There are scores of wonderful restaurants in an area perfect for an intimate dinner on St. Valentine’s Day.
I’m Sue Krider, the high-rise real estate authority in DFW. I’ve lived in Big D for many years. My focus is the luxury market and I know it well. Providing information to my clients and sending them off to the right spot for any number of activities is a wonderful feeling. From cuisine, the arts, sports, music, and more, we’ve listed several excellent options for a romantic interlude on a special night with a brief description of each below.
Rise on Lovers Lane in Dallas is intimate but packs a memorable punch. The well-considered salon de soufflé and wine bar is designed with a distinctive French influence focused on the soufflé—the masterpiece of French cuisine, bringing the centennial classic to diners in a comfortable, relaxed environment.
Fearing’s Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton on McKinney Avenue in Uptown Dallas is the brainchild of Chef Dean Fearing, the Father of Southwest cuisine. By any measure, it is among the most elegant, cutting- edge restaurants in town.
Mister Charles is wonderful, as it’s the Knox Street’s sister restaurant to The Charles, which is in the Design District. Both come from Duro Hospitality and are currently considered among the more unique choices in Dallas, each catering to an upscale with discriminating tastes.
Toulouse Café & Bar sits along a portion of the popular Katy Trail in Highland Park. With an accent on French and Italian, Texas restauranteur Alberto Lombardi’s lovely little spot is the perfect to toast romance. Another Lombardi favorite is Bistro 31. Located in ritzy Highland Park Village, the culinary jewel features comfortable European cuisine and decor. The menu is French, Italian, and Spanish served in surroundings drenched in a distinctive European Art Deco design to enhance any dining experience.
Uchi means “house” in Japanese, founded by James Beard Award‑winning Chef Tyson Cole. The upscale Dallas restaurant is a fascinating blend of memorable cuisine and impeccable service. Uchi also has restaurants in Denver and Austin. It offers non‑traditional Japanese fare with sushi, special tastings, and a variety of seasonal dishes.
Al Biernat’s is an elegant steakhouse often teeming with well-known sports stars, politicos, and local celebrities. Beyond the see-and-be-seen fun, the steaks, chops, and seafood delights cannot be beaten.
Maybe you are looking for the ideal location for a special toast. Look no further than the cozy and intimate Trova in Preston Center. The stylish little wine shop and bar specializes in thoughtfully curated selections of wines from around the world, as well as a small selection of local, and artisanal food stuffs. There are small plates, sandwiches, gourmet cheeses, and charcuterie to accompany a glass or bottle.
You can always try a few less conventional options like coffee or cocktails, conversation, and a great read at The Wild Detectives, one of the region’s coolest independent bookstores in Oak Cliff; or an intimate show at the Clarence Muse Theater, or coffee at Opening Bell in The Cedars, Ascension at The Crescent or in the Design District, the cutest little coffee-wine bar on Lower Greenville Avenue, Café Duro.
Dallas is an incredibly walkable city, connected by more and more thriving green spaces. Exercising with a new love at a local gym, strolling around the campus at SMU, walking together on the Katy Trail, or lounging around in the sunshine at Klyde Warren Parkare other interesting options.
If you’re up for a night on the town with an emphasis on entertainment try one of the smoother crooners this side of Frank, Dean, Sammy, and the rest of the Rat Pack. Ricki Derek and the Vegas Six are booked at the Granada Theater on Lower Greenville Avenue. The band performs followed by a showing of the Hollywood classic, Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Club Dada in Deep Ellum welcomes Juice, with opening act Hembree. The band formed while attending Boston College. They found their signature sound early on by blending rock, pop, R&B, and a few dashes of hip-hop.
Lil Tecca rose to mainstream fame with the release of his single “Ransom,” which shot into Billboard’s top five in 2019 with a series of follow-up singles, including “Love Me,” “Did It Again,” “Never Alone” and “500 lbs.” He’ll be at the House of Blues in glitzy Victory Park.
The Dallas Opera’s stunning production of Elektra at the grand Winspear Opera House is a sensational treat. National Public Radio says, “It’s a story that would seem excessive for even the most lurid of real- life dramas, or blood-soaked slasher movies. But it’s always been right at home in the opera house.” Composer Richard Strauss’ intense, one-act opera makes for a perfect, edge-of-your-seat Valentine’s date night.
If fine arts flip your switch, here’s an idea. For her solo exhibition at Nasher Sculpture Center in the rambling 68-acre Arts District, artist Sarah Sze invites viewers into a collection of new, site-specific works across three intrepid gallery spaces. Always attuned to the built environment, Sze’s new installations integrate painting, sculpture, and more into a powerful work.
The award-winning Dallas Theater Center’s production of “I Am Delivered’t” at the Kalita Humphries Theater celebrates the power of being your authentic self. The joyful new comedy introduces audiences to the world of Church Usher Board culture and celebrates same-gender-loving church folks and the power and joy of just being you.
Thomas Csorba and Friends present a Valentine’s Day tribute concert at the Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff. Csorba and some of DFW’s best musicians bring an evening of music and romance filled with country music’s greatest love songs by artists such as George Strait, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, and more.
And for the sports fans, and there are many, the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs renew their in-state rivalry on a night made for lovers. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center in Victory Park. Go Mavs!
For more information on top high-rise properties in Dallas, and a continuing flow of information about the market, community happenings, and special things to see and do check with me at SueKrider.com now.
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