Super 7: Best Valentine's Day Dinners in Miami
Plus, each option is under $100 a person
Editor’s Note: I’m going to take a moment to say something I’ve never quite been allowed to put in writing - perks of being one of the HBICs now. ;)
Truthfully? Dining out on Valentine’s Day is (usually) the absolute worst. I’ve always likened it to going to the bars on Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day: it’s amateur hour, just with better table linens. Every restaurant is packed to the gills, rushing to turn tables while trapping you in an exorbitantly priced prix-fixe menu. When the holiday lands on a weekend? Forget about it - the chaos triples.
I realize not everyone shares my “Grinch” outlook on Valentine’s Day dining, which is exactly why we’ve put together the guide below. These are the rare spots where you can still score a good meal for under $100 a person, a genuine steal on this Hallmark-y of Hallmark holidays. Plus, all have restaurants at time of publishing have plenty of reservations open - but that won’t last long. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Now, go forth and enjoy yourselves, you lovebirds.
Amal
Amal brings that vibe-y Beirut energy to the Grove, sans the plane ticket. The space is massive and filled with plenty of people watching while dining on Mediterranean bites. Their Valentine’s menu is a $95 prix-fixe that starts with mezzes like truffle rakakat with honey or a fresh fig salad. For the main, you pick between lamb chops with red pepper relish, Chilean sea bass, or roasted cauliflower. Everything is served with basmati rice for the table. You finish with chocolate halva mousse or walnut cake. @amalmiami // 3480 Main Hwy, Coconut Grove
The Drexel
The Drexel on Española Way is entering a new chapter under chefs Jarrod Huth and Derek Carressi. Huth is a Thomas Keller alum, and they have shifted the menu’s focus to a more Italian slant. This Valentine’s Day, for $85 per person, dine on dishes like citrus cured kanpachi, grilled octopus, whole branzino, and handmade mafaldine cacio e pepe. The 1920s Art Deco building adds to the charm, and dare I say, romance? @drexelmiami // 1436 Drexel Ave, Miami Beach
Eating House
Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli is serving a five-dish sharing-style menu at his popular Coral Gables spot for $89 per person. The meal at Eating House includes potato parker house rolls with black truffle butter, locally made stracciatella with strawberry panzanella, and caramelized seabass. You also get a beef short rib "vaca frita" with maduro mousseline and a rocher semifreddo for dessert. The vibe will be low lights and Power Love Hour type slow jams, with the full wine and cocktail list available to order from. @eating_house // 128 Giralda Ave, Coral Gables.
Kojin 2.0
Kojin 2.0 is a spot for the serious food nerds on the list - or those trying to impress food nerds on Valentine’s Day. This Japanese-influenced hotspot is doing an intimate six-course tasting menu for just $90 per person. It is designed to be shared and features tuna, wagyu, butter-poached lobster, and dry-aged duck. If you really want to lean into it, there is an optional dry-aged wagyu course add-on for $85. @kojinmiami // 804 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables
KYU
This perpetually buzzy, Asian-fusion Wynwood spot has been a staple in the neighborhood for nearly a decade for a reason. During its Valentine’s Day dinner KYU will offer a three-course menu for $90. Course one is a choice between a little gem salad or a lobster bao bun, followed by an 8oz prime ribeye, tiger prawns, or roasted cauliflower for course two. Dessert is a strawberry cinnamon roll with lemon frosting. @kyurestaurants // 251 NW 25th St, Miami
Pasta
The name is simple but the food is great. Pasta is a Peruvian-influenced pasta bar is a solid date night spot, regardless if it’s Valentine’s Day or not. Alas, their Valentine’s menu is an $85 per person prix-fixe that includes a choice of a glass of rosé or a negroni sbagliato. For starters, you get housemade stracciatella or beef tartare with truffle honey. The pasta course features raviolo all uovo or pici cacio e pepe, followed by beef milanese with parmigiano reggiano fonduta. You finish with tiramisu. @pasta.us // 124 NW 28th St, Miami
Rosemary’s
Every time I go to Rosemary’s I’m more and more impressed, and its patio garden in Wynwood is honestly one of the most beautiful and romantic spots in the city. Talk about a que cute date night. For Valentine’s, they’re doing a three-course prix-fixe for $95 per person. You can start with tonno crudo or grilled octopus, move on to housemade pastas or mains like branzino and roasted half chicken, and finish with tiramisu or olive oil cake. Add a wine pairing for $45. @rosemarys.miami // 322 NW 25th St, Miami
Solid picks here. The under-$100 constraint is actually refreshing for Valentine's Day coverage because most spots just go wild with pricing on that day. Kojin 2.0's tasting menu at $90 stands out as exceptional value for that quality level. I've notied Coral Gables restaurants tend to handle Valentine's better than Beach spots, probbaly because they're less touristy. The prix-fixe format makes sense for efficiency but hopefully these places aren't compromising quality for volume.