Coming up with a Valentine’s Day date ideas is difficult. Let us help alleviate some of that pressure with these Valentine’s Day date ideas.

More Than a Date

Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen

How many pizzerias have you been to where the end result has you feeling like blah? Like the pizza in question was solid but nothing special. But, this is Valentine’s Day we’re talking about here, and blah pizza doesn’t cut it. So if you want a great pizza experience, head on over to Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen in Lewiston! Admittedly I’m going to keep this one short because Gallo has the essentials down which is all I have to comment on, and by essentials I mean they use a coal oven that goes up to 1000°.

On its face, this may not seem like a big deal, but take my word for it, if you’re dealing with a place that uses a chard oven to make pizza, you’re dealing with a professional! Whether it’s a simple classic like a margarita that has Pomodoro, romano, fresh mozzarella, olive oil & basil or something a bit more involved like an Americana which has Pomodoro, mozzarella, fontina, pancetta & caramelized onion … or anything else on the menu for that matter, you can be sure that it’ll be good and you and your partner will have a good time!

So if you’re looking for more than just blah when you’re looking for good pizza this Valentine’s Day, head on over to Gallo’s, you won’t be disappointed.

Ristorante Lombardo

Sometimes you just want to go all out and have dinner at a super fancy place, and what a better time to do it than on Valentine’s Day? Yet what if I told you there was a fancy restaurant you could go to that in their own words has an understated elegance that is rich without being too stuffy”? If this sounds like your kind of place for a very special date, then Lombardo’s might be just the place you’re looking for! First off the atmosphere is very romantic/Italian, (think less mobsters with meatballs and pasta, and more sparkling water, candlelight, and some old guy serenading you and your partner in Italian while you eat Frito Misto, which is just calamari in Italian).

And the menu is something special as well. From wood roasted figs, to steamed mussels, your definitely not in for dollar menu prices, but if the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ is true then you really are paying for something grand if you chose to spend your Valentine’s Day date night at Lombardo.

Oliver’s Restaurant

It’s good to know that one you go into a restaurant you’ll be receiving the very best service they have to offer. According to Oliver’s they say “Throughout the years at Oliver’s one thing has always remained constant; the team’s commitment to deliver the absolute best dining experience bar none. It has been our goal for the last 80 years.” With that commitment to exceptional service in place paired with their excellent food, it’s a no-brainer. Love birds have been making Oliver’s their Valentine’s Day date nightspot for decades!

Whether it be one of their house-made pasta’s like Lumache Bolognese, which has braised veal, pork, beef & tomato ragu, red wine, parmesan, fresh herbs, or a real choice cut of meat like the prime filet mignon, whatever you end up getting will surely leave you and your companion more than satisfied!

Harvest

Have you ever wanted to go to an eating establishment, where the food they prepared for you, wasn’t just-food. It served a purpose. The people preparing it saw it as a sort of culinary privilege to be making the food for you and truly believed that the food could possibly help with your own well being? Well according to Harvest that’s not too far from what they strive to achieve when they’re preparing meals for customers. “Dining and hospitality experiences are personal. They restore, entertain, fulfill, and when executed properly, memory creating. Striving for perfect balance in foods and flavor is a craft, composing them in originality and seasonally sustainable is a gift and to share and present them in an authentic atmosphere of comfort is a legacy.”

So if you’re looking to eat out this Valentine’s Day in a place where everything you see, touch, and taste contribute to making sure you have a downright incredible dining experience, check out Harvest.

Catch A Show at The Buffalo Philharmonic

What can be classier than going to the philharmonic? Usually, I’d say only go to a show at the BPO if you or your companion are really into that kind of stuff, or if you’re just trying to show how “cultured” you are, but the Buffalo Philharmonic has some interesting stuff coming up. On February 10th they have Winter Journey; a powerful multimedia screening of the film Winter Journey based on Martin Goldsmith’s book.

Sadly BPO had no shows on Valentine’s Day but their marquee Pops performance of the season, A Chris Botti Valentine, will take place on Sat Feb 12. Tickets start at $39 and a description can be found here: bpo.org/event/a-chris-botti-valentine.

Also, on the 13th they’ll be performing Tales From The Movies, which includes music from films such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, Beauty and the Beast, How to Train Your Dragon, and more. So if you’re like myself and got the BPO all wrong, maybe try rectifying that mistake by going on an early Valentine’s date!

Staycation at the Seneca Niagara Casino

Casinos are their own little world. You tend to get engulfed by the sheer amount of stuff they have that’s designed to keep your attention. In the case of The Seneca Niagara Casino, they have all the classic stuff like slots and entertainment, but they’re also a four star hotel that prides itself on its service. So this Valentine’s Day what could be more romantic then ignoring all the eye-catching attractions the casino has up its sleeve, only to focus on your partner? Trust me if you can ignore the blackjack table slots and the bar, and just go to a nice restaurant and spend time with your partner, they’ll be more than appreciative because they’ll know beyond a reasonable doubt that they are the one that really holds your attention.

And if Valentine’s Day isn’t the day to show your partner how much you appreciate them, I don’t know what day is!

Check out some Breweries

If you’re looking for a good brew at any time during Valentine’s Day, you are certainly in the right city! From Big Ditch Brewing Company to Thin Man Brewery, delicious Ipa ales to just plain weird creations like Imperial banana bread brown ale. If you’re looking for a good drink while gazing into your partner’s eyes, you can’t do better than what Buffalo Niagara has to offer.

Make Valentine’s Day 2022 One to Remember

Coming up with a good date idea on Valentine’s Day is excruciatingly difficult. Hopefully, this piece has helped alleviate some of that pressure so you and your significant other can just enjoy the day, or night (provided your reading this in advance of Valentine’s Day and are giving yourself enough time to make the proper plans for the best Valentine‘s day date possible!) Valentine’s Day only comes once a year, so you better make sure it’s special. Because your significant other will definitely let you know if it’s not a happy Valentine’s Day!