Five of our favorite Destin restaurants to set the mood for Valentine's Day
Tina HarbuckWith Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s never too early to start making plans as to where you make take that special someone out for dinner.
Here are a couple of ideas of where you might would like to dine:
Beach Walk Cafe at Henderson Park
(2700 Scenic Highway 98, Destin)
This venue offers fine dining directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Dress is “resort casual.”
And for Valentine’s Day they will be serving up a four-course dinner.
Appetizers to choose from include a Sicilian Arancini or a Yellowfin Tuna Tartar.
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Soups and salad on the menu for that special night will be lobster bisque, warm bacon spinach and strawberry salad or an Heirloom tomato Panzanella.
Entrees to choose from include surf and turf or pan seared Gulf snapper.
Guests will also get to choose between a dark chocolate Turtle Cheesecake or Key Lime Pie.
To make a reservation, visit https://www.hendersonparkinn.com/valentines-day-dinner/
East Pass Seafood and Oyster House
(56 Harbor Blvd., Destin)
In addition to great food, East Pass located on Destin harbor is doing something a little fun and creative for Valentine’s Day.
They are having a “Valentines Day Paint Party.” There will be an artist on hand who will be painting couples.
The cost for the party is $100 per couple and will include two paintings, an appetizer, and your choice of a bottle of wine or champagne.
To reserve a spot, call 850-424-3507, email brotulasgm@gmail.com or visit eastpassseafood.com RSVP by Feb. 9.
The party is from 6-8 p.m.
Patrons will also be able to order off the regular menu as well.
Louisiana Lagniappe
(775 Gulf Shore Drive, Destin)
Louisiana Lagniappe, one of Destin’s oldest restaurants, is located inside Sandpiper Cove condominiums on Holiday Isle
The restaurant, known for fresh Gulf seafood, served with a Creole flair, will offer its regular menu on Valentine’s Day.
One of the most popular dishes on the menu is the blackened redfish, which is a filet of redfish, blackened and then topped with jumbo lump crabmeat, medallions of lobster and both hollandaise and garlic-beurre blanc sauce.
Other favorites include the Grouper Almondine, which is a fresh Gulf grouper, pan sauteed and topped with toasted almonds and lemon butter, or the Lagniappe Stuffed Shrimp, which is fresh jumbo shrimp topped with shrimp and jumbo lump crabmeat stuffing.
Attire is casual, and yet Lagniappe offers upscale waterfront dining on Destin harbor.
Louisiana Lagniappe opens at 4:30 p.m. daily and it does not take reservations. Staff suggests coming at 5 p.m. to beat the crowd.
However, if you must wait, they have a bar where you can sit and have a drink.
For more information, visit https://www.thelouisianalagniappe.com/#home
Marina Cafe
(404 Harbor Blvd., Destin)
The chef at Marina Cafe has prepared a special “Sweetheart Menu” for two on Valentine’s Day.
Patrons will be able to have their choice of an appetizer, a choice of salad, and entree. The featured entree for the evening is blue crab ravioli.
And for dessert, Marina Cafe will be serving red velvet cookie ice cream sandwiches.
In addition to the Sweetheart Menu, people will be able to order off the regular menu as well.
Some of the specialties include Gulf Seared Yellowfin Tuna, Chargrilled Gulf Swordfish and Creole Jumbo Gulf Shrimp and Grits.
They also offer prime steaks, chops and pasta.
And for the special Feb. 14th evening, a saxophonist will be playing tableside throughout the evening.
Located on Destin harbor, the restaurant will be open for dinner at 5 p.m.
For more information, visit https://marinacafe.com/
Mimmo's Ristorante Italiano
(979 U.S. Hwy 98 East, Destin)
If you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant for Valentine’s Day, look no further.
Mimmo’s, located in the heart of Destin, will be open for lunch and dinner on Valentine’s Day. They will have extra specials on the board that day as well as their regular menu offerings.
Some of the house favorites that keep people coming back are the Mimmo’s Marsala, which is veal or chicken cooked in a marsala mushroom sauce finished with tomato cream and orange zest and served over angel hair pasta; and the Rigatoni Alla Vodka, which is rigatoni tossed in a tomato basil cream sauce.
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At Mimmo’s everything is made with fresh ingredients and is authentic Italian food.
The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. until about 9:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day.
Reservations are welcomed at Mimmo’s. For more information, visit https://mimmos.com/