Valentine's Day specials

Some people embrace Saint Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to express their love, while others see it as a strategic commercial plot against society. But whether you like it or not, Valentine’s Day is a symbol of love and passion. Giving cards, heart-shaped candy and – of course – red roses are all ways of telling that special someone: “Je t'adore”. But we have another idea: sharing your passion for food. Here’s our list of romantic restaurants* offering a perfect way to say those three words on Valentine’s Day.

*Places are bound to fill up fast, so make a reservation as soon as possible.

Johannesburg

Ami Restaurant
Enjoy a four-course dinner with a bottle of French champagne and a glass of dessert wine each for R1150 per person.

Annica’s Boutique Restaurant
A three-course set menu is offered for R320 per person, including a welcome drink. The menu options include halloumi and sweet melon salad; filo camembert parcels with Amarula dip; salmon salsa verde en croute; beef fillet with aubergine, tomato and halloumi; hazelnut and raspberry meringue roulade; and champagne jelly with vanilla mascarpone and sesame brittle.

Butcher Block
Experience a five-course meal for R345 per person. The menu features dishes like seared duck, beef Wellington and lemon meringue ice cream.

Clico Boutique Hotel
A special four-course menu will be on offer for R350, excluding beverages.

Gray Restaurant
A five-course dinner consists of a ‘romance and food’ pairing with wine teasers included for R350 per person.

Junipa's
Tapas and live jazz for R120 per person. This includes your meal of a variety of canapés, desert canapés and a cheese board, entertainment and a glass of bubbly.  

Medeo Restaurant
Pay R700 per couple for a five-course his-and-hers menu including a welcome drink and live music.

Mondovino
The Phantom of the Opera-themed dinner packages goes for R450 per couple for a three-course set menu including a welcome drink and live music.

Rodizio (Fourways and Bedfordview)
Enjoy a three-course meal, including entertainment and welcome cocktail for R250. Featured on the menu is a Brazilian salad and Valentino platter, meat rodízio, grilled prawns and a dessert platter.

Turbine Hall (The Forum)
Whether you’re a couple or a crowd, enjoy a spectacular three-course dinner with a complimentary welcome drink for R285 per head and dine in Jozi’s arts and culture precinct away from all the red roses and Hallmark romance. Bookings are essential. (Visit www.theforum.co.za for more information.) Contact Hazel Ndebele on 087 310 3888 or email turbinebookings@theforum.co.za.

Pretoria

Spiced Coffee Restaurant
Participate in the 8km Petal Power Eco Run between the rose fields in aid of Susan Strijdomhuis. Each runner to cross the line receives a beautiful cut rose. Entry fee (which includes a meal voucher) is R80 for adults; R50 for teens between 13 and 18; and R35 for children under 12. Registration is essential.

The Blades
The Valentine’s dinner special has two menus: the Wine and Dine Sweethearts Special is R445 per couple and the Dinner Sweethearts Special is R390 per couple.

Geet Indian Restaurant
Dine in the main dining room and enjoy a five-course gourmet dinner and a gift on departure for R295 per person. Or dine in privacy at the exclusive lounge and library, seated on the floor on soft cushions and pillows and surrounded by lamps, for R500 per person, which includes a bottle of champagne and a gift on departure.

De Kloof
A Valentine’s Day tasting menu will be available at R425 per person. Add R150 per person for wine pairings with each course. Menu items include pan-seared Scottish salmon with beetroot risotto and tuile, herb-crusted rack of lamb served with garlic pomme purée and melange of baby vegetables, and a tasting of chocolate and berries for two.

Le-Si Continental Restaurant
Opt for the three-course Valentine’s Day set menu for R250 per person.

Al Fiume
Enjoy a three-course set menu for R395 per person. The menu includes a starter platter to share, a choice between six different plated main courses, and a dessert platter to share. The evening includes musical entertainment.

Cape Town

Act Restaurant
Book to see a show at the Baxter and take advantage of Act Restaurant's Valentine's special: a two course dinner for R180 per person. You'll receive a glass of bubbles on arrival and during interval you will receive a goodie box for two filled with romantic dessert treats. The dinner will begin at 6.30pm.

Bistro Sixteen82
The Long Table of Friends Feast will cater to single guests and their friends. This relaxed, early-evening rendezvous of great conversation and gourmet cuisine in a vineyard setting is offered at R200 per person, including a glass of Steenberg 1682 bubbly.

Bombay Brasserie
Enjoy a special five-course set menu. (Details on the price and menu options to come.)

