Romance is in the Air

Florissant Patch runs a new weekly feature called , highlighting editor and readers' picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off, and more. 

 You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more. 

Valentine’s Day can be a blessing or a curse. For those who don’t have to worry about chocolates, plans or roses, it’s just another day. For everyone else, it can be a day of ruin for those who don’t plan ahead.

Fret not because Patch is here to help. Florissant is full of opportunity for those looking to celebrate a day of love, whether on the cheap or with money to spare.

1. Hendel’s Market Café and Piano Bar in Old Town Florissant plans on providing the best Valentine’s Day dinner possible on Feb. 13 and 14. Normally closed on Mondays, this landmark Florissant building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will be offering a five-course meal for Valentine lovebirds. There will be wide variety of entrees to choose from, including steak, beef, chicken and a vegetarian dish, as well as a three-dessert selection and champagne toast to finish the evening. Reservations are required, and they are filling up fast. Feb. 14 is almost completely booked. Dinner will be $48 per person, and they will be serving between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. both days. 
2. Florissant’s many family-owned Italian restaurants are all planning on some sort of Valentine’s Day celebration, and Fresh Italy, 119 Florissant Oaks, is no different. Open since 1996, they will be throwing a Valentine’s Day weekend dinner celebration. On Feb. 11, 12 and 13, it will be featuring two Valentine dinners, a tender filet and fresh salmon. They require reservations for all three nights. Dinner will be served on Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
3. In addition to food and drink, the Florissant Ice Rink at the James J. Eagan Center offers a cheap and romantic excursion. Florissant residents can get in for $2.25, if they haven’t bought a season pass, and out-of-town dates cost only $4 to skate. More of an early night, the rink will be open from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those interested. Plus, if someone doesn’t know how to skate, the rink presents a perfect excuse to hold hands.
4. Yacovelli’s, 407 Dunn Rd., will also be opening their doors on Monday for a Valentine’s Day dinner. For $49.95, they will offer two steak dinners and dessert, all prepared at the table. The beef tenderloins will be set ablaze and cooked before patrons' eyes followed by a fiery dessert of cherry jubilee. Consisting of ice cream and cherries, the cherries will be lit and placed in the ice cream for a gooey and all-around very sweet taste. Reservations are required, and dinner will be served from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 14.

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