By Michael Norman, the Plain DealerFebruary 09, 2010, 11:54AMPlain Dealer FileAlthough routinely closed on Sundays, L’Albatros Brasserie and Bar will be open on Valentine’s Day.
Dinner date or doghouse? It’s your call. Valentine’s Day brings on certain expectations. Even though many of us would prefer to not elbow our way through once-in-awhile diners to nab a nice table and linger over a leisurely meal, romance is in the air. A special evening out fans those flames.
Otherwise, you may be fanning flames with a bucket of ice water.
Fortunately, this year it’s “Valentine’s Weekend.” With three days from which to choose (restaurateurs who normally lock up on Sundays may throw open their doors, rather than lose midwinter revenue), there’s wiggle room.
But fail to make reservations at your own peril. others will vie for seating, especially at area hot spots. and especially since more businesses are offering couples prix-fixe specials and other enticements to draw romantics.
Here are some options for this weekend. Remember, prices noted do not include tax and tip (nor, in most cases, alcohol or other beverages). See Row Resources for contact information; definitely call ahead for additional details.
LOCKKEEPERS . . .
You’ve finally decided to pop the question. still up in the air is . . . well, where to pop out the ring?
Lockkeepers has its own proposal to make. Chef-owner Malisse Sinito has started the Wedding Club. Couples who become engaged at the restaurant “become VIPs for life,” she says.
“What that means is they will get special treatment every time they come in,” spokeswoman Amy Castelli added via e-mail. “It may be a complimentary cocktail or desserts, or tickets to one of Lockkeepers’ monthly wine-tasting dinners. Or an upgrade to dinner in the private Sommelier Room, a box of chocolates or some other surprise.”
Membership also applies to couples who book their wedding receptions in the restaurant. and Sinito says she intends to fulfill her commitment. “I’m not going anywhere,” she says.
“This idea came up a couple of weeks ago when we had two tables, back-to-back, who got engaged,” Sinito says. “I was engaged at Baricelli Inn, and it has always remained special to me — so I felt I wanted to make a special place here, for guests of ours, for years to come.”
Lockkeepers: 8001 Rockside Road, Valley View; 216-524-9404.
Plain Dealer FileTable 45 will offer a lavish seafood feast (with a lamb alternative for the entree) as a Valetine’s weekend special. L’ALBATROS, TABLE 45 . . .
Although routinely closed on Sundays, L’Albatros Brasserie and Bar will be open on Valentine’s Day, says restaurateur Zack Bruell. “Instead of offering specials and come-ons, guests can just order as little or as much as they like, off the menu,” Bruell says. General manager and sommelier Brandon Chrostowski says he’ll be bringing in some special cheeses for guests who’d prefer to tete-a-tete over a glass of wine and a few nibbles. “There are several triple-creme or [black] truffle-laden cheeses out there that are sort of sexy and conducive to a romantic evening,” Chrostowski says. “We’ll help guests pair a nice glass of wine with their selection.” (Cheese flights are priced at $9 for a selection of three cheeses; $12 for five samples; $15 for seven cheeses.) over at Table 45, another of Bruell’s restaurants operated by the InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center Cleveland, the offer is a lavish seafood feast (with a lamb alternative for the entree), prix fixe at $55 per person.
L’Albatros Brasserie and Bar: 11401 Bellflower Road, Cleveland; 216-791-7880.
Table 45: InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center Cleveland, 9801 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland; 216-707-4045.
STAMPER’S GRILL PUB . . .
Show your lover how much you care — or at least how much you can take — during a karaoke-for-lovers night, Sunday at Stamper’s. Soften the potential audio assault by digging into a surf-and-turf special: a 12-ounce strip steak with jumbo shrimp, plus your choice of pasta or potato and a salad, for $16.99 per person. Co-owner Mary Stamper says she and her husband, Jim, are making the same offer, sans singalong, on Friday (substitute live rock) and Saturday (a disc jockey does the musical honors).
Stamper’s Grill Pub: 21750 Lorain Road, Fairview Park; 440-333-7826.
AMP 150 . . .
