Sharing your thousandth homemade meal as a couple sounds quite lovely, but according to New York State, you can officially break outside of the four walls of your apartment-turned-office. After banning indoor dining in December, NYC governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced restaurants can resume dine-in service starting on February 12 at 25 percent capacity. This news means two things. First, this might be your most romantic Valentine’s Day date night in a while, considering this could be your biggest night out in months. Second, you need to make a reservation, like, yesterday.
We called our favorite NYC restaurants to confirm that indoor dining is a go this Valentine’s Day, and all of the below are ready to serve you, that is, until they’re full to capacity. Keep scrolling for a look at some of GRAZIA’s favorites, and be sure to make a reservation ASAP to secure your table.
multiple locations: SERAFINA
With several city locations, you have a good chance of scoring a reservation at the iconic NYC restaurant chain for Valentine’s Day date night. One thing to keep in mind is that menus vary slightly from restaurant to restaurant—so be sure to peruse them before you make that res. If you’re in the mood for sharing a pie with your partner, dial-up Serafina Fabulous Pizza.
Greenwich Village: CARBONE
Nothing says Valentine’s Day like Spicy Rigatoni Vodka and Lobster Ravioli from this celebrity-loved hotspot. Carbone is a quintessential New York restaurant and arguably one of the best places to treat someone special, especially if your love language is carbs.
multiple locations: BOUCHERIE
Indoor dining may be open, but a flight to Paris is out of the question for the time being. The next best option is the French brasserie and steakhouse, where absinthe-driven signature cocktails and Moules Frites will convince you to plan a romantic sabbatical to France.
Greenwich Village: ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SEA
Google “where to propose in New York City,” and you’ll come across this historic American restaurant, housed inside Aaron Burr’s carriage house. With grandiose chandeliers, candlelit tables, and arched windows, it almost looks out of place in Manhattan, where delis and Starbucks are more common.
midtown: Armani/Ristorante 5th Avenue
Perfect for the diners who want dinner and a view, Giorgio Armani’s luxury Italian restaurant lives on the top floor of the fashion designer’s flagship store, overlooking Fifth Avenue. On Valentine’s Day, the restaurant is offering a four-course pre-fixe menu, with the option to pair each course with a complementary wine pairing.
nolita: Il Buco
Act fast if you want to be one of the first back to Il Buco upon its indoor reopening. On Valentine’s Day, the Italian-Mediterranean restaurant is offering a special four-course tasting menu perfect for culinary aficionados with a refined palette. The restaurant itself is charming, with rustic-inspired, warm interiors perfect for a first or one-hundredth date with your partner.
Williamsburg: zenkichi
We’re willing to venture a guess that this is one of the sexiest restaurants in NYC, if not in the entire nation. After being led down a dimly lit hallway, diners are brought to secluded booths and given buzzers to summon wait staff. One of the restaurant’s most popular menu options is omakase, an eight-course seasonal tasting menu. If you’re looking for authentic Japanese food and an experience you’ll never forget, make a reservation for Zenkichi while there’s still availability.
