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The Brief

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  • Food
    Valentine's Day for less
    Celebrate for $100 per person at these spots
    By Caroline Gelabert-Noh
    Published February 5, 2025 10:30 AM

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    A close up of beautifully formed heart shaped ravioli, slightly dusted with flour, atop a piece of white parchment paper
    Heart shaped ravioli at Pasta Sisters
    (
    Courtesy Pasta Sisters
    )

    Topline:

    It may sound like the proverbial unicorn, but it does exist — restaurants where you can get excellent high quality food and drinks without taking out a second mortgage. These places have thoughtfully put together packages and specialties for around $100 each person. (Some are even $100 for both of you). Why not head to one of them and save your money for the rest of your relationship?

    Why it matters: Because while love don't cost a thing, in reality... it does. So why not be smart while celebrating your successful coupling?

    Why now: As much as you want to be a Valentine's Day grinch, you know you'll get sucked in. So start planning!

    Happy (upcoming) Valentine's Day, Los Angeles! Feb. 14 is just around the corner. And whether you're tethered to another human on this Hallmark holiday, overpaying on a day to celebrate the purity of love is just plain heartless. (Call me unromantic, but I stand my ground).

    Why not say I love you for less this year and save some money for the rest of your relationship?

    Everything you'll find here is $100 per person or less, (with some being $100 total!)

    The Exchange at The Freehand Hotel (Downtown Los Angeles)

    If you're looking for a meal that really has heart, consider one where 15% of your romantic night out will go to benefit those affected by the L.A. wildfires. The Exchange at Freehand L.A. is doing an I Heart LA Coast-to-Coast menu in downtown Los Angeles along with their partner restaurant in New York by "marrying" the menus of their head chefs Narita Santos (L.A.) and Felipe Donnelly (NYC).

    The inside of a modern-looking dining room inside a restaurant, with light brown leather booths and various tables and chairs throughout the space. Above are large lanterns, and in the background are windows that look onto an outdoor street scene.
    The Exchange Dining Room
    (
    Courtesy The Exchange
    )

    The three-course prix fixe includes items like oysters with hibiscus leche de tigre, kampachi aquachile with pan-seared black Coho salmon, and chocolate tres leches for dessert.

    The Price of Love: Prix fixe $70 per person
    Reservations: OpenTable February 13 and 14, beginning at 6 p.m.

    Written Hand (The Kimpton Everly Hollywood)

    A series of shucked oysters that sit in various positions against a white surface
    Complimentary oysters, shucked table side at The Written Hand in Hollywood.
    (
    Pixabay
    )

    It's Bivalve-ntine’s Day at Written Hand, where they're toasting the day of love with a prix fixe that's all about the aphrodisiac.

    The meal begins with complimentary oysters, shucked tableside for your enjoyment that can be paired with briny freezer martinis. There's also bread from Bub & Grandmas, Ama Ebi Kauai prawns, squash blossoms, and a shared entree with either a ribeye cap blue-fin tuna collar or ike jime rockfish.

    The Price of Love: $75 per person
    Reservations: OpenTable beginning at 5 p.m.

    Barra Santos (Cypress Park)

    A small, round, white marble dining table is positioned in a corner, with dark wooden bistro-style chairs and a place setting with wine. On the left side is a large window, partially covered by a small white curtain . On the right-hand wall, a blue and white tiled surface features a large painting of a round dining table with a tablecloth and dishes.
    An intimate dinning corner dining area at Barra Santos in Cypress Park.
    (
    Allison Zaucha
    /
    Courtesy Barra Santos
    )

    Barra Santos hosts "a party every night," and Valentine's Day should be no exception. This neighborhood gem from co-owner Mike Santos and chef Melissa López offers Portuguese snacks to pair with pours of Madeira wine alongside larger dishes like piri piri chicken ($22). The specials for V-Day are still forthcoming, but you can pair a bottle of Barra Santos vinho ($40) with the Lisbon special ($31) trio of snack plates and have yourself an enjoyable and wallet-friendly kind of nite.

    The Price of Love: wines by the glass from $11, entrées $20 - $30.
    Reservations: Resy (but don't delay; this spot books up quickly.)

    Bar Lis (Hollywood-Thompson Hotel)

    The patio features an al-fresco bar space with an illuminated bar surrounded by a line of orange-cushioned stools. In the center, there is a fountain, and two modern wicker chairs are positioned nearby. The bar offers a view of a hilly cityscape at night.
    Bar Lis at Thompson Hollywood
    (
    Michael Mundy
    /
    Courtesy Thompson Hollywood
    )

    Hollywood's rooftop French Riviera, Bar Lis, has two options that will take your breath away.

    The Sunset Hour Prix Fixe Dinner includes cauliflower panna cotta with caviar and oyster leaves, beet gnocchi, and a choice of New York steak or duck breast for $78 a person. The Bar Lis Canapé Package features a bottle of GH Mumm brut champagne and a canapé platter with tuna and radish tartare and duck yuzu kosho tacos. The price is $150 per couple, and that includes hypnotic music and views for days.

    The Price of Love: $78 per person for the Sunset Hour Prix Fixe Dinner; $150 per couple for the Bar Lis Canapé Package.
    Reservations: reservations@barlisla.com for February 13 to February 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

    Pasta Sisters (Culver City)

    A large white bowl is filled with cooked tortellini.
    Tortellini from L.A.'s Pasta Sisters
    (
    Courtesy Pasta Sisters
    )

    Keep it a bit more casual at Pasta Sisters, where you can enjoy glasses of wine ($12) while nibbling heart-shaped ravioli either in the restaurant or in your own home.

