If there was ever a time to take singer Jackie DeShannon’s advice to “put a little love in your heart,” it’s after this tumultuous past year. Luckily, with Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect excuse to forget the craziness and focus on a loved one.
In Los Angeles, restaurants are rising to the occasion with Italian dishes and specials that will set a romantic mood. Whether dining al fresco at a restaurant or ordering a kit or to-go menu, there are many options to create a memorable Valentine's Day experience in LA.
Rossoblu
Starting on Friday, February 12, chef Steve Samson and the Rossoblu team are dishing out special Valentine's Day take-home kits with lots of tasty add-ons. The kits come with simple reheating instructions and include aphrodisiac antipasti like baked oysters with crème-fraîche, pasta with porcini mushrooms and black truffles, a duck breast entrée, and a decadent Torta d’amore for dessert.
Scopa Italian Roots
Chef Antonia Lofaso and the Scopa Italian Roots team will get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day with clever take-home specials. The meal kits for two include a floral arrangement, a caramel apple flight, and a wine flight. Boxed Valentine’s Day meals include more delectable treats like lobster ravioli, braised short ribs, and a black & white panna cotta with a sensual strawberry sauce.
Caramel apple flight from Scopa Italian Roots
Osteria Mozza
If you’re looking to up your Valentine’s Day game this year, look no further than what Nancy Silverton has in store at Osteria Mozza. Dinner for two packages come with a stunning floral arrangement, a bottle of wine, and a bottle of prosecco, and that’s just for starters. The food menu includes prosciutto and provolone, meatball Stromboli, a chopped salad, pasta rotolo with pomodoro, a succulent pollo al forno with broccolini, and a tiramisu for dessert. And don’t forget the next morning, where Osteria Mozza treats amorous couples to olive oil cakes for breakfast.
Terra at Eataly L.A.
With LA restaurants reopening to outdoor diners, one of the perfect perches for a Valentine’s Day date is on the roof of Eataly at Terra. Their Per La Tavola Italian feast includes a 90-day dry-aged wagyu steak, char-grilled oyster mushrooms, lobster salad, slow-cooked polenta, and more.
Dinner at Eataly's rooftop Terra
Petrossian Restaurant & Boutique
What’s this upscale French café and market doing on a list of LA's best Italian restaurants? The answer is that Petrossian in West Hollywood is offering one of the best Italian-inspired Valentine’s Day packages in the city. The at-home box set includes two tins of caviar, a bottle of wine, one dozen long stem roses, and the richest caviar pasta you’ll ever taste. The fresh spaghetti alla chitarra is topped with caviar, chives, caviar powder, and a crème-fraîche cream sauce.
Caviar and pasta from Petrossian. Credit: Joy Limanon
Savoca
Inside The Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles is Savoca, an Italian trattoria with California sensibilities. The restaurant now features standalone cottages for outdoor dining that will make the perfect romantic Valentine's Day setting. On the menu are classics like risotto Milanese, prime filet steaks, and a chocolate passion fruit tart.
A standalone cottage at Savoca. Credit: The Ritz-Carlton
Bianca
In a love letter to Italian flavors, Bianca, the Italian bakery in Culver City, is offering a romantic tasting experience that’s available on their patio or to take home with a loved one. The two-person package includes a choice of antipasto, one of two elegant pasta dishes, two entrées, and two desserts: a strawberry and cream tartelette and a chocolate espresso mousse that will end your night on the right note.
Heart-shaped pizza from Pizzana. Credit: Dane Deaner
Pizzana
Getting in on the Valentine’s Day fun, chef Daniele Uditi from Pizzana is showcasing a MargHEARTita pizza for $21. The heart-shaped pie will feature Uditi's best-in-LA crusts, fior di latte, and San Marzano tomato sauce, with the pizza delivered in a heart-shaped package.
Angelini Osteria
Considered one of the best Italian restaurants in LA, Angelini Osteria is living up to that reputation with an incredible prix fixe Valentine’s weekend dinner. The elaborate meal includes stuzzichini (hors d'oeuvres) with focaccia and other finger foods, classic Caesar salad, a Bolognese pasta, and your choice of secondo which could be Angelini’s famous lasagna, beef short ribs, or other mouthwatering treats. Dessert will also make you drool with a chocolate hazelnut “Love Cake” with raspberry sauce.
N10
Italian soccer legend Alessandro del Piero's N10 restaurant spotlights Italy's finest products. For Valentine's Day on the patio, couples can order heart-shaped ravioli with black truffle, lamb chops with Brussels sprouts, or a two-person tomahawk steak with truffled mashed potatoes.
Pasta Sisters
If you’re looking for an easy pasta night to celebrate Valentine's Day, check out the offering from Pasta Sisters. Chef Paola Da Re entices customers with a heart-shaped ravioli made with cocoa powder. Inside, salivating couples will find smoked prosciutto and topped with a butter and cheese sauce. You can either pick up the pasta fully cooked or take it home and make it fresh for date night.
Heart-shaped ravioli made with cocoa powder. Credit: Pasta Sisters
Toscana
Those in the know in Brentwood typically flock to Toscana for pasta, pizza, and wood-fired steaks. For Valentine’s Day, Toscana is offering all that as well as specials like Maine lobster salad, risotto with langostino, and for dessert, panna cotta with a strawberry reduction and mint.
