15 Perfect Valentine’s Day Restaurants Around Brooklyn

We pulled together a list of romantic restaurants nearby so you and your special someone can indulge in some good food and wine this Valentine’s Day. Then we thought better of it and consulted with friends across the borough to find easily accessible spots a little farther out, just in case you’d prefer to gaze into your special someone’s eyes without neighbors staring at you. Behold, 15 places to enjoy your significant other–and your main course–this February 14.

Stay Local
The Castello Plan (1213 Cortelyou Road between Westminster and Argyle Roads; 718-856-8888) is offering a four-course prix fixe Valentine’s Day special complete with a champagne toast. If The Castello Plan is full, you can also walk across the street to Ditmas Park’s newest restaurant, Lea (1022 Cortelyou Road on the corner of Stratford Road; 718-928-7100). Pair one of Lea’s specialty pizzas with a bottle of red for a dimly-lit evening.

The Farm on Adderley (1108 Cortelyou Road between Stratford and Westminster Roads; 718-287-3101) is taking reservations of any size for their prix fixe Valentine’s Day meal, and will also be serving their regular menu.

For a more casual dinner, try Ox Cart (583 Argyle Road on the corner of Newkirk Avenue; 718-284-0005). You won’t need reservations for this nostalgically cool tavern, perfect for sweethearts who’d rather skip the delicate pasta dishes and get straight to the finger food.

Or, you could let lovebirds Ashley and Matt Weavil serve you Valentine’s Day dinner! The Dogwood (1021 Church Avenue between E 10th Street and Stratford Road; 929-234-5692) is hosting a special prix fixe, three-course with wine pairings.

Italian food isn’t the only the romantic cuisine! Think outside the boot, and impress your date with a reservation for two at Filipino-inspired Purple Yam (1314 Cortelyou Road between Rugby and Argyle Roads; 718-940-8188).

Live off the B/Q line?
Flatbush Farm (76 Saint Marks Avenue at Flatbush Avenue; 718-622-3276) did a wonderful job catering a friend’s wedding–and if the food is good enough for a wedding, it’s good enough for a Valentine’s Day dinner! They’ve got a crazy filet/short rib kale ragou/bone marrow meal on the menu for two, plus their wedding business is a good segue for a proposal if that’s what you’ve got up your sleeve this year. They accept reservations.

Matt Hamilton of Fort Greene’s Lulu and Po (154 Carlton Avenue between Myrtle and Willoughby Avenues; 917-514-8167) said since this Valentine’s Day is on a Friday, “we plan on running the day like any other. No reservations.” One friend highly recommends the chicken dish cooked under a brick with sherry vinegar–but also says the menu is quite diverse and that, really, everything is good.

James (605 Carlton Avenue on the corner of Saint Marks Avenue; 718-942-4255) is offering a three-course prix fixe meal with seatings at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30. Items on the Valentine’s menu include strip steak, crispy shrimp, beet risotto with goat cheese and fennel, and Dulce de Leche cheesecake. They accept reservations for parties of all sizes.

Marco’s (295 Flatbush Avenue between Prospect Place and Saint Marks Avenue; 718-230-0427) serves several incredible wood grilled dishes, and is ready to warm your hearts (and tummies) this Valentine’s Day. This trattoria, which also offers mouthwatering items like pumpkin Sformato and chocolate chestnut cake, is another of my favorite of friends. To top it all off, they take reservations for up to eight.

Live off the F/G line?
Le Paddock (1235 Prospect Avenue on the corner of Reeve Place; 718-435-0921), named with a nod to nearby Kensington Stables, is tucked away in an unassuming but highly accessible section of Windsor Terrace (exit the front of a Manhattan-bound train at Fort Hamilton Parkway). Chef Gregory Tetaud brought French cuisine from his hometown of La Rochelle, France to share with his neighbors. That’s love!

A block down Prospect Avenue is the environmentally and ethically aware Brooklyn Commune (601 Greenwood Avenue, on the corner; 718-686-1044) which transforms from cafe in the morning to trattoria at night. The restaurant will be serving a decadent six-course tasting menu on Valentine’s Day, for which reservations are required.

Though Battersby (255 Smith Street between Douglass and Degraw Streets; 718-852-8321) is amazing, it’s also very small and can be hard to get into. No reservations are available for Valentine’s Day for their tasting menu tables, but the rest are up for grabs on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have to wait a bit, head to nearby Clover Club (210 Smith between Baltic and Butler) to relax with a cocktail by the fireplace.

Rucola (190 Dean Street on the corner of Bond Street; 718-576-3209) is close to the G at Hoyt-Schermerhorn, as well as a quick walk from the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center stop on the B/Q. They’re taking Valentine’s Day reservations for parties of all sizes, and have a special menu in addition to their regular menu (which includes broccoli rabe pasta, duck breast, and more). Prepare to be cozy and well-fed.

Looking for a low key date spot? Brookvin (381 7th Avenue between 11 and 12th Streets in South Slope; 718-768-9463) is casual without sacrificing quality. Their menu may be short (expect scrumptious small plates, cheese options, charcuterie boards and salad)–but their wine list is extensive. If your date is a real wine lover, consider signing him or her up for one of Brookvin’s classes as a V Day gift.

Where will you be taking your significant other on Valentine’s Day? Will you stay in the neighborhood or get away from prying eyes, keep it cozy or splurge on a night out?

Photo by amberala