Food to Swoon Over

Greenhouse Tavern

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's time to get your romantic dinner reservation on the books. These digs have all the ingredients to make your special someone feel loved — and they still have room for two.

Chinato
Zack Bruell's all-around Italian menu lets diners taste their way through the peninsula's cuisine without feeling overwhelmed. The restaurant will have a special menu to make your heart melt, including a special list cocktails, glasses of veuve cliquot and a four-course prix fixe dinner. 2079 East Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-298-9080, chinatocleveland.com; $75 per couple; 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Hodge's
This restaurant's upscale comfort food will make you feel right at home with a twist on family favorites. They will have their full menu available, but it will include shareable additions for the couple with similar tastes. 668 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-771-4000, hodgescleveland.com; entrees $13-$40; 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Greenhouse Tavern
Six courses of delicious Rust Belt-inspired cuisine awaits the true Cleveland pair here. The prix fixe menu is not posted on their website, vegetarian and vegan options will be available upon request at the time of reservation. 2038 East Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-443-0511, thegreenhousetavern.com; $69 prix fixe per person; beginning at 5 p.m.

Sheraton Suites Akron-Cuyahoga Falls
Are you and your partner hooked on PBS's show Downton Abbey? At the Sheraton Suites Akron-Cuyahoga Falls, you and your duke or duchess can dine like the ruling family of Grantham in a special five-course feast, including Lady Mary's Crab Canapé. Beginning at $250 per couple and $125 for singles, the meal includes a 12-month membership in Western Reserve PBS. 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls; reservations through Western Reserve PBS, 800-554-4549, westernreservepbs.org; beginning at $250 for couples and $125 for singles; 6 p.m.

Bistro 185
This all-around local eatery features a changing menu based on what's fresh in the kitchen. However, its Valentine's menu will make your knees weak, including the Cupid's Kiss cocktail. Your choice entrees include a full Moroccan lamb rack, bone-in rib eye, scallops with polenta, stuffed lobster tail and Ohio beef tenderloin trio to name a few. Vegetarian and vegan dinners are also on the menu. 991 East 185 St., Euclid, 216-481-9635, bistro185.com; entrees $22-$30; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Pickwick & Frolic
Enjoy a laid-back atmosphere here with a heartfelt four-course meal, including soup and salad, a choice of four main courses, and a dessert for two. In Hilarities 4 Street Theatre, which calls Pickwick & Frolic home, nationally acclaimed comedian Bobby Collins will be sure to brighten your night. (Tickets to Hilarities are not included with your meal.) 2035 East Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-736-4242, pickwickandfrolic.com; $32 prix fixe per person, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Le Petit Triangle
Modeled after a Parisian cafe, Le Petit Triangle offers French classics like escargot as well as a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches. The cafe is also a coffee-espresso bar and could be the perfect after-dinner stop. 1881 Fulton Rd., Ohio City, 216-281-1881, lepetittriangle.com; entrees $9-$27; 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

The Melting Pot
The signature fondue restaurant in Legacy Village offers a special four-course Valentine's Day dinner, including its signature cheese and chocolate fondue. A choice entree of cold water lobster tail, spicy IPA marinated filet mignon, mole marinated citrus pork tenderloin, honey orange chicken breast, lemon pepper shrimp or seasonal pasta also comes with the special. 24741 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst, 216-381-2700, meltingpot.com; Valentine's Day special $150 per couple or $75 per person; 12 p.m.-11 p.m.

Provenance
Situated within the Cleveland Museum of Art, Provenance offers many standard a la carte options for art lovers who wish to wander the halls in between courses. However, a three-course prix fixe menu will be offered for those who wish to sit and enjoy the great artists' ambiance. 11150 East Blvd., Unversity Circle, Cleveland, 216-707-2600, clevelandart.com; varying a la carte prices, $76 prix fixe per person; 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Touch Supper Club
This Ohio City staple will yet again host "Aphrodisiacs and Champagne," a supper for those looking to see sparks during dinner. The four-course prix fixe menu is kept secret until guests arrive, but never fear: salsa dancing lessons are guaranteed to begin at 9 p.m. 2710 Lorain Ave., Ohio City, 216-631-5200, touchohiocity.com; $80 per couple for meal, wine and dance lessons; 5 p.m.-11 p.m.

Love on Larchmere

For an intimate, affordable, and sure to be absolutely amazing Valentine’s Day dinner, I suggest taking the object of your affections to the Vine & Bean Cafe on Larchmere Boulevard. Heather Haviland, who owns the place along with Lucky’s Café in Tremont, wants you to feel the love…her love, that is, for local farm fresh food. And if sets off some sparks between you and your sweetie, all the better. Since the fields around here are not actually full of good things to eat right now, she’s raiding the stash of stuff she froze and canned when it was at its seasonal peak. With help from her new Chef de Cuisine the talented Ky-wai Wong, formerly at Lockkeepers and Dante, she’s using it for a three course prix fixe meal that features handmade pasta and dessert surprises. The cost is a mere $25 per person plus optional wine and beer pairings. Click here for menu details and reservations (required) .

The two chefs are a good pair, both equally driven to make virtually everything from scratch, and that includes the bread and sauerkraut for a Reuben as well as the ketchup, and pickles that go into the 1000 Island dressing. Starting Feb 25, their sandwiches and a couple of weekly entrée specials will be available at Vine and Bean until 8 PM.

A few days ago Heather shared some exciting news with me. Beginning Feb 21 she’s going to be spending her Saturday and Sunday mornings cooking at Vine & Bean. Now I won’t have to drive across town to get her divine burritos, biscuits and gravy, and those egg extravaganzas known as The Shipwreck and The Canoe. These are the dishes that have made Lucky’s famous. And I use the f-word with good reason. In the February issue of GQ Magazine it was named one of the best places to have brunch in the entire countrty. When the reporter called her, Heather being the self-effacing soul that she is assumed it was a prank. But for those like me and all my clan who regularly enjoy her weekend cuisine, the recognition comes as no surprise and is well deserved. Schedule an eastside or a westside pit stop and judge for yourself. One word of advice- come hungry.