Chef Ellis Cooley brings bold flavors and South Florida inspiration to local ingredients at this zesty addition to West Side dining. Friday through Sunday, a $75-per-couple, four-course, prix-fixe menu allows guests to sample Cooley’s imaginative creations. Start with a choice of house-made soup du jour or a green salad, followed by appetizer options (scallops or gnocchi); entrees (Grilled Lamb Loin or Glazed Chesapeake Bay Cod); then dessert (Chocolate-Filled Beignets or Lemongrass Creme Brulee). the regular menu is available, too.
AMP 150: 4277 West 150th St., Cleveland; 216-706-8787,
LARCHMERE TAVERN . . .
Owner Laurie Vrabel is trimming the cost of Valentine’s Eve entrees — all are $14 for guests who dine between 5 and 11 p.m. Saturday evening. “And to fill the atmosphere with romance,” Vrabel says, the group Dream will entertain. “The trio will be singing favorite love songs throughout the evening,” she says.
Larchmere Tavern: 13051 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights; 216-721-1111
Plain Dealer FileAn interior view of dining room at Touch Supper Club on Lorain Avenue in Cleveland.TOUCH SUPPER CLUB . . .
“Valentine’s Day is always fun,” says co-owner Robert Ivanov. “We decorate the place nicely and give the women a carnation after dinner. just nice touches.” among those nice touches: a value-priced four-course Champagne and Aphrodisiacs dinner for two — prix fixe at $60 per couple, including tasting pours of three wines. Open the meal with sweet potato and butternut squash soup and Danish blue cheese, served with Domaine Chandon bubbly. after a watercress-and-raspberry-brined parmesan salad, guests have a choice of Lobster Mascarpone Ravioli With Roasted Tomato-Corn Truffle or Rack of Lamb With Cracked Mustard Red Pepper Sauce (wine is paired with each), then cap dinner with dessert and Cinzano cava.
Touch Supper Club: 2710 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; 216-631-5200.
CULINARY VEGETABLE INSTITUTE . . .
Take your sweetheart for a leisurely drive west to Milan for a lovely Saturday evening at Culinary Vegetable Institute. at 6:30 p.m., new York City chef Bradford Thompson — a 2006 James Beard Foundation Best Chef Southwest award winner — presents a lavish five-course meal. Find full details on the CVI Web site.
Culinary Vegetable Institute: 12304 Ohio 13, Milan; 419-499-7500.
YOURS TRULY . . .
Watching dollars and prefer to spend them in a family-style setting? three Yours Truly locations have started their own version of happy hours — which include evenings, too.
At the Medina and Valley View restaurants, those specials run daily from 3 to 5 p.m., then repeat after 8 p.m. Meaning you can take advantage of an extensive array of deals — some of them fairly generous — over the Valentine’s weekend. Bargains include:
Happy hour offerings also are available at the Chagrin Falls location, adds spokeswoman Michele Nelson, but only run Monday through Thursday. (But if you’re willing to celebrate early, or late . . .)
Yours Truly: Happy hour specials available for Valentine’s weekend are offered at two of the chain’s locations (3-5 p.m. daily, then again after 8 p.m.):
OTHER OPTIONS . . .
Although restaurateur Carl Quagliatta virtually never opens Giovanni’s on Sundays, he’s making an exception this Valentine’s Day. Ditto for Tuscany, his other spot in Beachwood . . . the Baricelli Inn will join them for its own rare Sunday dinner service . . . have a little fun, cooking together on fiery volcanic stone at Steak on a Stone locations . . . or take the family to brunch at Saucy Bistro, where chef-owner Matt Barnes will be setting out a buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (adults, $29; children, $13).
Giovanni’s Ristorante: 25550 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood; 216-831-8625.
Tuscany at the Hamptons: 27040 Cedar Road, Suite 106, Beachwood; 216-591-1760
Baricelli Inn: 2203 Cornell Road, Cleveland; 216-791-6500.
Saucy Bistro: 24481 Detroit Road, Westlake; 440-835-3559.
Steak on a Stone: Three Northeast Ohio locations:
Reserve a table for romance over Valentine’s weekend: A dining guide