Casa Labia
Enjoy the three-course menu for R250 per person with a menu featuring dishes like heart-shaped tomato tarts, grilled rack of lamb, and pavlova with vanilla bean ice cream, mangoes and blueberries.

Catharina’s
The Catharina’s Seafood Platter for Two (R1700 for two people) offers a medley of decadent dishes such as West Coast Mussels and Green Curry Sauce; and a heavenly Chocolate and Jasmine Cremeux, with Rose Petal Ice Cream and Hot Red Berry Espuma. With dishes like the Tempura Oyster; and a Blueberry ‘Sorbet of Love’; the Gourmet Menu (R850 per person / R1150 with wine pairing) is designed to tempt and please the palate, while exotic dishes such as a Tempura Fried Mushroom Maki with Asian slaw and Thai dressing on the Vegetarian Menu (R750 per person / R1050 with wine pairing) will appeal to those opting for a meat-free choice.

Cravings
This Valentine’s Day Cravings will be offering picnickers a 20% discount on their picnics if ordered and collected on 14 February 2012. Picknickers attending this year's Moonstruck event, taking place on Clifton 4th beach on 18 February, will also receive a 20% discount on their picnics if ordered and collected from Cravings by 1pm on Saturday 18 February 2012.

Connexxion
A four-course menu, including bottomless house sparkling wine, is offered for R300 per person. The menu features chilled watermelon and mint soup, jalapeno- and emmenthaler cheese-stuffed beef fillet, and vanilla and strawberry Bavarian cream.

The Five Flies
Order a three-course meal and a glass of sparkling wine for R295 per person. Some of the dishes on the menu include warm smoked salmon, pan-fried line fish, chargrilled fillet steak and dark chocolate tart.

Grand Daddy Hotel
Enjoy a picnic for two and screening of The Notebook. There are two picnic hamper options; each comes with popcorn, old-fashioned sweeties and a welcome drink. Hamper 1 (R250 per person) includes various salads, ciabatta rolls, fruit, cheese, crackers, dips and spreads, brownies and panna cotta, and also includes a bottle of JC Le Roux sparkling wine. The Gourmet Hamper is R375 per person and comes with somewhat more extensive and luxurious offerings, including a bottle of Van Loveren sparkling wine. You can extend your evening and stay at the hotel, breakfast included, for R825–R950 per person. Visit www.granddaddy.co.za for more information.

Knife
Ladies will get half price on cocktails between 5pm and 11pm on Valentine's Day

La Mouette
Opt for a St Valentine’s four-course set dinner menu for R350. The menu includes features like tapas for the table to share, roasted angelfish, beef sirloin and a dark chocolate macaroon.

Mint at the Taj
There will be live jazz and a luxurious carvery buffet dinner. (Details to come.)

Nobu
Menu 1 consists of a Valentine’s cocktail, tartare with caviar, sashimi, king crab, wing rib, sushi, dessert and petit fours for R665 per person.
Menu 2 consists of a Valentine’s cocktail, sushi starter, sashimi jalapeno, baby spinach salad, black cod, beef toban yaki, chocolate tart and petit fours for R765 per person.

Our Place
Enjoy a three-course menu including a welcome drink for R225 per person. Dishes include venison carpaccio with black cherries, rocket and parmesan shavings; grilled salmon steak with ‘kappertjie’ butter; and raspberry crème brûlée with shortbread.

Signal Restaurant
3-Course Valentine’s Day Dinner – R375 per person - welcome drink and amuse bouche on arrival - price also includes entertainment.

The Square
A three-course menu for R295 per person is on offer for Valentine’s Day. The menu will feature dishes like prawn and leek terrine, beef Wellington and sharing of desserts. On arrival you will be served a glass of Mooiplaas MCC Duel.

Tobago's
Welcome drink, flower for the ladies, 5 course set menu and live entertainment: R375 per person. Optional extra sunset cruise with sparkling wine before dinner: R200 per person

Two Oceans Restaurant
Two menus are on offer, and you can choose to have two courses for R155 per person or three courses for R185 per person. The red menu will feature dishes like watermelon carpaccio, seared tuna, chargrilled springbok loin and chilled white chocolate and raspberry soufflé. The blue menu will feature dishes like Thai steamed mussels, braised stuffed oxtail and baked blueberry tart.

Winelands

Bistro Allee Bleue
Enjoy a three-course meal, which includes a glass of Allee Bleue MCC Brut Rosé, for R295 per person. The menu will include dishes like quail crepinette, Norwegian salmon, strawberry ice cream and Belgium chocolate cornette with kiwi compote.

