3 last-minute Memphis Valentine’s Day date ideas (no reservation required)
The Weekly Dish
Jennifer Chandler Memphis Commercial Appeal USA TODAY NETWORK – TENN.
Valentine’s Day is less than a week away, and you forgot to make a reservation at your sweetie’s favorite restaurant. Odds are most restaurants are already booked.
So, what do you do now to keep yourself out of the dog house? Here are three romantic date ideas that can help keep you in Cupid’s good graces.
Casual dinner out
Take your sweetie out for a dinner at a place that doesn’t take reservations.
I suggest heading to Elemento Neapolitan Pizza. This may be a fast-casual dining concept, but its fare and atmosphere are elevated above similar restaurants.
In line with the Crosstown Concourse aesthetic, the space has an industrial feel, with soaring exposed ceilings and concrete floors. A breathtaking semicircular counter surrounding the two white tile-covered pizza ovens immediately catches your eye as you walk through the front door. For a romantic date, grab a seat by one of the windows.
The owners, Adrian Arcuri and Justin Dorroh, are passionate about pizza — and not just any type of pizza, but Neapolitan-style pizza. What they are serving is about as authentic as you can get here in Memphis.
On Valentine’s night, they are offering a special that includes two signature pizzas and two cannolis for $25. They are also not charging a corkage fee that evening if you’d like to bring a bottle of vino to accompany their traditional Neapolitan pizzas.
Start with the wood-fired meatballs, a family recipe of the owner, or one of the house-made burrata platings. Two of the burrata options include melon and prosciutto or roasted beets with pistachios. After dinner, wander around Crosstown Concourse and take in the majesty of this urban renovation project. Then, head upstairs for a nightcap at the Crosstown Arts Art Bar.
Restaurant fare at home
Thanks to Kelly English and a few local Memphis entrepreneurs, you can enjoy a fine dining meal at home.
Knowing that fine dining restaurants like English’s Restaurant Iris often book up for Valentine’s Day weeks in advance, English teamed up with Muddy’s Bake Shop, Rachel’s Flower Shop and Joe’s Wines and Liquor to offer what they are calling “Valentine’s Day Small Business Dinner To-go.”
On Feb. 13 or 14, you can pick up a basket with everything you need to, as English said, “look like a hero.”
Each basket is designed for a romantic dinner for two. An artisan cheese and accouterments selection starts the meal. Then choose from braised Kobe JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL short ribs or red snapper and gulf shrimp for two (or you can order one of each) served with grits and roasted Brussels sprouts. The basket also includes two Muddy’s cupcakes and half a dozen roses from Rachel’s. After you pick the basket up, head over to Joe’s for an exclusive wine pairing.
“This is a great way to get a fancy din-
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 ing experience at home,” English said of the special, now in its second year. “It was also an easy way for all four of us to work together as small businesses to offer something special.”
Each basket is $150 and can be ordered through Sunday. Go to restaurantiris.com for ordering details.
Downtown Memphis night out
Whisk your sweetie away for a fun night out on the town, hitting some of Downtown Memphis’ most iconic spots.
Start with cocktails at The Peabody hotel. The lobby bar is the perfect place for a pre-dinner martini or glass of bubbly. With its original historic GO decor, it’s one of the most beautiful spaces in town. Snuggle up with your sweetheart in one of the sofas or lounge chairs, while tunes play in the background from the hotel lobby’s baby grand piano.
Then head across the street to Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous for Memphis’ world-famous fare. The Rendezvous doesn’t take reservations, so I’d suggest going earlier rather than later. Split a sausage and cheese plate, and then enjoy their signature dry ribs.
After dinner, hop into one of the carriages in front of The Peabody for a romantic ride through Downtown Memphis.
Have the carriage drop you off at Beale Street so you can dance the night away at one of the many blues clubs lining the street.
If you want to splurge, plan to spend the night Downtown at one of the hotels. It’s not too late to find a room.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining Reporter at The Commercial Ap- peal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@ commercialappeal.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.