Perla's

Photo by John Anderson

Choose Your Own Adventure: A Valentine's Day Progressive Dinner

Let's face it: The Valentine's Day prix fixe menu is the lazy lover's way out. For the most romantic dinner of the year, sweethearts should aim to go above and beyond placing the evening's menu in the hands of a restaurant staff that doesn't know your significant other well enough to know that while short ribs are OK, goat cheese is out of the question. That a microbrew and cheese fries are eminently preferable to steak tartare and Malbec. This year, the truly creative suitors will curate a playful progressive dinner tailored to the preferences and desires of their object of affection in the interest of maximizing pleasure spent in one another's company while sharing favorite foods. Here are two scenarios for a progressive dinner: one casual, one romantic. The tone and menu of your progressive dinner depends on your tastes and imagination, of course, but rest assured that your thoughtful creativity will be greatly appreciated, if not rewarded warmly.

Keep it Casual

Maybe you're in the early stages of a relationship when candlelit dinners and seduction scenes aren't quite appropriate. Break the ice and set the tone for a congenial evening with some low-pressure drinks and appetizers at Perla's (1400 S. Congress), where the friendly bite of the Stone Wall (rum, apple cider, and ginger beer) pairs delightfully with the diverse selection of fresh oysters on the half shell. If the weather permits, get the blood pumping with a friendly game of shuffleboard on the patio. Keeping with the utensils-optional vibe, head over to Lucy's Fried Chicken (2218 College Ave.), where a bucket of fried chicken (save some for a midnight snack), a half-dozen oysters, and a Lucy Basilia – a twist on the Blackberry Smash featuring Dripping Springs Vodka – help sustain a loosey-goosey, supercasual vibe between les amoureux who don't take this whole Valen­tine's Day thing too seriously. Finally, top off your meal with some genuine naughtiness and head over to Gourdough's (1503. S. First) and split a donut the size of a hubcap topped with anything from bananas to gummy worms. Be sure to drop by Domin­ican Joe (515 S. Congress) on the way for a cup of Fair Trade coffee to sip while you and your sweetie linger over the sugary fried treat.

For the Smooth Operator

On the other hand, maybe you're a husband in the doghouse for insufficient expressions of love and appreciation. Or perhaps you are really looking to make a statement with this V-Day dinner. This kind of progressive dinner calls for low lights, impeccable ambience, and sophisticated dishes. For an elegant but affordable start to your evening, enjoy roasted shishito peppers and a Paloma margarita while sharing a love seat on the airy, twinkling deck at Paggi House (200 Lee Barton Dr.), where appetizers and cocktails are half-price from 5 to 7pm on weeknights. From there, head east to Justine's (4710 E. Fifth) for steak frites or coq au vin and a French 75. While upon first glance the space seems to disallow elbow room, much less the whisperings of sweet nothings, the close quarters actually set the scene for a perfectly cozy, intimate dinner for two. And of course, no romantic dinner is complete without a decadent final act. Set the stage for whatever happens after the eating is done with a Nutella crepe with mixed berry compote and a glass of red wine at Apothecary (4800 Burnet Rd.; find seats facing away from the televisions by the bar) or the orange-olive-oil cake with a crisp Viognier at Vino Vino (4119 Guadalupe). – Melanie Haupt