This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

The List: Local Places to Enjoy a Romantic Valentine's Night Out

Local restaurants are featuring Valentine's Day menus and specials.

Valentine's Day is here again. Time for chocolate candy, heart shaped cards, roses by the dozen and romantic dinners.

Maybe you and your significant other would like to stay close to home this Valentine's day. If that's the case, then you're in luck because Rumson and Fair Haven have a wide variety of restaurants offering special Valentine's Day menus and deals.

If you're looking for a classy romantic night out, there are plenty of options.

in Fair Haven is a sophisticated restaurant with comfortable, intimate seating that is perfect for Valentine's day. Their V-day menu is only available on Monday, February 14, of course, and they expect to be quite busy, so put your reservations in now.

"Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are our busiest days of the year," said Alicia Somma, receptionist at Raven and the Peach. The items on their menu are similar to the regular menu items but were specially selected to fit Valentine's Day. They include almond crusted organic salmon, roasted black angus tenderloin and lobster ravioli.

in Rumson is another upscale restaurant, owned by famous chef David Burke. This restaurant also has the perfect atmosphere for Valentine's Day. The red and white seating is elegant and romantic, with a fresh rose at every table.

"We have unbeatable value, unbeatable food and unbeatable service," said John Ansell, general manager of Fromagerie. "We have the freshest ingredients. No one else is doing this stuff."

Fromagerie, which is not usually open on Mondays, has extended it's schedule to accommodate Valentine's Day. For this special Monday, chef Larry Baldwin has put together a menu of "familiar and adventurous things." From pretzel crusted crab cake to lobster "steak," the line-up on the menu is quite impressive.

If you want a restaurant that is classy yet casual, try in Rumson. This restaurant provides a beautiful and romantic view of the Navasink river, right from your table. The friendly service and beautiful atmosphere create a great night out for couples of any age.

Salt Creek Grillehas a full bar and two menus dedicated to Valentine's Day. One menu is price fixed at $100 a couple. It includes one bottle of wine, two soups or salads, one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert. The other Valentine's Day menu is offered all weekend and has a wider variety of food options with prices ranging from $8 to $36 per plate. 

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

If you want to stay local but feel like you are miles away, try located on West River Rd. in Rumson. When you step into this lovely restaurant, you'll feel as though you have traveled to Tuscany, Italy. What could be more romantic? They are offering choices from their regular menu which includes brick oven and homemade pasta, as well as some Valentine's specials.

If you're planning a family-style Valentine's Day dinner, in Fair Haven is a good bet. Lil' Master's has an affordable but sophisticated price fixed menu for Valentine's Day. It will be offered all weekend and through Monday, at $24.95 a person which includes a salad, entree and dessert. 

 "This is a casual, family atmosphere," said owner Matt Mitchell. "This is a place where you can have dinner with your wife and kids." Some of the items on Lil' Master's Valentine's Day menu include prime rib, stuffed salmon, cupcake meatloaf and red velvet cake. 

So if you live in Rumson or Fair Haven, you don't need to go far this Valentine's Day to enjoy a romantic dinner for two or an enjoyable dinner for the whole family. Stay local, and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

The List:

1. : for an intimate evening

2. : for an upscale experience

3. : for a romantic view

4. : for family fun

5. : for a romantic escape

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?