10 Dallas Valentine’s Day Dining Options That Aren’t Terrible

Skip the boring prix-fixe this year and get creative

by Amy McCarthy Feb 8, 2018, 3:30pm CST

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by Amy McCarthy Feb 8, 2018, 3:30pm CST

Sweet Daze/Official Photo

Most of the time, Valentine’s Day dining is the epitome of boring. Instead of spending too much cash on pricey prix-fixe menus with tiny portions of steak and stingy portions of wine, get creative in 2018.

From sweet pastries to geeky cocktails and heart-shaped pizzas, let this map of interesting, outside-the-box Dallas Valentine’s Day destinations be a guide to a date that won’t break the budget — or bore your date to death.

The Libertine Bar

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Nothing says “I love you” like cheap happy hour drinks. Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year, which means that drinkers can sip $4 cocktails made with Katy Trail Vodka, $3 Texas beers, and half-price bottles of wine.

2101 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

(214) 824-7900

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Lakewood Landing

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Skip the swanky scene on Valentine’s Day and enjoy one of the city’s best dive bar atmospheres. Cozy together in one of these ripped pleather booths for cheap beer, late-night corn dogs, and the best jukebox in town.

5818 Live Oak St, Dallas, TX 75214

(214) 823-2410

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The exterior of a dive bar called Lakewood Landing. A blue and white sign identifies it as “an upscale dive” with “good food and cocktails.”

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CBD Provisions

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It’s technically a prix-fixe, but the three-course dinner at this Downtown restaurant is the closest thing to a fancy Valentine’s Day bargain at $55 per person. Feast on Gulf crudo and duck confit cassoulet, then finish dinner with toasted pecan chocolate torte. Afterward, slip down to dimly-lit downstairs bar Midnight Rambler for a nightcap.

1530 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201

(214) 261-4500

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Shell Shack

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Get messy with your Valentine at Shell Shack, which will present a bottle of (probably cheap) champagne to each table. For $45, score the VIP combo, which includes enough snow crab, shrimp, potatoes, sausage, fries, and hushpuppies for two people (or one very hungry single).

2916 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

(844) 588-2722

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Mudhen Meat and Greens

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On Valentine’s Day, Mudhen will host an entirely vegan feast for plant enthusiasts. Treat your meat-free significant other to chickpea bruschetta, mushroom bolognese, and a chocolate-avocado mousse topped with salted almonds and honeycomb, all paired with beers from Real Ale Brewing Company.

900 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201

(214) 698-7000

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Cocktail geeks can dork out over the rotovaporizers, centrifuges, and other science-y equipment used to create the cocktails here. Ignore the silly holiday-themed drinks and go straight for the category that’s only for the brave. There, the savory Winner Winner, mixed with gin, stock, clarified lemon, and thyme, awaits.

2816 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226

(214) 396-8050

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City Hall Bistro

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Can’t afford The French Room? No worries — the chic midcentury vibe at City Hall Bistro is decidedly more updated. For $150 per couple (decidedly cheaper than the usual prix-fixe dinner), beverage manager Anna Pereda will teach 10 lucky duos how to mix fancy cocktails. Afterward, Chef Jeramie Robison will serve a menu of fancy dishes like linguini & clams and short ribs cooked sous vide for 48 hours.

1321 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75202

(214) 651-3686

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Greenville Avenue Pizza Company

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Skip the hassle of actually dining out and pick up heart-shaped pies at GAPCo, where $30 will score lovebirds (or overachieving singles) the aforementioned pizza and two mini-bottles of Champagne.

1923 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

(214) 826-5404

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Sweet Daze Dessert Bar

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Pastries are a perfect Valentine’s Day gift, especially when they’re as ridiculously over the top as Sweet Daze’s Instagram-worthy treats. Doughnuts frosted with Beyonce lyrics, galaxy cheesecake, brownie ice cream cones and chocolate covered strawberries await.

581 W Campbell Rd #127, Richardson, TX 75080

(972) 707-7295

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Cidercade

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$10 per person provides access to more than 150 arcade games, plus the option to sip 24 different ciders on tap. Which means that after you beat your date in Mortal Kombat, a Bishop Cider Vanilla Cream Soder or Shacksburry Arlo awaits.