So Valentine’s Day is on the horizon and you already have the perfect gift planned. Maybe you even have a perfect night planned, complete with candles, soft music, and rose petals, but you are not quite sure where you should take your date out for a romantic dinner. Well if you are in the Austin, Texas area try one of these three great spots and your significant other will have a Valentine’s Day to remember.
The Emerald Restaurant
The Emerald is a 12 star restaurant (awarded 4 stars each for food, service and atmosphere) nestled 15 miles outside of Austin in the hill country. The cozy stone cottage boasts and extensive win list and authentic Irish cuisine. The Irish cottage is provides an authentic backdrop with shamrock wallpaper, lace curtains and Irish bone china. You can make reservations at the restaurant, which was voted one of the most romantic restaurants in the area, and it also features private rooms for a really private experience.
One drawback is that the restaurant is rather pricey, but most diners feel that it’s appropriate for the food, setting and amazing service. You can really experience the dining experience here though and really be catered too without having to worry about hearing other people’s conversations and feeling rushed so that they can get more customers into their restaurant.
Some menu items you might enjoy are the broiled lobster, fresh Irish soda bread with a variety of butters, strawberry cheesecake, lamb, and flambéed soup.
Eddie V’s Edgewater Grille
Eddie V’s prides itself on fancy seafood dishes and an upscale setting. Boasting leather booths, white table clothes and extensive floral arrangements, the restaurant provides a perfect balance with its’ lively kitchen.
Featuring a fantastic wait staff, plenty of parking, and crab cakes to die for this restaurant is perfect for a romantic Valentine’s dinner with your special someone. Many diners will claim it’s the best dining experience they have ever had in Austin and swear by the fancy seafood dishes such as Alaskan Halibut.
Despite the pricey selections, most people agree it’s worth it for the knowledgeable staff, fine food and unbelievable ambience. The music selections compliment the restaurant’s atmosphere perfectly. Like the Emerald, the wine selection is also very solid.
One complaint is that Eddie V’s does tend to have smaller portions than a more mainstream restaurant like Red Lobster, but that usually goes to say with fine dining places. The restaurant also seems to get a little more crowded than a place like the Emerald, but if you are really looking for the upscale atmosphere, great drinks and phenomenal seafood this is certainly the place to check out.
The Driskill Grill
The restaurant is a dimly lit space inside the multi-million-dollar-renovated hotel Driskill. Plenty of famous politicians and actors have eaten inside the famous restaurant which features chef David Bull who has been featured on Iron Chef. The menu is ever changing and known for their three-course menu featuring items like quail, pan-roasted duck, sea scallops and more.
The American (new) cuisine restaurant is not open on Sun-Mon, but does stay open until 10 p.m. on the other days of the week. The historic setting, quiet/fine dining, and notable wine list in addition to the great food make this a place you should be proud to take your significant other for Valentine’s day (or any time of the year). The Austin Statesmen (Austin’s city paper) named the restaurant the best in the area.
Like the other two restaurants you are going to pay quite a bit but if you are really seeking a fine dining experience it is certainly worth the price. Elegant is probably the best way to describe the restaurant due to the amazing setting and unmatched presentation of the delectable food choices.
So what are you waiting for? You have three perfectly good options so look them up and call and make reservations. You will not be disappointed.
