Celebrate Valentine’s Day 2018 Jacksonville-Style with These Local Restaurants

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, which means if you’re in a relationship, you’re probably either finalizing plans for the big night or trying to find last-minute ideas.

For those in the latter category, you’re in luck! There are several different local restaurants offering Valentine’s Day specials that you should consider. Here’s just a few that we wanted to highlight.

THE BREAD & BOARD + THE SECOND FLOOR

Five Points eatery The Bread & Board will be presenting its “Due Amanti” dinner event on Valentine’s Day at The Second Floor, the event space above Hoptinger at 1037 Park St.

The event, which starts at $120 per couple and is limited to 100 guests, will feature a six-course Italian dinner and a performance by a Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra string quartet. The menu includes highlights such as prosciutto-wrapped scallops, balsamic-glazed short ribs, a chocolate pizzella for dessert, and much more.

In the event’s press release, co-owner Dwayne Beliakoff said the restaurant’s team “will transform The Second Floor into a classic Italian neighborhood café setting, with exposed bricks and hardwood floors complemented by string lights, candle-lit tables and romantic music.”

Sounds like the perfect romantic evening. To inquire about reservations, contact Laura Edgecombe at (904) 673-5557, or via email at info@thebreadandboard.com.

THE CANDY APPLE CAFÉ & COCKTAILS

Downtown’s The Candy Apple Café also has a special menu prepared for Valentine’s Day – and theirs can be enjoyed on more than just the 14^th.

The restaurant’s $40 prix-fixe menu will be served during dinner from February 13 to 16 – in addition to their regular menu. The three-course meal includes a choice of strawberry feta salad or fig-goat cheese tart, a choice of crab-topped petite filet, braised lamb shank, pan-seared airline chicken breast, or seared skin-on salmon, and a choice of chai crème brulee or raspberry chocolate torte.

And if you leave dinner with sweets on your mind, you’re in luck. The restaurant is also hosting a $28-per-person “boozy truffles” class each Wednesday and Friday in February, where you can learn how to make ganache filling and truffles with Sweet Pete’s Candy confectioners. The class also includes truffle pairings with champagne, wine, and whiskey.

To reserve seats for Valentine’s Day dinner, call (904) 353-9717 or visit thecandyapplecafe.com/reservations. To book a “boozy truffles” class, visit bit.ly/BoozyTruffles.

MOXIE KITCHEN + COCKTAILS

Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails at the Town Center has a special a la carte menu set for Valentine’s Day, with dinner service starting at 4:00 PM.

Highlights of the menu include seared fish, handmade gnocchi with lobster, blue fin crab cakes, seared scallops, and a red velvet butter cake. Champagne can also be pre-ordered to your table, with special pricing available for pre-orders of select brands.

Reservations can be made at opentable.com.