Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Let’s face it, a romantic dinner is often a big part of the perfect Valentine’s date night.

Whether you’re planning a first date, or looking forward to a night on the town with your long-time soulmate, several restaurants around town can help make it a memorable evening.

A word to the wise, however  — if you’re planning on dinner at one of Edmonds swankier restaurants, don’t postpone securing your reservation. You might be surprised how many restaurants have to turn away diners on this holiday.

I’ve managed to overcome some of the stress of Valentine’s Day reservations by fixing a nice dinner at home on the 14th, then dining out instead on the 13th or 15th. The virtue of this is that restaurants are not quite as slammed, and wait times and service tend to be much improved, making for a more pleasant, laid-back dining experience.

Epulo seems to have recognized this behavior, making their impressive four-course prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu available Wednesday through Saturday this week. Their ahí tuna carpaccio, filet of beef with sautéed mushrooms and orange liqueur chocolate mousse are a few items that caught my eye.

Epulo Bistro
www.epulobistro.com
425-678-8680

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Right across the street from Epulo, you’ll find The Loft. Under the right set of circumstances, their upstairs tables — secluded and intimate — are arguably the most romantic in town. You could do a lot worse than ordering a cocktail or two, or a bottle of wine, and then working your way through three or four of their small plates. Some of my favorite options are their wonderful roasted beet salad, Kobe sliders, braised short ribs and the pan seared pork belly.

The Loft
theloftlounge.com
425-640-5000

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Up the hill apiece at Five Corners, Bar Dojo always puts on a good show for Valentine’s Day. Dojo has just celebrated its 7th anniversary. A big part of the restaurant’s success is attributable to the hard-working and creative Chef Luis Brambila. As usual, this year’s Valentine’s menu looks incredible. Lobster bisque, prawn risotto and the smoked duck breast all captured my attention. And, (of course) nothing says “I love you” like a chocolate raspberry parfait.

Bar Dojo
www.bardojo.com
425-967-7267

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Tom Budinick’s 190 Sunset is another reliable destination for great drinks, cuisine and romantic atmosphere. They’re pulling out all the stops with menu items like Châteaubriand for two, filet mignon, salmon Oscar, and their celebrated crab cakes.

190 Sunset
themarket190sunset.com
425-329-3669

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Bucatini in the Westgate neighborhood would be a good choice. I’ve always felt that there’s something especially romantic about a great Italian dinner with a nice bottle of red wine to accompany it. You can always fine delicious options on Bucatini’s specials board, and you really can’t go wrong with their pepperadelle bolognese or the chicken parmigiana. Their new addition is complete, joining two spaces together in a cohesive, attractive way and adding to the number of guests that that can sit down to terrific Italian cuisine.

Bucatini
www.bucatiniedmonds.com
425-361-1487

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This is not an inclusive list. Salt and Iron, Arnie’s, Anthony’s Home Port, Five, Scott’s, Calypso, Salish Sea Brewing and Girardi’s are some other ideas that also spring to mind. So many choices in fact, it seems incredible that you would have trouble finding a table. But don’t take any chances — get those reservations (where available) now.

— By James Spangler

The furthest thing from a finicky eater, James Spangler insisted on trying everything on the table from the earliest age. At 13, he prepared Baked Alaska for an entire classroom and has had an insatiable appetite for good food ever since. He’d rather be in the kitchen cooking for the people he loves than doing just about anything.