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19 Anti-Valentine's Day Restaurants Where It's Business as Usual

Don't be a rookie this Tuesday, February 14

by Stefanie Tuder
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Whatever
| Eater Archives
by Stefanie Tuder

Don't be a rookie this Valentine's Day. And by that we mean someone who falls victim to the traps that are special prix fixe menus. Some restaurants capitalize on the fact that people want to impress on Valentine's Day, using it as a chance to lure n00bs in for higher-priced meals than normal. That means a higher likelihood of a menu that isn't tried and true, and might not show that restaurant at its best.

But you're smarter than that. And the restaurants on this list know that, so they are just conducting business as normal this Tuesday, February 14. If you feel the need to dine out for this completely arbitrary holiday, then we suggest choosing one of these establishments that refuse to serve special prix fixes and other V-day schlock.

If you insist on going somewhere else, though, then check out our handy dandy date guide, which will never let you down, no matter the situation. We hope this Black Tuesday will bring love into your life.

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4505 Burgers & BBQ

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Get some burgers and barbecue with bae, all casual like.

705 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 231-6993
(415) 231-6993
Amanda D./Yelp

Also featured in:

Alexander's Steakhouse

Copy Link

You may still want to get a lil fancy, so steaks should be right up your alley if that's the case.

448 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 495-1111
(415) 495-1111
Alexander's/Facebook

Babu Ji

Copy Link

The hottest Indian spot in town will provide plenty of flavor and fun, courtesy of its serve-yourself beer fridge.

280 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 525-4857
(415) 525-4857
Patricia Chang

Bota Tapas & Paella Bar

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This brand-new tapas bar will force you two to get close with shared plates. Because nothing tests a couple's limits like food compromise.

490 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Bota/Yelp

Finn Town Tavern

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Try to snag a seat at the bar or counter overlooking the kitchen at this American tavern so you can snuggle close while watching your food in action.

2251 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 626-3466
(415) 626-3466
Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Fiorella

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Pizza and pasta are perfect date night fare, and Fiorella nails both.

2339 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 340-3049
(415) 340-3049
Fiorella

Also featured in:

Flores

Copy Link

Union Street's buzziest restaurant has its regular Mexican menu ready to go this Tuesday.

2030 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 550-8626
(415) 550-8626
Kevin B./Yelp

Also featured in:

Lolinda

Copy Link

Splurge on a big steak in a sexy room for a great date night.

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6970
(415) 550-6970
Lisa I./Yelp

Also featured in:

Marianne’s

Copy Link

This once-private back room bar at The Cavalier now has its own entrance and is open to the public in a redesigned, warm room.

360 Jessie St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 321-6000
(415) 321-6000
Seema Hamid Photography

Also featured in:

Mezcalito

Copy Link

Tacos and margs are always fun date night food, especially on a Tuesday.

2323 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 441-2323
(415) 441-2323
Patricia Chang

Mission Chinese Food

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Mission Chinese's mouth-numbing Chinese fare will bond you and your date in delicious pain.

2234 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-2800
(415) 863-2800
Michael U./Yelp

Also featured in:

Motze

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If you two loved Bar Tartine, then head to Motze, which is Japanese food from the same chefs, but in a newly fast casual format.

983 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 484-1206
(415) 484-1206
Patricia Chang

Orbit Room

Copy Link

New owners have kept the same spirit at Orbit Room, where you can grab a low-key pizza and drink with your date.

1900 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-9525
(415) 252-9525
Vincent G./Yelp

Also featured in:

Rooh SF

Copy Link

This beautifully and boldly decorated progressive Indian restaurant only opened this week, so your date will think you're super in the know if you head here.

San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 525-4174
(415) 525-4174
Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Smokestack

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Eat what you both crave — barbecue and beer — at Smokestack's cavernous, casual restaurant.

2505 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 864-7468
(415) 864-7468
Joshua W./Yelp

Also featured in:

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Souvla

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Souvla's fast casual counter may not be the most special place to celebrate, but there's also pleasure to be found in the routine.

517 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 400-5458
(415) 400-5458
Chloe K./Yelp

Also featured in:

The Alembic

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Feasting on duck hearts while imbibing excellent craft cocktails sounds like the ideal way to spend this evening.

