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Vancouver hotspots still taking reservations for Valentine’s Day

No one needs to know you waited until the last minute to make dinner plans
valentine's
It's not too late to make Valentine's Day reservations for this Friday, Feb. 14. Photo iStock

You’ve probably been thinking about it for a while, but somehow just haven’t picked up that phone or gone online to make dinner reservations for Valentine’s Day.

Well, have no fear because I did in an effort to find out who’s still taking reservations for Valentine’s Day this Friday. Mind you, this is just a partial list and I’m sure there are other restaurants ready to welcome you, but as we know the clock is ticking and, for the sake of time, this is the list I was able to compile today (Feb. 11).

And, to take off some of the pressure, several of these restaurants are offering special menus both Feb. 14 and 15. I even made it easy by including links for reservations, so there's really no excuse.

Burdock & Co

Burdock
You can impress your Valentine's date by not only making reservations for dinner at Burdock & Co, but by also winning this cookbook. Photo Burdock & Co

Not only is Burdock & Co offering a multi-course farm-to-table Valentine’s Day dinner designed to be shared à deux, but I’m also giving away a copy of their gorgeous cookbook Poetic Recipes Inspired by Ocean, Land & Air.

Imagine impressing him or her with not only reservations to one of the best restaurants in the city, but with the matching cookbook as well. Someone’s going to think you went to a lot of trouble pulling this evening together.

Owner and executive chef Andrea Carlson has created a special menu featuring her trademark farm-to-table fare, supported by sustainable seafood and locally grown produce and ethically raised meats. To make a reservation visit Burdock & Co.

To win the cookbook, email me at sthomas@vancourier.com with “Burdock” in the subject line. The 10th person to email me will win the cookbook and it’s all yours, so long as you can pick it up from the Courier’s office on West Fifth Avenue.

The Holy Crab

Holy crab
Holy Crab is serving up a Louisiana-inspired Valentine's Day dinner. Photo Holy Crab

Available from Feb. 14 to 16, the Holy Crab's multi-course Valentine's Day Tasting Menu for Two offers a refined twist on the restaurant's signature Louisiana-style cuisine and will showcase premium local and imported seafood prepared with an amorous flare. 

Highlights of the Valentine's Day tasting menu includes, B.C. oysters, seafood bisque and a choice of lobster, shrimp and snow crab legs or seafood pasta with lobster. Reservations can be made online theholycrab.ca or by calling 604-661-8533.

The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant

Sandbar
The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant is located on picturesque Granville Island. Photo The Sandbar

Enjoy a special Valentine’s menu, available on both Feb 14 and 15, which starts with a fresh oyster platter for two or delicious sushi platter put together by master sushi chef Hoshi and his team.

Choose between two unique entrees, the Lobster Thermidor with coconut jasmine rice, seasonal vegetables and thermidor sauce or the Mixed Alderwood, which includes grilled scallops, salmon, prawns and coconut jasmine rice. Finish with house-made cheesecake stuff with chocolate covered strawberries. You can make reservations here

Seasons in the Park

Seasons
Seasons in the Park is located at the highest point in the city, making for spectacular views for a Valentine's Day dinner. Photo Seasons in the Park

Enjoy a special three-course menu Feb. 14 and 15, which includes three appetizers to choose from, including seafood antipasto, roasted mushroom soup, and herb marinated lamb pops.

Then, chose from three entrees, the grass-fed tenderloin and mushrooms, sablefish and prawns or butternut squash ravioli. Dessert is a choice of white chocolate cheesecake or crème brûlée. You can make reservations here.

Tableau Bar Bistro

Tableau
For a French-inspired Valentine's Day dinner, visit Tableau Bar Bistro. Photo Tableau Facebook

 St. Valentine Tableau D’hote

 Tableau’s decadent dishes highlight its French-meets-West-Coast fare, showcasing head chefs Tommy Shorthouse and Levi Johnston’s most recent creations. Diners will have the option of enjoying Tableau’s set menu exclusively on Feb. 14 or 15.

Choose from French-inspired dishes such as duck à l’orange salad, Wagyu beef striploin with smoked sunchoke, roasted sablefish with Du Puy lentils and millefeuille for dessert. You can make reservations here.

Cardero’s

Cardero's
Enjoy the views and food at Carder's this Valentine's Day. Photo Carder's Facebook

Cardero’s is also offering special features to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 and 15, with a choice of appetizers — lobster bisque, stuff mushrooms and ahi tuna tataki.

Then choose between prime New York steak and lobster tail, fettuccine amore or the “Seafood Trio of Love.” Finish with a house-made dessert feature, molten lava cake. Make reservations here.

The Teahouse

Teahouse
The famous stuffed mushrooms from the Teahouse in Stanley Park have made their way onto a special Valentine's Day menu. Photo The Teahouse

The Teahouse in beautiful Stanley Park is offering a special Valentine’s Day three-course menu including amuse bouche to start and palate cleanser between the courses.

