By Raphael Beretta and Anthony Minda
Ah, Valentine’s Day. It’s that “love it” or “hate it” holiday that takes over stores and shops every February without fail. In the Hudson Valley, local businesses and restaurants go all out for February 14 with prix fixe dinner specials for dine-in and to-go. From classic Italian food to modern fusion, local eateries serve incredible dishes in honor of the love-centric holiday. Here’s where to look for the most romantic meals in the region this year.
Kingston
Februrary 9, $59/person
Looking for something more than just a meal? The Venue Uptown hosts a murder mystery dinner just a couple days before the loving holiday. The interactive event includes a three-course meal and a cash bar, so rest assured your famished needs will be met. Choose from a selection of entrees and delicious desserts to satisfy your taste buds. And, best of all, the winning couples who guess whodunit can earn a prize.
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Milton
February 11-13, $45/person
In good Valentine’s Day spirit, Nostrano Vineyards offers a wine and dessert pairing event for lovers everywhere. Indulge in a variety of decadent and flavorful wines and sweet treats with your loved ones during this lovely occasion. Tasting time slots are on the hour, and every reservation made lasts two hours, which is more than enough time to try the vineyard’s extensive selection of wines.
Newburgh
February 12, $40/person
Book a spot at Hudson Valley Arts Live in Newburgh for a one-of-a-kind Funk Junkies Valentine’s Show. The event houses two floors of music, two bars, and special performances by Funk Junkies Murali Coryell and an introspective Love Discussion with Dr. Sheila Pearl. At 11 p.m., DJ Mike Lynn takes to the stage so you can dance your heart out on the dance floor until the lights go out. No one will go home crying at the end of this show.
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Montgomery
February 13, $40/person
Looking to celebrate with your best friends before Valentine’s Day hits? The Venue at Winding Hills hosts a lovely brunch for you and all your friends on the eve of the occasion. Bring all your besties and splurge over fresh charcuterie, at the waffle station, or over the fresh burrata platter for starters. Move onto bigger dishes like the frittata du jour, chicken piccata, and a beautiful seasonal vegetable medley. Did we mention that each person enjoys a complimentary mimosa? Tickets are booking up quickly, so purchase while you can.
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Poughkeepsie
February 12, $59/person
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about love, chocolate, and roses, does it? For the adventure and mystery lovers out there, Revel 32 in Poughkeepsie hosts an exuberant, interactive Murder Mystery party. Bring your friends, loved ones, partners, or just yourself for this fun night out. A gourmet charcuterie table, decadent desserts, and specialty cocktails, including boozy coffees, will be served while you figure out the culprit in this whodunit event.
Newburgh
Pickup on February 14, $255/couple (takeout)
A beloved Orange County restaurant on the Hudson River, Blu Pointe is a great choice for top-tier dining at home. The couples’ package is fully customizable, and diners pick two dishes per course from the list. Grilled calamari, beef tartare, and burrata plates fill out some of the appetizers, and main courses could be a winter risotto, beef Wellington, or lamb gnocchi. The package comes with a bottle of bubbly and chocolate-covered strawberries (in addition to your choice of dessert).
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Monticello
February 14, A la carte
This Italian-inspired steakhouse in the Catskills feels like an entire getaway on its own. Each and every bite of Chef Scott Conant’s dishes are savory, like the polenta with bacon and black truffles, beet salad with smoked yogurt and pistachio, and a Sardinian semolina gnocchi with a bold porcini mushroom ragu. Familiar favorites line the entrée list, like surf & turf or roasted branzino. End the evening with an apple crostata, a bittersweet chocolate cake or any of the other decadent offerings. The choice is yours.
Montgomery
February 14, $60/person
Who needs a full dinner when you can fill up on red wine and dark chocolate? For lovers of all things vino, head to City Winery for a unique tasting experience with your beloved. The winery’s beverage manager walks patrons through the vast world of chocolate, showcasing how different levels of sweetness and richness can pair with different varietals. If you’ve ever enjoyed port with deep, dark chocolate, this experience will open your eyes to the full spectrum of flavor combinations. Plus, you can take home a bottle for an at-home Valentine’s Day dinner. City Winery also has a special menu for dinner featuring sweet potato gnocchi, braised beef short rib, and more.
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Germantown
February 14, $65/person
This community gathering place from NYC ex-pats Nick and Sarah Suarez serves Valentine-in-a-Box dinners. Each course has been curated carefully to match the themes of passion and love. The Citrus Salad kicks things off with roasted beets and preserved limequats with a chili vinaigrette. Mains include porchetta with a ham broth and smoked tomato, house-made squid ink fettuccine, and more. Finally, choose from deliciously gooey apple fritters or a warm chocolate mousse cake.
