Large gatherings are still not allowed, but Las Vegas has a wide range of intimate culinary choices for couples planning a romantic getaway for Valentine's Day.
Making reservations now for Sunday, Feb. 14, is highly recommended. Here's a look at some of the possibilities:
• Bazaar Meat, chef Jose Andres' restaurant at the Sahara Las Vegas, has a special menu for the night. The menu ($135 per person) begins with liquid mozzarella spheres, oyster "funnel cake," Kobe air bread, a beet-and-citrus salad and a paella-style pasta. The main dish will be chateaubriand and Josper-roasted sole served together with mashed potatoes, setas ajilio (mushrooms with garlic) and grilled asparagus. An assortment of cream puffs, eclairs, little cakes and tarts conclude the experience. Visit saharalasvegas.com for a reservation.
• Boyd Gaming offers a number of romantic dining experiences at its off-Strip properties. MRKET Sea & Land at the Aliante Casino, Hotel and Spa offers dinner for two for $110 that includes a choice of bone-in prime ribeye or Chilean sea bass. They're paired with salads and a smoky s'mores campfire treat for dessert.
The Angry Butcher at Sam's Town has the Proposal ($99 per person), Always Be Mine ($89) and Yours Truly ($79) options. All include special libations.
The Redwood Steakhouse at the California Hotel and Casino downtown will have a four-course fine-dining experience for two for $120 per couple that includes seared scallops; a porterhouse steak and lobster tails; and a chocolate mouse martini with a cookies and cream crust and chocolate shavings.
Among the other dining options worth considering for that special night:
• The Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio stages a memorable dinner and live entertainment overlooking the iconic Bellagio Fountains.
• Carbone at Aria, paying homage to Italian-American restaurants of the mid-20th century, offers classics such as veal parmesan, chicken scarpariello and spicy rigatoni.
• Morimoto Las Vegas at the MGM Grand blends classic and modern Japanese cooking techniques with sushi, sashimi, Japanese A5 wagyu and teppanyaki favorites.
• Heritage Steak, from Tom Colicchio, is located in the Mirage's atrium with towering palm trees and cascading waterfalls.
• Esther's Kitchen, a popular Italian restaurant in the Arts District, launched an outdoor dining Greenhouse Village in response to the pandemic last month. Each of the eight isolated dining pods is designed to serve up to four people. Each party is served by only one dedicated server, who has been screened for Covid-19, and each pod is sanitized between every meal. Go to Esther's website for reservations.
Las Vegas' climate often enables outdoor dining even in February. Prominent al fresco locations to consider include Sinatra, Mizumi, SW Steakhouse and Lakeside at Wynn Las Vegas; Bouchon, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beers and Spritz Restaurant & Bar at the Venetian Resort; and El Segundo Sol, Ra Sushi and Davidoff Cigar Bar at Fashion Show Las Vegas on the Strip.
For a bit of a different experience, there's Cloud9, an Immersive Indoor Picnic at Area15, an art and entertainment district near the Strip. Afternoon and evening packages are available Feb. 13 and 14 in the Portal, a 360-degree, projection-mapped room, and include interactive activities, a three-course dinner for two by Todd English and a bottle of Champagne. Tickets are available at $300 or $500 for two.
This report was updated to say that Cloud9 Valentine's packages are no longer available on Feb. 12 but can still be booked for Feb. 13 and 14.