    The ravioli are filled with porcini mushroom and ricotta cheese and are available for dine-in ($21) or as a ravioli pasta kit to go, which feeds two and includes edible flowers ($40). The restaurant will also be offering 10% off select bottles of Italian Pinot Noir if you're purchasing the kit.

    The Price of Love: A night of pasta and wine for two will cost less than $100.
    Reservations: walk ins only; order online to enjoy these culinary creations in your own kitchen.

    Redbird (Little Tokyo)

    A white bowl containing a cooked fish mixture with vegetables sits inside bright orange liquid against an orange surface.
    Lobster Chawanmushi at Redbird
    (
    Courtesy Redbird
    )

    Enjoy Valentine's Day in the church of love at a fraction of the cost when you dine in the Garden Bar area of Redbird by chef Neal Frasier. Redbird is located in the former Cathedral of St. Vibiana, specifically the Cardinal's house (hence the red bird), and for Valentine's Day, they are serving a special three-course prix fixe menu for $150 a person in the main dining room. While that might sound enticing, you can keep the costs down and still enjoy a selection from the prix fixe menu when you choose à la carte pricing in the Redbird Garden Bar.

    A perfect night out for two might include Humboldt Fog on griddled sourdough ($16), profiteroles with chicken liver parfait ($16), chawanmushi with kaluga caviar and uni ($38), and two glasses of Domaine des Ronces Bubbles ($17 each).

    The Price of Love: Menu is à la carte, so it's up to you.
    Reservations: Walk-ins only from 5 p.m. on February 14 and 15.

    SOCALO (Santa Monica Gateway Hotel)

    A round cocktail glass with an etched surface, containing red liquid, sits on a wooden bar top that overlooks a small outdoor patio during the daytime.
    Amor de Los Angeles Cocktail at SOCALO
    (
    Courtesy SOCALO
    )

    SOCALO, from chef duo Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, is putting some SOCAL into your LOve life with fresh, modern Mexican cuisine in a uniquely Los Angeles environment steps away from the Santa Monica Pier.

    The Valentine's Day prix fixe kicks off with a sparkling wine toast for two. Next, you'll enjoy a ceviche trio with such delicacies as tuna with peanut matcha salsa and ono with passion fruit habanero. The main course features a 16oz bone-in rib eye and yuzu glazed seared shrimp with broccolini and romesco. Dessert is a red velvet cake with strawberry crema and spumoni ice cream.

    The specialty cocktail for the night is an Amor de Los Angeles, made with tequila, pama liqueur, and topped off with pomegranate seeds and a black salt rim ($16).

    The Price of Love: Prix fixe $165 for two; Happy Hour $5 beers, $8 cocktails, and $8 - $10 glasses of Mexican wine.
    Reservations: OpenTable from 4 p.m. February 14 and 15. Happy Hour 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    The Velvet Martini Lounge (Studio City)

    A stage with red curtains features a large black grand piano, two microphones set up against it, and a small curved bar areas with cushioned seats.
    The Velvet Martini Lounge
    (
    Courtesy Eat Drink LA
    )

    If you love crooners and cozy corners, The Velvet Martini Lounge is about to become your new favorite secret speakeasy. It's located above the Italian restaurant Vitellos and features live music, dim lighting, and no windows — kinda like Las Vegas.

    The food menu is minimal, with throwback items like a TV Dinner Tray, but I recommend focusing on cocktails and conversation instead. Try a Jazzerac made with Hennessey, Luxardo Amaretto, bitters, and finished with an absinthe mist.

    The Price of Love: Cocktail prices hover around $18; no cover for live music.
    Reservations:  OpenTable beginning at 5 p.m.

    Vincenzo's Pizza of NoHo (North Hollywood)

    A heart-shaped pizza with red pepperonis and melted cheese that's slightly charred around the edges on a round metal tray.
    Heart-shaped pizza at Vincenzo's of Noho
    (
    Courtesy EatDrinkLA
    )

    Eat your heart out when you order this special heart-shaped pizza from Vincenzo's Pizza of Noho. The small size measures 14" and is made for two people to share. Complete the meal with a chocolate vin-yay, which are beignets with powdered sugar and a Nutella drizzle ($6).

    The Price of Love: The 14" with one topping is $25.
    Reservations: Walk ins only; order from their website or with your favorite delivery apps.

    Malibu Wines + Beer Garden (West Hills)

    A woman with a light skin tone is sitting at a wooden table. She is wearing a red sweater and has red hair. Next to her, another person with light skin is holding out a glass, while a third person, who is out of the frame, is about to pour a glass of rosé wine into it. In front of each person seated at the table, there is a cheese plate.
    Malibu Wines and Beer Garden
    (
    Pixabay
    )

    Love shouldn't be limited to just one day, and Malibu Wines & Beer Garden wants you to celebrate all week. Visit anytime from Feb. 10 to 17 for a two-flight wine tasting of Saddlerock wines and a curated cheese board.

    The Price of Love: $65 per couple for a 2.5-hour table reservation
    Reservations: Tock

    Catch more of Caroline's suggestions at EatDrinkLA
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