Bistro Allegro
A gourmet picnic basket awaits you, filled with smoked salmon, freshly prepared salad, a selection of cheeses and dried meats as well as fresh fruit and light-as-air cakes. Share a bottle of Graham Beck Brut Rosé and lounge on the lawn as you listen to guitar and saxophone from the Morné Kahts. Cost is R345 per person and includes a movie after the picnic.

The Country Kitchen
A choice of tasty temptations is available for R180 for dinner or lunch on 14 February 2012 and lunch only until 19 February 2012. Enjoy dishes like Karoo lamb chops crepinette, white gazpacho with oysters, and strawberry and champagne cheesecake.

Franschhoek Kitchen
Enjoy a three-course menu at this boutique wine estate. Savour succulent oysters, slow-roasted pork belly with a strawberry salad, or homemade beetroot-cured salmon. The dinner costs R550 per couple and includes a glass of bubbly each on arrival.

Mange Tout
Enjoy a three-course dinner for R280 per person, which will be on offer from 14 February 2012 until 19 February 2012. The menu will feature pan-fried quail, salmon and crème brûlée with layers of strawberry, vanilla and chantilly.

Overgaauw
Laze back on your blanket and treat your Valentine to a romantic picnic and movie under the stars on the Overgaauw homestead gardens on the wine estate in Stellenbosch. The evening will cost R275 per couple and includes a picnic basket and a bottle of wine. Bring your own glasses, blanket and candle. See www.overgaauw.co.za for more details.

Pierneef à La Motte
Savour a three-course menu for R295 excluding wine and R395 including wine. On the menu you will see dishes like biltong and crayfish salad; goat’s cheese and mushroom ravioli; and textures of chocolate.

Sofia’s Restaurant
Enjoy a three-course dinner with a canapé on arrival and a glass of bubbly each at R260 per person. The menu will have choices for the starter, main and dessert.

Taste Restaurant
Opt for the four-course dinner menu for R215 per person. The menu features dishes like tempura prawns, fillet of beef, pan fried kabeljou and a trio of tuile. They're already booked up for the 14th, but are offering the same special on Monday, 13th.

Waterkloof Restaurant
The degustation menu comprises six contemporary dishes each served with a matching wine. The ‘Valentine’s with a View’ dinner includes dishes like goat’s cheese mousse, rainbow trout gravadlax, Karan beef and texture of chocolate. The cost is R550 per person or R450 per person, excluding wine pairings. Each guest will be welcomed with a flute of Cap Classique.

Durban

9th Avenue Bistro
The three-course menu includes a welcome drink and snack as well as chocolate and coffee to end for R375 per person. Dishes include slow-roasted pork belly; fresh grilled Scottish salmon; wild mushroom and leek tartlet; and white chocolate and Amarula cake.

Allen Gardiner Harbour Cruise Restaurant
Enjoy an early sunset supper and three-hour cruise, or a later candle-lit dinner and three-hour cruise at R450 per person. The five-course meals include a glass of pink bubbly each and one rose. Over the preceding weekend (10 to 11 February), the same cruises will be available but with a four-course meal and for R350 per person, also including a glass of pink bubbles each and one rose per couple.

Café 1999
Enjoy a special four-course set menu for R350 per person, including a glass of sparkling wine. Menu options will include oysters; Singaporean seafood curry; sesame-crusted tuna on a cashew, rice noodle and mint salad with avocado and nam pau dressing; and a dessert plate to share, which includes squashed chocolate souffle, a chocolate shot and rose semifreddo.

Hai.bo
The upstairs area will have a special set menu for couples, and during the course of the dinner Chinese lanterns will be released. The menu will feature dishes such as prawn cocktail, spice-rubbed barbequed lamb cutlets, and sticky hot chocolate pudding. Downstairs there will be an anti-Valentine’s Day party. Wear green to signal that you’re available, and red to signal that you’re not interested.

Makaranga
In addition to specials on romantic rooms for the evening at the hotel, the restaurant will have a special set menu available for the evening. Phone them to find out more.

Port Elizabeth

Ginger
There will be a three-course set menu, with three choices available for each course, at R250 per person. The restaurant will be decorated in red from top to toe, and live entertainment will add to the atmosphere.

Hacklewood Hill Country House
They are offering a three-course dinner special for R265 per person, which includes a glass of bubbly and one rose. Items on the menu include a chilled cucumber and avocado soup; seared beef fillet set on wild mushroom risotto with oven roasted vegetables and a red wine reduction; and a dessert platter for two comprising a chocolate mousse tower with black cherry coulis, vanilla crème brûlée, and a honey and saffron poached pear with whipped cream.

By Kelly Pluke and Emma-Kate Liebenberg