and also produces a very fine Zinfandel. The winery tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and features rotating art exhibits. Get cozy for a romantic evening at the Amphora "Amphoradisiacs" dinner this Valentine's Day. The theme for this year's event, held on Saturday, February 8, 2014, will be Great Lovers Through Time. The winery will pair five courses through dinner with Amphora wines, and a live jazz trio will be serenading the lovers throughout the evening. Approximate cost is $125 per person, and includes wine, food, service and gratuity. RSVP to info@amphorawines.com or call the winery directly.

If you and your sweetie are in the mood to get cozy in a beautiful setting along the canals of Marin County, with a fantastic view, delicious food and drink and a music venue to top it all off on the year's most romantic day, then Terrapin Crossroads is the spot for you. Serving fresh farm-to-table food, Terrapin Crossroads celebrates the arts along with ongoing musical shows played in an intimate setting, as the venue claims, "Terrapin Crosssroads is the ultimate Living Room." Along with the restaurant's regular menu, a few specials will amp up the romantic feel of the place. Check the website for menu and calendar details.

The Lark Creek Restaurant Group has been a farm-fresh dining destination since 1989. The Tavern at Lark Creek is the latest chapter in the historic life of the Victorian Murphy House, circa 1888, and captures a causal elegance for diners who enjoy a delightful ambiance, along with excellent value. At Valentine's Day, this venue is tres romantic with a nod to the savors lovers may look for, such as artisanal cheeses, oysters and New York steak on the prix fixe menu. Check the website for additional information.

Sausalito Empress
Clipper Yacht Harbor
310 Harbor Drive
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 332-3291
www.empressevents.com

Envision the most romantic cruise imaginable with the one you love and make it a reality this Valentine's Day. Cruise San Francisco Bay on the Sausalito Empress, a luxurious yacht, for the perfect background setting to a special evening with your honey. Enjoy a seated four-course dinner, premium cash bar and dance music along with the romantic background setting as you cruise San Francisco Bay on a luxury yacht set sail from Sausalito.

Serving Marin County and all of the visitors drawn here since 1937, Buckeye Roadhouse lies just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. The restaurant weaves Old World charm with contemporary California and American cuisine, and is a popular spot for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. The dining room, with its relaxing fireplace setting, adds an extra layer of comfort to every visit. Noted for its excellent food and professional service, Buckeye Roadhouse hosts a romantic Valentine's Day dinner where the two of you can relax and enjoy the evening together. While the restaurant lunch menu remains the same, the dinner menu changes to an amazing three-course special prix fixe menu featuring many Buckeye Roadhouse favorite dishes. Visit the website for additional details and to view the Valentine's Day menu.

Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in San Francisco. She writes on adult education, art and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a member of an independent filmmaking group. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.