As a foodservice professional, how much do you love Valentine’s Day?
Let’s count the ways.
Valentine’s Day traditionally doubles the number of reservations for tables in your restaurant.
Sales can increase by as much as 30% over a typical dinner service.
It’s an opportunity to impress first-time guests and continue to charm your regulars.
The best Valentine’s Day menu ideas for restaurants are the ones that win hearts and appetites for the rest of the year.
Putting Romance on the Menu
Soft dining room lighting sets the stage. Candles and small flower arrangements set the mood.
Guests are seated at tables for two and presented with menus that reflect the romance of this very special day.
Make their customer experience even more engaging.
Consider these components that help entice longing looks and build expectations for a memorable Valentine's Day meal.
Unique Flavor Combinations – Strawberries and balsamic, maple syrup and miso, honey and cheese
Exotic Ingredients – White truffles, ethical foie gras, Beluga caviar, matsutake mushrooms, saffron threads
Luxurious Sauces – Finely aged balsamic vinaigrettes, lobster sauces, chocolate and raspberry dessert syrups
Table-Side Services – Hand-tossed Caesar salads, carving carts with steak for two, flambeed cherries jubilee
Elegant Plating – Charcuterie boards, richly hued garnishes, creative combos of textures and colors
25 Menu Ideas That Restaurant Customers Will Love on Valentine’s Day
Customers dining out want to embrace the romance of the day.
They look forward to sharing a very special meal.
This 25 sample Valentine’s Day menu ideas can turn your restaurant into a memorable dining destination.
That can turn into a tradition that lasts all year
Sample Valentine’s Day Appetizer Menu Ideas
1. Broccoli and Burrata Crostini
These little appetizers invite couples to share bites and enjoy mouthwatering flavors.
Dress your housemade crostini with fresh broccoli florets, a dollop of burrata, and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds.
Chili flakes and garlic add surprising warmth to the elegant starter.
2. Silky Smooth Fava Dip
Treat Valentine's Day guests to a smooth, flavorful dip that works with fresh veggies, homemade chips and even your broccoli crostini.
Fava beans and chickpeas blend together with silky, sensual mouthfeel.
3. Personal Pizza Bites
Small bites of dinner before dinner are a delightful way to indulge appetites.
It may seem mischievous, but it's a delicious excuse to nosh on perfect pizza bites before the main course.
This recipe eliminates lingering guilt with healthy toppings of fresh Brussels sprouts and broccoli florets.
4. Dreamy, Creamy Broccoli Soup
Bring Valentine's Day couples a little closer together with the warmth of a creamy broccoli soup.
The dreamy starter is made even more appealing with a garnish of fennel fronds and creme fraiche.
It also boasts a quick turn time of only 30 minutes from prep to table.
5. Romaine Hearts for Sweethearts
Wrap a yummy curry chicken salad with tender romaine heart leaves. Garnish with chopped pistachios and golden raisins.
Serve as a sweetheart appetizer for romantic couples, or deliver several platters to large party tables celebrating a night on the town.
Sample Valentine’s Day Lunch Menu Ideas
6. Pink Pasta With Shrimp and Vodka
Pair shrimp scampi with penne pasta, and bathe it in a luxurious vodka sauce. Add a touch of chili paste and crushed red pepper for flavor and color.
It all blends into a perfect pasta dish for Valentine’s Day.
7. Irresistible Southern Crab Cakes
This lunch idea offers a lush take on a South Carolina tradition.
Elegant crab cakes are topped with sautéed shrimp and pear tomatoes in an irresistible lime sauce.
It’s a Lowcountry classic everyone loves.
8. Mediterranean Romaine Hearts
Gently simmered hearts of romaine are a delicious fit on Valentine’s Day lunch plates.
Showcase their buttery flavor with Mediterranean accents of Kalamata olives, capers and sun-dried tomatoes.
Slices of goat cheese and pancetta complete this lovely dish.
9. Heavenly Heart-Shaped Pizza
Easy Valentine’s Day meals like pre-prepped pizzas streamline a busy service.
Ask kitchen staff to reshape pizza crusts into hearts before the shift.
Keep plenty of premium toppings handy for quick assembly. You’re ready for a busy lunch service with shareable sweetheart plates for two.
Sample Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu Ideas
10. Fresh Oysters and Camembert Bake
Fresh oysters always hold a special place on Valentine’s Day menus.
Let them star as one of your best dinner entrees with this luscious recipe.
Rich French Camembert gives the baked oysters a sophisticated flavor and presentation.
11. Spice-Rubbed Cornish Hens
Aromatic spices and a touch of garlic put an irresistible sizzle into roasted Cornish hens.
