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Valentine's Day Dining


Some cynics think that Valentine's Day is just a commercial ploy to make you spend up, but what's wrong with a bit of good old-fashioned romance? An a la carte dinner with bubbly on arrival and a complimentary rose is infinitely more enticing than a soggy takeaway box that spills over your lap. Not to mention how embarrassingly uncool it is to trickle tomato sauce on yourself while trying to impress a potential or current love interest. Not hot.

Whether you've been hit by Cupid's arrow or are up next on his list, this February 14 holiday - popularised by references in Chaucer's 14th-century poems and named after a mysterious saint - is an ideal opportunity to indulge in some seriously seductive cuisine. Oysters, anyone?

1
 
Captain Cook Cruises
Sydney
Love is in the fresh air of Sydney Harbour, where Captain Cook Cruises hold a range of dinner and overnight Valentine specials from $79 for a sunset dinner to $423 for a weekend-long loveboat (prices are per person). The Gold Dinner, at $199, includes a welcome cocktail on the Star Deck of the MV Sydney 2000, window seating, a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne, choccies, a four-course seafood-infused meal, an open bar, music and a dance floor.

2
 
Galileo Restaurant
Sydney
Dress glamorous and feel amorous in this ideal setting for a fine romance. This Valentine's Day, the highly lauded Galileo Restaurant and its five-star home, The Observatory Hotel, offer a plush package including an overnight stay (with chocolate-coated strawberries and a rose in your room), a seven-course degustation menu of French flavours, a French Champagne cocktail, and the sounds of a harpist throughout the eve. The full package goes for $800, while dinner only costs $188 per person.

3
 
Kouzina Modern Greek & Meze Bar
Doncaster
For something a little easier on the hip pocket but still of top quality, book early for Kouzina Modern Greek & Meze Bar in Doncaster or Southgate, whichever suits your rendezvous. Sample 10 meze dishes in the Valentine's Day "Deka-Station" Menu for $39 for lunch or $48 for dinner, both accompanied by a glass of cheeky sparkling.

4
 
Windows on the Bay
Mordialloc
Watch the waves wash in at Windows on the Bay, a beachside fine-dining haven along the southern Melbourne coast. On February 14, Windows gets lovey-dovey with a special three-course dinner for $99 per person from 6pm, kicking off with a glass of sparkling. Grilled blue-eye fillet, king prawn and saffron risotto and slow-roasted lamb are just some of the menu highlights, but being the day it is, you'd be mad to avoid the entree of oysters.

5
 
Fraser's Restaurant
West Perth
Take your tryst to Fraser's Restaurant for one of three unique Valentine experiences. An enticing three-course meal inside the swish restaurant goes for $115 per guest, while the dinner and dessert buffet affair on the Observation Deck runs at $125 per person, with live music to jazz up the mood. Lastly, Fraser's is offering $95 gourmet picnic hampers for outdoor diners in Kings Park ideal for those who like their romance simple and informal.

6
 
Pier One Restaurant & Bar
Sandy Bay
Directly on the dreamy Derwent River, Pier One Restaurant & Bar provides up-close views of the ripples in the water while diners ease into the live music and savour top Tasmanian vintage wines. For $65 per person, a Valentine three-course set menu features baked Tasmanian salmon and a fresh strawberry and Grand Marnier cream pastry aptly named the "Sweet Valentine".

7
 
Chelos Restaurant
Carrara
Alluringly dubbed the "Dark Temptation", Chelos Restaurant's rich dark chocolate mousse with vanilla anglaise and lychee salad should provide a smooth finish to the three-course gourmet meal on offer for Valentine's Day. Wine and love go together like Sonny and Cher, so a glass of sparkling and a red rose are included in the $140 dinner. Uber-loved-up couples can take up the hotel, dinner and breakfast deal for $319 per double.

8
 
The Apothecary 1878
Adelaide
Embracing the theme all year round, this former 19th-century chemist shop makes love the drug with its red velvet couches inside and steely love-heart shaped chairs in the courtyard. But on this special summer day it's ramped up to the max with a glass of Louis Roederer on arrival, tapas, mains, desserts, coffee and chocolates comprising the $80 feast.

9
 
Cornucopia Museum Cafe
Fannie Bay
For a rich cultural experience that you don't need to be rich to enjoy, this is a "room with a view" if there ever was one. Perched on the water's edge adjacent to the Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Cornucopia Museum Cafe also benefits from its stunning views of the crystal-blue hues of Fannie Bay's beach. Luckily, this Valentine's Day, the normally daytime-only eatery is also taking bookings for dinner, without a set menu so you won't break the bank.

10
 
BG Skyline Restaurant
City
Peruse the glittering Canberra skyline and the glimmering Lake Burley Griffin with a glass of complimentary French bubbly, a rose and chocolates, and a one-night only menu that starts with canapes and proceeds with such mains as the slow-roasted duck, beetroot, roquette and orange salad, finally ending with a sweet kiss ensconced in a macerated red berry meringue heart, at $75 per person. Like all of abovementioned restaurants, bookings are essential. That's amore!