Three appetizers to choose from include, their famous stuffed mushrooms, beet salad or meatballs followed by a choice from four entrees — swordfish steak, lobster tagiatelle, prime rib and vegetarian lasagna. Top your evening off with a choice between flourless chocolate cake and crème brûlée. You can make reservations here.

Blue Hat Bistro at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

Blue Hat
The Blue Hat Bistro is drawing inspiration from famous on-screen love stories for a special prix-fixe dinner Feb. 14. Photo Blue Hat Bistro

The Blue Hat Bistro draws inspiration from famous on-screen love stories for a special prix-fixe dinner Feb. 14. Feeling Sleepless in Vancouver about where to take your special someone for Valentine’s Day? If She’s All That and deserves a unforgettable Date Night, this year, the team at PICA invite you to treat your Someone Great to a multi-course dinner inspired by some of Hollywood’s greatest on-screen love stories.

Highlights from the movie-themed menu include a classic Reuben sandwich inspired by the infamous When Harry Met Sally diner scene, spaghetti Pomodoro and Meatballs as seen lovingly shared by the canine couple in Lady and the Tramp; and a Simply Irresistible lavender and vanilla poached fear, featured in the 1999 romantic comedy of the same name. 

Available for one night only, the prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu is designed for two (“you’ll have what she’s having”). You can make reservations here.

Gotham Steakhouse and Bar

Gotham
Impress your date with a Valentine's Day evening at Gotham Steakhouse. Photo Gotham

Gotham is celebrating Valentine’s Day with dinner features available from Feb.  14 to 16, which include seared prawns and scallops as an appetizer option, followed by tournedos of prime tenderloin for two or pistachio crusted sea bass.

For dessert, enjoy mango crème brûlée and chocolate pot de crème with orange tuiles. You can make reservations here.

VV Tapas Lounge

VV Tapas
Drop by happy hour at VV Tapas Lounge before Valentine's Day dinner. Photo VV Tapas

Head to the east side for this special Valentine’s Day menu — available for one night only. Reservations are being taken for 5 p.m. and later, but guests are also encouraged to drop by for happy hour (4 to 5:30 p.m.) to start the celebration early.  You can make reservations here.

Fable Diner

Fable
Fable Diner is serving up the love for Valentine's Day Feb. 14. Photo Fable

This popular farm-to-table (Fable) eatery, located at the bottom of the iconic Lee Building on the corner of Broadway and Main streets, is offering a special dinner for Valentine’s Day, which includes a choice of vegetarian appetizers, followed by your choice of salmon with beets three ways, braised beef or seasonal veggie pasta.

Finish dinner with red velvet chocolate silk or sorbet. You can make reservations here.

Harvest Community Foods

Harvest
Surprise someone you love with these popular cookies from Harvest Community Foods. Photo Harvest

Ok, you can’t have dinner at Harvest, but if you’re more into romantic gestures what’s better than surprising someone you care about with a box of their cult-like favourite salted chocolate chip cookies this Valentine’s Day.

These cookies are the perfect accompaniment to a bouquet of roses — hint, hint. The box comes complete with beautiful packaging and is wrapped with a red ribbon, ideal for those seeking a no-fuss gift.

Priced at just $10 for four cookies, the boxes are available for purchase in-store on Feb. 13 and 14. Quantities are limited, so now is the time to act.

You can find Harvest Community Foods at 243 Union St. For more information, visit Harvestunion.ca.

Cross a bridge

Feast, the Neighborhood Table 

Feast
Feast the Neighbourhood Table is offering a special Valentine's Day menu Feb. 13 to 15. Photo Feast

This popular West Vancouver restaurant is offering a three-course Valentine’s Day Menu from Feb. 13 to 15, which includes Tom-Yum seafood cocotte, oyster mushroom and truffle fettuccine and arugula, pan seared salmon with butternut quinoa risotto or braised trout with carrot and bok choy, amongst its offerings.

Finish dinner with your choice of lime and coriander cheesecake with mango coulis or chocolate lava cake with matcha tea crème anglaise.  You can make reservations here.
 

JOEY Shipyards

Valentine's
Impress your Valentine's date with an evening at the new JOEY Shipyards in North Vancouver. Photo JOEY Restaurants

This new addition to the JOEY family isn’t offering any specials for Valentine’s Day, but instead can guarantee fabulous views and an opportunity to check out the relatively new Shipyards District, located on Lower Lonsdale in North Vancouver.

Joey Shipyards is adjacent to the charming Shipyards Skate Plaza so what about a few turns around the rink with the one you love — or like a lot — before dropping in for cocktails and a bite.

JOEY Shipyards just opened Jan. 23, so you’ll also look like you’re in the know by taking your date to one of the hottest new spots on the North Shore. Get more information about JOEY Shipyards here.
sthomas@vancourier.com

@sthomas10