1725 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 666-0822
(415) 666-0822
Chloe List

Also featured in:

The Morris

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The Morris' deep wine list and Californian fare is oh-so-San Francisco, and lovely any evening, but especially so this night when you two can split a bottle of something special.

2501 Mariposa St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 612-8480
(415) 612-8480
The Morris/Yelp

Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen

Copy Link

Comfort yourselves with something Grandma would have made, like a pastrami sandwich or matzah ball soup.

3150 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 787-3354
(415) 787-3354
Wise Sons

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4505 Burgers & BBQ

705 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Get some burgers and barbecue with bae, all casual like.

705 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 231-6993
(415) 231-6993
Amanda D./Yelp

Alexander's Steakhouse

448 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107

You may still want to get a lil fancy, so steaks should be right up your alley if that's the case.

448 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 495-1111
(415) 495-1111
Alexander's/Facebook

Babu Ji

280 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The hottest Indian spot in town will provide plenty of flavor and fun, courtesy of its serve-yourself beer fridge.

280 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 525-4857
(415) 525-4857
Patricia Chang

Bota Tapas & Paella Bar

490 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

This brand-new tapas bar will force you two to get close with shared plates. Because nothing tests a couple's limits like food compromise.

490 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Bota/Yelp

Finn Town Tavern

2251 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Try to snag a seat at the bar or counter overlooking the kitchen at this American tavern so you can snuggle close while watching your food in action.

2251 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 626-3466
(415) 626-3466
Patricia Chang

Fiorella

2339 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Pizza and pasta are perfect date night fare, and Fiorella nails both.

2339 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 340-3049
(415) 340-3049
Fiorella

Flores

2030 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Union Street's buzziest restaurant has its regular Mexican menu ready to go this Tuesday.

2030 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 550-8626
(415) 550-8626
Kevin B./Yelp

Lolinda

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Splurge on a big steak in a sexy room for a great date night.

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6970
(415) 550-6970
Lisa I./Yelp

Marianne’s

360 Jessie St, San Francisco, CA 94103

This once-private back room bar at The Cavalier now has its own entrance and is open to the public in a redesigned, warm room.

360 Jessie St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 321-6000
(415) 321-6000
Seema Hamid Photography

Mezcalito

2323 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Tacos and margs are always fun date night food, especially on a Tuesday.

2323 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 441-2323
(415) 441-2323
Patricia Chang

Mission Chinese Food

2234 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Mission Chinese's mouth-numbing Chinese fare will bond you and your date in delicious pain.

2234 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-2800
(415) 863-2800
Michael U./Yelp

Motze

983 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

If you two loved Bar Tartine, then head to Motze, which is Japanese food from the same chefs, but in a newly fast casual format.

983 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 484-1206
(415) 484-1206
Patricia Chang

Orbit Room

1900 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

New owners have kept the same spirit at Orbit Room, where you can grab a low-key pizza and drink with your date.

1900 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-9525
(415) 252-9525
Vincent G./Yelp

Rooh SF

San Francisco, CA 94107

This beautifully and boldly decorated progressive Indian restaurant only opened this week, so your date will think you're super in the know if you head here.

San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 525-4174
(415) 525-4174
Patricia Chang

Smokestack

2505 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Eat what you both crave — barbecue and beer — at Smokestack's cavernous, casual restaurant.

2505 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 864-7468
(415) 864-7468
Joshua W./Yelp

Related Maps

Souvla

517 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Souvla's fast casual counter may not be the most special place to celebrate, but there's also pleasure to be found in the routine.

517 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 400-5458
(415) 400-5458
Chloe K./Yelp

The Alembic

1725 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Feasting on duck hearts while imbibing excellent craft cocktails sounds like the ideal way to spend this evening.

1725 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 666-0822
(415) 666-0822
Chloe List

The Morris

2501 Mariposa St, San Francisco, CA 94110

The Morris' deep wine list and Californian fare is oh-so-San Francisco, and lovely any evening, but especially so this night when you two can split a bottle of something special.

2501 Mariposa St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 612-8480
(415) 612-8480
The Morris/Yelp

Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen

3150 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Comfort yourselves with something Grandma would have made, like a pastrami sandwich or matzah ball soup.

3150 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 787-3354
(415) 787-3354
Wise Sons

Related Maps