What You're Eating: Special Valentine's Day Dishes

Whether you're celebrating Valentine's, Galentine's, or Palentine's Day, Los Angeles restaurants are offering up some sweet specials. From surf and turf, to the perfect dessert, we've rounded up some of the best dishes to consider while choosing where to make your reservation.

40-Day Dry-Aged 28 oz. Kansas City New York Steak
BOA Steakhouse
9200 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 278-2050
www.innovativedining.com

The steak BOA is dishing out for Valentine's Day is a mouthful in more ways than one. Dry-aged for 40 days, the 28 oz. Kansas City New York Steak is a triumph of meat. The shareable special is being served with amber-roasted pee wee potato, king crab and chorizo hash, charred Vidalia onion, and tri-peppercorn sauce. For dessert, nothing says romance more than BOA's Fraisier Cake: a white cake with macerated wild strawberries, German buttercream, strawberry creme anglaise, and dehydrated rose petals.

Spanish Fried Chicken
a.o.c.
8700 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 859-9859
www.aocwinebar.com

The Valentine's Day menu at a.o.c. is easily one of the best choose your own adventures you've ever done. There are several amazing options for your entree, but the restaurant's deservedly popular Spanish Fried Chicken offers just the spice you need for the night. The juicy, crunchy chicken is paired perfectly with a romesco aioli and chili-cumin butter. End your taste adventure with either a vanilla panna cotta with blood orange sorbet, or chocolate dulce de leche tart with candied hazelnuts and milk gelato.

Half Pig's Head
The Cannibal LA
8850 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 838-2783
www.thecanniballa.com

A pig's head may not scream romance, but it certainly wins points for most unique Valentine's Day entree. The Cannibal LA is roasting it and serving it up crispy General Tso's style. The dish is accompanied by a moo shu pancake, and broccoli salad for good measure. Wash it down with a brew from their extensive beer list, or one of several shaken or stirred cocktails. If your Valentine is a hardcore meat lover, the neighborhood beer and butcher shop is a sure bet to their heart. And the Blackstrap Molasses Buttercream Cake doesn't hurt either.

Lavender Mustard Broiled Black Cod
Nick + Stef's Steakhouse
330 S Hope St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
www.patinagroup.com

Nick + Stef's Lavender Mustard Broiled Black Cod is certainly among the fanciest sounding Valentine's Day dishes, and promises to be one of the most delicious. Made with beluga lentils, bacon lardons, and champagne sauce, the cod is featured as the second dish in the restaurant's three-course prix-fixe menu. Other menu highlights include an uncured ceviche of octopus, hamachi and shrimp, and a fun strawberry and cream dessert made with Pop Rocks. Located right in the heart of downtown, Nick + Stef's is an ideal place to dine before a show, a visit to MOCA or The Broad, or a stroll through Grand Park.

Whole Grilled Branzino
Herringbone Santa Monica
1755 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 971-4460
www.herringboneeats.com

This Valentine's Day, dine on delicious seafood seaside at Santa Monica's Herringbone, located right on Ocean Ave. across from the beach. Start with a Salt & Brine selection of oysters, shrimp, Maine lobster, and king crab, followed by a second course of black truffle risotto. Then it's time to bring in the big guns with Chef Brian Malarkey's eye-catching whole grilled branzino, served up with a salsa verde, shaved fennel salad, and topped with slivered almonds. Priding itself as a "Fish Meats Field" concept, the restaurant is also offering an entrees of ribeye and lamb chops on the Valentine's Day menu.

Roasted Chicken With Foie Gras Gravy
Feastly Pop-Up
Arts District Downtown LA
(Location provided upon purchase)
www.eatfeastly.com

Add a little excitement to your day of love by heading to a pop-up for dinner. Chef Darren Sayphraraj (Zagat "30 Under 30") is preparing a romantic, "Modern Paris in LA" meal. The 8-course dinner of classic French flavors features a truly decadent, crispy roasted chicken with foie gras gravy. Other noteworthy highlights include a soft poached egg with brioche crouton, truffle sherry jus, and a chocolate ganache tart with vanilla, lavender, and strawberry. A beverage pairing is available for an additional cost, and tickets must be purchased through the website.

Oysters and Champagne
Manuela
907 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA, 90013
(323) 849-0480
www.manuela-la.com

Manuela is gaining notoriety as one of Los Angeles' most popular restaurants, mixing southern charm with artisanal technique. Located inside the museum-meets-gallery Hauser Wirth & Schimmel arts complex, Manuela sets a perfect Valentine's Day mood, especially for art lovers. Chef Wes Whitsell is offering a special menu that includes a very romantic oysters and champagne combo. Other specials include a citrus risotto, and a lamb rack with vegetables plucked from the restaurant's own on-site garden.

Maine Lobster Ragoût
Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 655-6277
www.lucques.com

Step inside the once rustic carriage house of the Harold Lloyd Estate, and prepare yourself for a lavish Valentine's Day five-course menu. A Kampachi Crudo with Potato Blini and Caviar Cream and Meyer Lemon Salsa, as well as a Citrus and Avocado with Beet Puree Salata, start things off. But the real star here is the comforting yet refined Maine Lobster Ragoût, made with Parmesan Pudding, English Peas, and Pea Shoots. To go along with the surf, the menu also includes a Beef Short-Rib with Red Wine-Braised Red Cabbage and Crème Fraîche and Horseradish Gremolata. Lucques finishes the meal with a romantic Strawberry & Bittersweet Chocolate Vacherin Glacée & Whipped Crème Fraîche.

Berries & Shortcake
Messhall Kitchen
4500 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 660-6377
www.messhallkitchen.com

You can't talk about the sweetest day of the year without mentioning dessert. Messhall Kitchen has an elevated strawberry shortcake fit for the day. Chantilly cream and Kirschwasser macerated strawberries top a delicate mille feuille, served with a wild berry coulis. The dessert is part of the restaurant's cleverly named "Love Without Prix-Fixe" menu, which includes other specials like charred filet mignon, cast iron halibut, and chocolate panna cotta.