Let me start by saying this: I love restaurants.
I love dining rooms, candlelight, crisp linens and that ceremonial moment when a bottle of wine hits the table like a small blessing. I’ve spent most of my adult life working every single holiday in those dining rooms—Valentine’s Day very much included. And because I love you, I feel obligated to tell you the truth.
The most romantic Valentine’s Day is not spent in a restaurant.
It’s spent at home. Shoes off. Music playing. Wine already open. No one hovering. No one watching the clock. No one gently asking if you’re “still working on that” because there’s another couple anxiously waiting to sit where you are.
I was recently reminded of this kind of at-home bliss by a customer who came into the shop and unknowingly nailed the assignment. She told me she needed a bottle of Sancerre to pair with some crab cakes she’d picked up from Haines Packing in La Quinta. She was planning a simple Little Gem salad with a homemade vinaigrette, those fresh lump crab cakes, and a beautiful bottle of sauvignon blanc.
That was it. Thoughtful. Simple. Scrupulously delicious. As she was describing her dinner plans, I thought: Well, damn. That sounds perfect, not just for her Saturday night meal du jour—but also for Valentine’s Day.
Here’s the part no one tells you about dining out on Valentine’s Day: Restaurants are sprinting. Kitchens are stretched. The goal—through no fault of the staff—is efficiency. You’re not lingering. You’re not luxuriating. You’re being lovingly ushered through dinner so the next reservation of two can slide in and attempt to capture romance under the glow of heat lamps and a ticking clock.
Romantic moments don’t happen on command. They happen organically—when you’re comfortable, unhurried and present. When the playlist hits just right. When the wine glass stays full. When no one is timing your dessert decision.
Which brings me back to that woman and her crab cakes: As far as I’m concerned, that might be the most romantic dinner imaginable. And the best part? She was going to enjoy it by herself.
Valentine’s Day shouldn’t belong exclusively to couples. It belongs to anyone who wants to create a thoughtful, intimate moment with food and wine—solo, partnered or somewhere in between.
Why not make Valentine’s Day the night when you do exactly what you want? Why not grab oysters and Champagne and eat them barefoot in your kitchen? Why not order your favorite takeout and open the bottle you’ve been “saving”? Why not make a steak, pour a red you love, and let the night unfold naturally?
It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It doesn’t have to be expensive. What it has to be is intentional.
Somewhere along the line, indulgence picked up baggage. Guilt. Apologies. Justification. But food and wine were never meant to carry that weight. They should offer small moments of pleasure that connect us to ourselves and to each other.
And Valentine’s Day? It doesn’t have to be an excuse to pamper yourself. It’s a reason to slow down and enjoy something beautiful for the sheer thrill of enjoyment. That, my friends, is romance. So, if easy Valentine’s Day dinners—or any dinner, for that matter—that feel special without being a production are up your alley, here are a few of my favorite ways to indulge.
There is something wildly decadent about pairing great bubbles with takeout cartons spread across the table (or the duvet cover, wink wink).
Oysters + Muscadet: For maximum romance with minimum effort, remember this: Whole Foods does 12 oysters for $12 on Fridays. Pop them on ice; add lemon and maybe a whisper of mignonette; and you’ve got an instant Valentine’s moment. Pair them with Louis Metaireau Grand Mouton Muscadet Sur Lie, one of the most ideal oyster pairings ever created. Briny, bone-dry, citrusy and subtly yeasty from aging sur lie, the wine mirrors the oceanic sweetness of oysters without overpowering them. Crisp, refreshing and quietly sexy.
Crab legs + Chablis: After a quick stop at Haines Packing for crab legs, and a little melted butter, and you’re halfway to perfection. Add a bottle like Domaine de la Meulière Chablis Premier Cru Les Fourneaux, and you’re in classic, elegant territory. This wine is all wet stone minerality and bright acidity, with a faint saline edge that makes sweet crab meat absolutely sing. Luxurious without trying too hard.
Chinese takeout + Champagne: As a kid, I always remember one of my mother’s favorite “lux night at home” dinners was Chinese food and Champagne—and she was absolutely right. There is something wildly decadent about pairing great bubbles with takeout cartons spread across the table (or the duvet cover, wink wink). Order the out-of-this-world Peking duck from Palm Tree Palace, or dive into the spicy, layered, complex flavors of CIE Sichuan Cuisine. Pair it with a grower Champagne like my personal favorite, the Gaston Chiquet Tradition Brut. Bright citrus, orchard fruit and savory depth refresh the palate, tame spice and make even takeout feel intentional.
If romance to you means a sizzling pan and a great bottle of red, steak night at home is undefeated.
Season two good steaks generously with salt and pepper. Heat a cast-iron pan until it’s hot; add a splash of oil, and sear the steaks for three to four minutes per side. Add butter, smashed garlic and a sprig of thyme or rosemary, then spoon that melted butter over the steaks like you mean it. Rest them. Pour the wine. Put on a song. Slice and serve. Serve with a sharp green salad, roasted potatoes—or, honestly, just the steak and the wine. No one is ever going to be disappointed with a perfectly seared filet and full-bodied Cabernet. No one.
At the end of the day, romance isn’t something you reserve for a restaurant reservation. It’s something you create. It’s quiet moments. Thoughtful choices. A glass of wine, a good meal and time to actually enjoy it.
This Valentine’s Day, skip the chaos. Stay in. Eat well. Drink something delicious, and treat yourself to a wonderful evening.