One of the busiest nights in the restaurant industry is on Valentine’s Day. Only Mother’s Day brings more traffic through a restaurant, and despite the relatively large number of restaurants in our area, the handful of upper end places here quickly get booked up for this night.
My advice is to get your reservations made now, before the mad rush of last minute people start calling. The last thing you want to do is be stuck with takeout or fast food on Valentine’s Day. There are also a few things to consider when making reservations. One is to ask about the menu. Many places will only feature a limited menu, so you might be out of luck if you selected a place based on a favorite dish. Another question to ask is restaurant setup. In an effort to maximize patronage, many area restaurants will bring in additional seating, to fit in as many as possible. This can make for a very loud and raucous atmosphere, far from the romantic setting most are looking for.
My last piece of advice is to try something new. I know that most people are very familiar and comfortable heading over to the big, well lit corporate chain restaurants, but try something local for a change. You’ll often find better food, a better atmosphere, and ultimately a better overall experience.
