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The Patriot Ledger
Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us.
And as restaurant reservations fill up, we’ve gone ahead and compiled some of your best bets for the Saturday-night holiday of love. One spot completely revamped its interior to match the love-themed celebration. There are Italian spots galore, a Vietnamese place whose chef was just named a James Beard Award semi-finalist, and even a few options if a traditional sit-down dinner isn’t what you have in mind.
Whatever you’re looking for from a Valentine’s perspective, odds are you’ll find it in the Quincy area. Without further ado, here are some options to start out with.
Valentine’s Day at Lê Madeline (409 Hancock St., Quincy)
If you can secure a Valentine’s Day reservation at Lê Madeline, you should. Even it it means eating at 2 p.m.
Back in 2024, Peter Nguyen took over as head chef for the Vietnamese restaurant. Since then, the 34-year-old has transformed the place from a traditional pho and rice joint to an affordable yet innovative Vietnamese restaurant. Many of the dishes come with a twist, so you might order Việt Cajun crawfish noodles ‒ but perhaps you find yourself more drawn to something like Phởrench onion soup. And, if you aren’t sold, Nguyen was named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award just last month.
Valentine’s Day at Maria’s Trattoria (240 Quincy Ave., Braintree)
An elevated Italian dinner spot in the truest form, Maria’s traditional trattoria-style menu will see some evolutions come Valentine’s Day. A specially curated menu with dishes designed to be shared will be announced closer to the holiday. But in the meantime, you can book those Saturday night reservations via Opentable.com.
Giardino’s has truly gone above and beyond this year. To walk inside the halls of the Italian steakhouse is to feel that you’ve stepped inside a flower. Roses hang from the ceilings. They adorn the walls. There’s a whole pink and red floral archway that welcomes you into the restaurant.
In addition to the physical transformation, Giardino’s has reshaped its cocktail menu to match the romantic setting. There’s Cupid’s Margarita, a Sweet Heat Sangria and a coconut-themed cocktail called CocoNuts For You. Reservations can be made on OpenTable or by calling the restaurant at (781) 878-3888.
Valentine’s Day at Christina’s Restaurant (460 Washington St., Pembroke)
Pembroke’s local upscale Italian joint is getting into the Valentine’s Day fun itself. There will be specialty cocktails, “romantic vibes,” and a chef-crafted limited Valentine’s Day menu soon to be announced. Call 781-829-9001 to book your Valentine’s Day reservation.
(Also, if you heard about the Feb. 10 and 12 cake decoration classes, we’re sorry to tell you that they are sold out.)
After your Valentine’s Day dinner, maybe catch Cupid & Comedy (1000 Marriott Drive, Quincy)
If you’re looking for some laughs after Valentine’s dinner, you’re in luck. At 7:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, The Quincy Comedy Festival is hosting a Valentine’s-themed, hour-and-a-half-long stand-up show at the Marriott Boston Quincy. The lineup includes comedians Corey Manning, Andra Henry and Greg Boggis. Tickets are available for purchase on Eventbrite.com.
Valentine’s Day at Brava Cucina (59 Washington St., Weymouth)
Can you have too many Italian options for Valentine’s Day? Probably not. But at Brava Cucina, you’re going to get something unique. Its Italian menu is both decadent and true to form. But if you’re at Brava Cucina, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t order something from the bar. (They have non-alcoholic options too!) Helmed by bar manager José Carrasquillo, the Brava bar is completely zero waste. Heck, they even reuse their lemon peels.
Maybe just do Valentine’s Day with fancy pastries at Niveaux Pâtisserie (406 Hancock St., Quincy)
Though not a dinner restaurant, Niveaux Pâtisserie might be your best bet for a Valentine’s Day treat. Baker Robert Gonzalez is serving up, simply, some of the most stunning love-themed pastries you’ll ever see. There’s a raspberry cheesecake croissant that’s swirled with red dough. There’s a pistachio-flavored geometric heart pastry and even a strawberry and chocolate pain Suisse. Check out the bakery’s Instagram page. You’ll need to see these creations for yourself. (If you find yourself having dessert at Masons Steakhouse in Quincy, those are also Gonzalez’s creations.)
Dining and Cooking