Prep hens with a fragrant rub of nutmeg, allspice and sweet paprika.
Butterfly the birds for quicker cooking time and couple-friendly plating.
12. Sensational Salmon With Pomegranate Raita
A pomegranate raita adds sensational flavor to spice-rubbed salmon.
This seafood entree is destined to impress couples sharing a romantic dinner.
The salmon and raita are easy to prep ahead of shift and can be held overnight.
13. Perfect Pan-Sauteed Halibut and Leeks
The mild, slightly sweet flavor of pan-sauteed halibut pairs perfectly with the earthy sweetness of leeks.
Crown the combination with a lively citrus salsa, and you have an engaging entree that easily exceeds high customer expectations on Valentine's Day.
14. Seared Tenderloin in Red Wine Sauce
Put fine dining on the Valentine’s Day menu with a roasted beef tenderloin.
Its rich red wine sauce flavored with shallots and thyme is sure to spark compliments from dining room guests.
This is the type of five-star recipe that can become a restaurant’s signature dish year-round.
15. Special Occasion Noodle Stir-Fry
Create a special stir-fry that's sure to create sweet and savory memories for your dining room guests.
Thinly sliced pork chops, napa chiffonade and rice noodles offer an alluring alternative to traditional romantic dinner dishes.
16. Savory Sausage and Napa Cabbage
Here's another tempting choice for guests who want something different in a dinner for two.
Sweethearts with hearty appetites are sure to enjoy this sweet Italian sausage entree.
Baked with napa cabbage and pink lady apples, the bountiful dish satisfies with tangy sweetness and savory flavor.
17. Decadent Lobster Mac and Cheese
Combine a beloved comfort food with a much-loved seafood, and you have a decadent entree for two.
The recipe calls for Gruyere and sharp cheddar, but you can modify the ingredients to create a new Valentine’s Day dinner tradition.
Sample Valentine’s Day Dessert Menu
18. Classic Cherries Jubilee
It’s beautiful and romantic.
Table-side flambe enhances the drama. An enticing dish of cherries jubilee lends a warm finale to any Valentine’s Day dinner.
Preparing it with your restaurant’s signature ice cream makes this classic dessert even more memorable.
19. Housemade Sweet Corn Ice Cream
Add a new recipe for housemade ice cream to the menu this Valentine's Day.
The innovative dessert satisfies customer cravings with an ultra-creamy ice cream made from fresh corn.
Enjoy dining room admiration of your culinary creativity.
Look forward to repeat orders that give this dessert a permanent place on your restaurant's menu.
20. Passion Fruit Parfait
Offer romantic couples a dessert that matches their mood.
Serve a silky passion fruit parfait made with white chocolate mousse and topped with mango slices.
The exotic flavors make a perfect finish for intimate dinners.
21. The Ultimate Chocolate Tart
This tart’s filling is a heavenly ganache made with heavy cream and bittersweet chocolate.
The gluten-free crust is a simple mix of butter and your choice of raw nuts.
The results are delicious tarts worthy of standing ovations from enthusiastic chocolate lovers.
Sample Valentine’s Day Cocktail Menu Ideas
22. Sugar Snap Pea Cocktail
Surprise your restaurant guests with a cocktail sure to win their hearts.
Amaze them when you reveal its secret; the lovely, pale green libation starts as a blend of sweet snap peas and lemon.
It finishes with a frothy shake of mezcal, chartreuse and simple syrup.
23. Cloud 9 in a Cocktail Glass
Cloud 9 is the unofficial location of total bliss.
It's also the inspiration for a cocktail that would make Cupid proud.
The blend of vodka, strawberry liqueur and cream is almost decadent, but it's definitely a drink for romantic dinners.
Take it over the top by rimming the glass with crushed strawberry candy.
24. Ruby Red French 75
This Valentine's Day, add bubbly shades of pomegranate pink to the classic French 75.
Elevate the gin and Champagne cocktail with a generous splash of housemade pomegranate and lime syrup.
The sweetly tart drink is sure to ignite adoring smiles, especially at tables for two.
25. Alluring Pink Lady Cocktail
She's simply a blend of dry gin, grenadine and egg white. Still, the Pink Lady has fascinated food historians since Prohibition.
She never really went out of style, and couples sharing a romantic table for two still find her very alluring.
Always Serving You With Our Best
What’s better than a holiday that allows you to fill all of your tables and impress your guests with a decadent dining experience?
These savory and sweet Valentine’s Day menu ideas are sure to become customer favorites.
When crafting your Valentine’s Day menu, you can count on Hitchcock Farms for all of your fresh produce needs!
