When Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend (much to the restaurant owner’s lament), reservations tend to book up even faster than normal. So a quick website/Open Table/phone call search for the evening of February 14 came up mainly with the to-be-expected response of “either 5:00 or 9:00 PM.” Friday night showed only a bit more availability.
However, my fellow procrastinators, hope is not lost. As of 4 PM Feb 4, the following restaurants had the following availabilities: but treat this like the 75%-off table at the after-Christmas sale--if you see something that remotely interests you, grab it--now.
- Bocci Wine Bar (16 N. Central, 314-932-1040, boccibar.com): 5:00 thru 11:00 PM
- BrickTops (10342 Clayton, 314-567-6300, bricktops.com) 5:30 and 8:00 PM
- Charlie Gitto’s at Hollywood Casino (777 Casino Center, 314-770-7663, charliegittos.com): 4:30 thru 10:30 PM
- Coastal Bistro & Bar (14 N. Central, 314-932-7377, coastalbistro.blogspot.com) 6:30 thru 11:00 PM
- Final Cut Steakhouse (Hollywood Casino, 777 Casino Center, 855-785-4263, hollywoodcasinostlouis.com): 5:00 thru 10:00 PM
- Gian-Tony’s (5356 Daggett , 314-772-4893gian-tonys.com): 5:30 and 8:00 PM
- Giovanni’s Kitchen (8831 Ladue, 314-721-4100, giovanniskitchen.com): 5:30 and 8:00 PM
- LoRusso's Cucina (3121 Watson, 314-647-6222, lorussos.com): 5:15 and 8:15 PM
- Marcella's Mia Sorella (14426 Clayton, miasorellastl.com, call 636-333-1015 for reservations, as they're not normally taken)
- Mathew's Kitchen (5625 Hampton, 314-351-1700, mathewskitchenstl.com): 5:00 thru 10:45 PM
- Robust Wine Bar - Downtown (635 Washington, 314-387-6300, robustwinebar.com): 4:30 through 10:00 PM
- Walnut Grill (1386 Clarkson/Clayton Shopping Center, 636-220-1717, walnutgroverestaurant.com ): 5:30, 6:00, 7:30, 8:00 PM
Other suggestions:
- Live on the edge – Valentine’s Day is a tricky one for restaurant owners to figure out. There are an abnormal number of no-shows (due to customers’ double booking) and tables turn quickly (the opposite of what one would think). Many times (and I’ve done this many times) you can call a restaurant and say, “if we come over right now, can you seat us?” and oftentimes the answer is yes. (And they’re damn glad to hear from you as you’ve helped recapture some lost revenue.)
- Play the NoWait game - Many of St. Louis' top restaurants do not take reservations but they do subscribe to NoWait, the app that allows diners to jump onto a restaurant's waiting line effortlessly (read: wirelessly). The Peacemaker, Old Standard, Milagro Modern Mexican, and Pastaria are four local restaurants that use NoWait.
- Think out of the box - Consider a Valentine's Day lunch at the spectacular Bixby's (5700 Lindell, 314-361-7313, opentable.com/bixbys) or an unforgettable themed dinner and a movie (When Harry Met Sally) courtesy of Liz Shuster's Tenacious Eats (tenaciouseats.com). Find complete details here.
- Get a group together – Restaurants with immovable tables of 6 and 8 welcome larger parties on this night, just because there are so few of them. It’s the opposite of a normal night: on Feb 14, a larger party often has an easier time making a reservation than a deuce.
- Choose a less fancy spot than you normally would - But plan to make your experience extra special: arrange to have a tablecloth placed on your table...same goes for candles. Have a flower arrangement on the table, or champagne waiting at the table, arrange for a special favorite dish, perhaps—or bring a bauble nestled in a robin’s egg blue box… or...
Consider one of your favorite haunts or the following:
- Guido’s Pizzeria & Tapas (5046 Shaw, 314-771-4900, guidosstl.com): recently remodeled and taking V-Day reservations.
This tactic is several steps up from another possibility--a special table at White Castle--and it will earn you considerable style points. Act like it’s cool--because it is--and tell your partner, “hell, we can go to Tony’s any old time.”
