7 Romantic Restaurants for Valentine’s Day

With Texas’ snowmageddon canceling Valentine’s Day plans last year, many are looking for the perfect dinner spot at which to celebrate to make up for both this and last year combined. At Austin Fit, we have rounded up seven of the most romantic restaurants in Austin to celebrate your valentine. 

Emmer & Rye 

Featuring a farm-to-table-inspired menu that changes daily, you never walk into Emmer & Rye knowing what you are going to order. The restaurant has an intimate atmosphere that is sure to make it a memorable evening full of local cuisine and wine that will excite your taste buds and impress your crush. Reservations can be made at emmerandrye.com. Located at 51 Rainey St. Unit 110.

Jeffrey’s

Looking to impress your valentine with a night of fine dining? Look no further than Jeffrey’s in Clarksville. With a romantic and intimate feel, Jeffrey’s is a favorite of Austinites when it comes to celebrating special occasions. Highlighting French-American classics, the menu features everything from ham and gruyère croquettes to a dry-aged, bone-in ribeye. Reservations can be made at jeffreysofaustin.com. Located at 1204 W. Lynn St. 

Otoko 

Located at the South Congress Hotel, Chef Yoshi Okai works wonders in this intimate omakase-style Japanese restaurant that blends Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki. The omakase experience, which means, “I’ll leave it up to you,” includes a unique tasting menu hand-selected and prepared by Chef Okai and his team. Even though you are not able to choose what you are eating, Otoko boasts that “you can expect to partake of a series of unique, intriguing and brilliant dishes.” The experience is $195 per person and can be reserved at otokoaustin.com. Located at 1603 S. Congress Ave.

Lutie’s 

With Instagram-worthy decor and even more Instagram-worthy food, Lutie’s is a perfect spot to take your partner for Valentine’s Day since it overlooks the immaculate gardens of the Commodore Perry Estate. The menu, coined by husband-and-wife chefs Bradley Nicholson and Susana Querejazu, focuses on farm-fresh cuisine that is sure to please your taste buds. Make sure you save room for some of Querejazu’s impeccable desserts. Reservations can be made at luties.com. Located at 4100 Red River St. 

Clark’s

Featuring a raw bar, fresh fish, lobster rolls and more, this restaurant is for seafood lovers. With a charming inside and outside, Clark’s serves some of the finest seafood in Austin from its open kitchen. While there, make sure you order a cocktail or two to pair with your oysters. The restaurant is small yet popular among locals and tourists alike, so I recommend booking a reservation sooner rather than later, which you can do at clarksaustin.com. Located at 1200 W. 6th St.

Olive & June

Eat a candlelit dinner among a 200-year-old oak tree at this three-story Italian restaurant. With a focus on cuisine from Southern Italy and an emphasis on quality, Olive & June makes all the pasta in-house daily. The restaurant also has a large selection of Italian wines and specialty cocktails to ensure you have the perfect night. Reservations can be made at oliveandjune-austin.com. Located at 3411 Glenview Ave. 

Aba

This famed Mediterranean restaurant incorporates a lighter style of cooking influenced by Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. Chef CJ Jacobson crafts incredible dishes, such as black garlic shrimp scampi and crispy short rib humus, that are sure to wow your taste buds. Aba also has a gorgeous outdoor patio if you want to brave the cold. Reservations can be made at abarestaurants.com/austin. Located at 1011 S. Congress Ave., Building 2, Suite 180.