Tarrytown
February 14, $99/person
Chef Dale Talde has appeared on everything from Chopped to Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay. To commemorate the day of love, he’ll prepare three courses of cuisine for romantic dining at Goosefeather in Tarrytown. Couples can mix and match between to-die-for bites like spicy tuna tartare, roasted mushrooms, and tea duck sandwiches. Main course options like wok-charred lobster, filet of beef with braised fondant potatoes, and roasted cauliflower will delight, but make sure to save room for dessert. The warm chocolate donuts are beyond indulgent.
P.S. For anyone who wants to go the extra mile, Goosefeather offers a bottomless wine package for an additional $36 per person.
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Nyack
February 14-17, $65/person
Want to celebrate Valentine’s Day for a little longer? Nyack’s reinvented restaurant The Greekish slings special courses through February 17. Choose to dine on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and enjoy Chef Constantine Kalandranis’s four-course menu. He specializes in Greek meze, so come hungry and prepare to be impressed. Every reservation comes with a glass of bubbly to get the evening started.
Hastings
February 14, $85/person
Harvest on Hudson’s take on Valentine’s Day includes a lovely three-course meal for you and your lover. Start the evening off with your choice of a variety of starters which include Bomba Shrimp, king crab, a mushroom and black truffle pizzetta, and more. For the second course, you’ll have several pastas to choose from, along with a warm eggplant parmigiana, chicken Milanese, and beef tenderloin. Harvest on Hudson also offers some classic desserts, including a tiramisu and cheesecake. If you’re looking to go all out this holiday, the restaurant also offers a five-course option for an additional $40.
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Beacon
February 14, $95/person
Beacon’s The Roundhouse is an impressive venue with lots of atmosphere and breathtaking views. Your evening includes a decadent three-course dinner in the beautiful waterfall room. Start your Valentine’s feast with mouth-watering truffle gnocchi, then move onto miso-glazed halibut served with coconut rice and baby bok choy. End your romantic date with light and airy panna cotta, strawberry champagne mousse, or a warm chocolate tart.
Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook
February 14, $125/couple
Does heart-shaped prosciutto make you swoon? Dine in at any of Savona’s three locations across the Hudson Valley. The classic Italian fare satisfies on cold winter nights. Enjoy shrimp and lobster tagliatelle with wood-fired cherry tomatoes, pork osso buco with a cherry glaze, or garden risotto. Chocolate-covered strawberries, Nutella pizza, and heart-shaped cheesecake can’t be missed for dessert. Add to that two Italian wines plus an antipasti spread? Now that’s amore.
Poughkeepsie
February 14, $71/person
Just for Valentine’s Day, Shadows has a three-course dinner special for dine-in meals. There are 10 main courses to choose from, and they all sound absolutely scrumptious. Anything from seared scallops to grilled swordfish to root vegetable risotto to filet mignon cover the spectrum of tastes and cravings. There are plenty of appetizers and desserts to choose from as well. With all the options this restaurant offers for this romantic holiday, you can sleep soundly knowing Shadows has Valentine’s Day covered.
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Rhinebeck
February 14, $99/person
In honor of the most romantic day of the year, Terrapin invites couples to celebrate with a three-course prix fixe dinner menu that includes a choice of tapas, an entrée, and dessert. Fall in love with specials like Nantucket Bay scallop ceviche, pumpkin ravioli, and butter-poached lobster tails with ginger beurre blanc. Looking for something a bit more casual? Just drop into the Red Bistro, located next to the Dining Room, for the regular menu.
Woodstock
February 18, $40/person
Smooth jazz is sure to make any lover swoon. This Valentine’s Day, bring your special person to the Bearsville Theater for dinner and a jazz show. Vocalist Kelsey Jillette and band members Bob Halek, Jim Donica and Peter Einhorn put on a musical set full of wonderful songs that will melt your heart. Along with music, the theater serves dinner, which includes a mouth-watering mushroom risotto, braised short ribs, and much more.
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Marlboro
February 20, $35/person
There aren’t many things that go better together than cheese and wine, which is why it’s worth a trip to visit Benmarl Winery and Vineyard for its annual Valentine’s Day wine and cheese pairing event. Each person who arrives samples four different vinos and a curated snack board featuring Hudson Valley cheeses, locally sourced jams, house-made chocolates and other offerings. Who could possibly say no to that?
Related: These Hudson Valley Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas Are So Affordable