If you're choosing to dine out to celebrate Valentine's Day with your special someone, take a gander at this list to see what some Tampa Bay area restaurants are offering for the occasion. For some spots there will be weekend-long offerings, while others will only offer special menus on the 14th. My advice: Make reservations ASAP! (Prices are per person unless otherwise noted.)
BELLA BRAVA 204 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, 727-895-5515, bellabrava.com. Spend a romantic evening dining on Beach Drive and indulge in Bella's Valentine's Day specials, like the Chocolate Vesuvius brownie. Regular menu also available.
BELLINI'S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 2832 Beach Blvd S, Gulfport, 727-327-4222, bellinisonline.com. If you're in the mood for South American fare, Bellini's is offering a Valentine's menu ($44.99) which includes a full churrasco dinner, complete with Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. Available Sunday and Monday.
BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-877-3939, brioitalian.com. Offering a special Valentine's weekend menu with Tuscan-inspired dishes and to-die-for desserts: lobster and shrimp salad, beef medallions with black pepper shrimp, chocolate lava cake topped with vanilla bean gelato — just to name a few. RSVP recommended; menu available after 4 p.m.
CAFE ALMA 260 First Ave. S, St. Pete, 727-502-5002, cafealma.com. In addition to their regular menu, Alma will be offering special food, cocktail and wine menus from the Friday until Monday for a romantic dining option. Their four-course prixe fixe menu ($45.95) offers diners choices like Caribbean lobster, Chilean sea bass, bacon-wrapped filet and a few decadent desserts.
CAFE DUFRAIN 707 Harbour Post Drive, Tampa, 813-275-9701, cafedufrain.com. Doing what they do best, Cafe Dufrain will be serving an elegant four-course menu of seasonally-inspired dishes with fresh, locally sourced ingredients on Valentine's Day ($50)
CARMEL CAFE & WINE BAR 2548 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-724-4228, carmelcafe.com. If Mediterranean fare gets you in the mood, Carmel is offering a four-course, prixe fixe dinner for two ($30 per couple) with the option of wine pairings for each course ($80). Menu available for dinner, Fri.-Mon.
CASSIS AMERICAN BRASSERIE 170 Beach Drive, St. Pete, 727-827-292, cassisab.com. Try their three-course "l'amour est rouge" French bistro menu for only $20.11. Available Mon.-Fri. for lunch and before 7 p.m.
COMPASS GRILLE AT THE SIRATA BEACH RESORT 5300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-363-5129, compassgrille.com. Spend an amorous evening on the beach and enjoy a four-course dinner ($85 per couple). Throw in a King Suite and get the whole package for $189. See website for details. Dinner served from 5-10 p.m.
THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANTS 2117 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, 813-248-4961; 800 Second Ave. NE (on the fourth floor of the Pier), St. Pete, 727-822-8000; 1241 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, 727-596-8400, columbiarestaurant.com. For a waterfront view for you and your Valentine, visit The Columbia at The Pier in St. Petersburg or at The Columbia in Sand Key on Clearwater Beach for Spanish-inspired specials. At The Columbia in Ybor City, make your Valentine's Day Dinner special with their dinner and Flamenco Dance Show package ($49.95). Call or visit website for more info and show times.
MAESTRO'S RESTAURANT AT THE STRAZ CENTER 1010 W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827, tbpac.org. This special Valentine's Day dinner at Maestro's will feature live entertainment, dancing and a four-course meal paired with the choice of a bottle of specially selected wine or sparking wine ($100 per couple). Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., dinner begins at 6:30 p.m.
MISE EN PLACE 442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813- 254-5373, miseonline.com. Spend a memorable evening at Mise in Downtown Tampa and enjoy a three-course, guest select dinner ($65). RSVP required.
NOHO BISTRO 1714 N. Armenia Ave, Tampa. 813-514-0691, thenohobistro.com. Noho is throwing out all the stops on Valentine's Day with a five-course menu of eclectic bistro fare ($65); a three-course menu ($50) and à la carte menu will also be available. Wine pairings for each course will also be available ($25/$15). And, to be even more hospitable, every guest will receive a complimentary glass of bubbly and house paté appetizer.
PELAGIA TRATTORIA 2223 N. West Shore Blvd (lobby level of the Renaissance International Plaza Tampa Hotel), 813-313-3235, pelagiatrattoria.com. Head to Pelagia for refined Italian- and Mediterranean-inspired specials, including Italian seafood stew, risotto Milanese with lobster and banana & bacio chocolate tart. Complimentary glass of Champagne for each guest. Menu available Fri.-Mon.
THE POSTCARD INN 6300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-367-2711, postcardinn.com. Just for this special weekend, the Postcard has put together a package that includes dinner, a room and a helicopter ride! Enjoy a two-night stay, a four-course dinner for two at their restaurant, Wildwood BBQ, and take a helicopter ride from the beach to downtown St. Pete and back. Call for prices and more information.
THE REFINERY 5137 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-237-2000, thetamparefinery.com. Graciously opening their doors on their day off, The Refinery is getting out the "linens, flowers and candles to make it all smoochy smoochy" for this romantic evening. Boasting an "affordable" menu including oysters, steak tartare (for those of you who find raw meat sexy), and chocolate blackout cake. RSVP required.
SAVANNAH'S CAFE 1113 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-388-4371, www.savannahscafe.com. Celebrate your love in Southern style with Savannah's Chateaubriand for two, which will be available Sat.-Mon., in addition to their regular menu of low country fare.
SIDEBERN'S 2208 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa, 813-258-2233, sideberns.com. In addition to offering their regular menu, SideBern's Chef Chad Johnson will be whipping up some edible aphrodisiacs just for this special evening. The six-course chef's tasting menu will also be available. RSVP recommended.
