Food & Drink
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Where to Go If You Haven’t Planned for Valentine’s Day
No reservations? No problem
Love is in the air and… whoops, you forgot, didn’t you? Getting a last-minute reservation for Valentine’s Day (tomorrow, btw) isn’t easy no matter who you pay off—your best bet is to head to one of these romantic no-reservations-needed experiences instead. Hey look, now your procrastination looks intentional!
Lounge at Canlis
You will not be getting a table at Canlis in the eleventh hour before Valentine’s Day (but if you reserved one, kudos, because the special tasting menu sounds amazing). You can still enjoy the ambience, though, in the walk-in only lounge area. Have an old fashioned cocktail and the soufflé, and enjoy the live legendary piano music.
Manolin
This lovely Wallingford spot is romantic in a modern way, particularly if you get a seat overlooking the flames used to grill halibut, pork belly and beef. They don’t accept reservations any night, but if there’s a wait, you can grab a drink across the street at Joule or down the road at the Pacific Inn Pub.
Sushi Kashiba’s sushi bar
A sushi menu is full of aphrodisiacs, and perhaps nowhere in town prepares uni better than at Shiro Kashiba’s swanky Pike Place Market restaurant. The bar is always first come, first served, where most diners choose to order omakase and let the chefs work their magic. You’ll want to get there early—like, an hour before the 5 p.m. open time—for the first seating, but you’ll be rewarded handsomely (wink, wink) for your patience.
New Luck Toy
For a casual date night heavy on the tiki drinks, head to West Seattle and saddle up to the bar at Mark Fuller’s new-ish American-Chinese joint. The General Tso’s chicken is a delight and—bonus!—there’s Skee-Ball for when you get too tipsy to worry about impressing her anymore.
Shug’s Soda Fountain
Is there anything more romantic than a cherry soda float with two straws? This old school soda shop downtown is adorably twee—the perfect place for a day-date (or a night cap dessert after an early dinner at Sushi Kashiba). The sundaes are magical and big enough to share…not that you’ll want to.
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