A place worth taking your Valentine for dinner...

[Vale46]

Any good suggestions on some nice, cozy, romantic restaurant to go for the lovey-dovey day of all days? :p
Oh, and would be good if the food was awesome too. :D

[AbsolutChaos]

My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Donato's in Manoa Marketplace. The place is closing down for good in February (15th?), which I find to be rather sad. The chef is also closing down (already closed down?) his wine bar, Padovani's.

Donato's homepage (http://www.donatosrestaurant.com/)


Midweek article about Donato's (http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/foodfinds_article/a_sunset_dining_deal_at_donatos/)


Oceanic's article on Donato's (http://www.aroundhawaii.com/leisure/reviews/gail_jennings/2005-12_ftri2005.htm)

Honolulu Advertiser's blurb on Donato's (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/specials/bestrestaurants05/restaurant?id=48)

Honolulu Star Bulletin on Donato's (http://starbulletin.com/1999/06/24/features/eater.html)


I still like La Mer; otherwise I enjoy Alan Wong's or Hoku's. Longhi's isn't bad. I suppose Morton's and Hy's are always good (I don't eat steak, so those places don't come first in my mind). I've enjoyed my experiences in general at Aaron's and Diamond Head Grill, though I've not been back since DHG changed chefs. Roys/John Dominis/Sarento's are ok.

For lower priced options, I prefer Formaggio or Cafe Sistina.

On my list to try so I can't recommend them personally:
Mavro
Michel's at the Colony Surf
Hau Tree Lanai

[lavagal]

Call us dull, but one year we used a gift certificate to Roy's on Valentine's Day. It was packed. It was loud. We were rushed by our waiter. I felt like dining out on Valentine's Day is a anticlimatic experience.

We have a tradition of a certain kind of meal with champagne here at home. No driving, no crowds, just a quiet evening at home that now involves our little kids. The meal is special and takes quite a bit of preparation and some serious shopping excursions to get all the essential ingredients. Hey, it's the thrill of the hunt!

We do have a Jon Domini's gift certificate squirreled away that we'll probably use a week or two after the big commercial valentine blitz.

@:)

[tutusue]

I really like the food at the Bali (HHV). I wouldn't call it a cozy place but if you can get an oceanside table at sunset the view can't be beat! It's pricey but the food, service and view are worth it, imo.

[glossyp]

If money is no object and you want real old fashioned elegance and luxury, tableside service, wait staff in tuxedos and big comfy booths (ask for one when you reserve) go to The Bistro at Century Center (http://www.hawaiidiner.com/restaurants/restaurant.php?restaurant=128). Seriously good food and flambed desserts. You will not be yelling to be heard like you would be a Roy's (which is good but not for a romantic meal) or practically sitting in the lap of your neighbor (Alan Wong's). Chef Mavro is very good but I heard they are already completely booked - you could try. Donato's will close after service on Valentine's Day, a huge loss to our dining options.

[Vale46]

My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Donato's in Manoa Marketplace. The place is closing down for good in February (15th?), which I find to be rather sad. The chef is also closing down (already closed down?) his wine bar, Padovani's.
I still like La Mer; otherwise I enjoy Alan Wong's or Hoku's. Longhi's isn't bad. I suppose Morton's and Hy's are always good (I don't eat steak, so those places don't come first in my mind). I've enjoyed my experiences in general at Aaron's and Diamond Head Grill, though I've not been back since DHG changed chefs. Roys/John Dominis/Sarento's are ok.

For lower priced options, I prefer Formaggio or Cafe Sistina.

On my list to try so I can't recommend them personally:
Mavro
Michel's at the Colony Surf
Hau Tree Lanai


All excellent suggestions AbsolutChaos. Thanks!
Only problem is I've been to most of them and I've got to agree with you on the experiences,too.
I haven't tried 2 of the last 3 that you mentioned so those may be worth looking into. If you're trying to narrow it down, I can give you a rather positive 9/10 for Michel's. Kinda more fancy French cuisine but with a touch of local flavor. You won't be disappointed.:)

Lavagal, i know EXACTLY what you mean about the chaotic and 'festive' atmosphere at Roy's for V-day. It's my usual venue for V-day but I, like you, wanted to try something different for a change. Thus, this thread. :o
I may just end up trying to plan something cozy at home with candlelight, time permitting. Should be a little easier for me since I don't have any kids ;)

Tutusue, Bali is one of those oldies but goldies, right? Its one of those places where I've heard of a million times but never set foot in. Maybe its time...?

GlossyP: Money definitely is an object for me but the Bistro is somewhere thats been recommended enthusiastically to me by many who've gone there. Always with the footnote about the 'if money is no object', too. :p
From what I hear, though, what you get for that money is well worth it. K, let me see if I can go make a small withdrawal from my retirement money piggybank...

[craigwatanabe]

Grab a basket of decedance and take her to a secluded spot. Everybody else will be doing the same thing...do something different.

One year my girlfriend and I had Valentines day in a jacuzzi overlooking Pearl City in the rain sipping champaign.

She was late leaving the radio station where we both worked and I had to cancel our Valentines Day dinner at Nicholas Nicholas. Crying at her desk I had to come up with something quick, so I asked her sister who lived up in Palisades area to let me use the rec center's jacuzzi (had to bribe the security guard to let us in) that night. The rain wasn't planned but I called her when she was ready to leave. She kept a bathing suit in her car because she liked to go swimming sometimes after work. I told her to get her beach bag and I'll pick her up in my car (leaving her car at work).

That night we spent a couple hours in that warm jacuzzi in the pouring rain overlooking the lights of Pearl City high up on the ridge with rain filling our glasses at the same time. After we dried out we had a sub sandwich at Safeway's deli then went to Hy's Steakhouse for some late night Cherries Jubilee (flaming and all) and after that I bribed the security guard at One Waikiki (the one with the sky gate still under construction at the time) to let us hang out on the rooftop alone. It's amazing how indescrete you can get when your on top of one of Waikiki's tallest buildings knowing no one is going to barge in on some intimate time. The elevation, the wind, the cool midnight aire, and what was left of the champaign and cherries made for one incredable Valentines evening for the both of us.

And to think all I was going to do was take her out to Nicholas Nicholas for dinner and a nightcap at her apartment.

If you're gonna impress your date, do it in style and in a way she'll never forget. And make sure you have plenty of $50 bills to bribe the evening security guards too :eek:

[AbsolutChaos]

Wow, now THAT's a great Valentine's Day! Wish more guys were as quick-thinking and creative as you!

I thought about getting a picnic dinner together and enjoying it out at a park or overlook or something like that, but I didn't want to arm myself with bug spray (blech) or deal with cops flashing their lights at us to make sure we aren't doing something illegal. :rolleyes:

[1stwahine]

Craig, Mahalo for sharing such a romantic and wonderful Valentine Story! You're Old School ~ dey no make um' lil dat anymore!!! K-den guys, take notes. Originality is the way to go! :D

Auntie Lynn ;)

[Vale46]

Wow craig, now THAT'S a really romantic V-day! Very creative. On the fly, too! Hopefully I won't have to resort to a last minute flash-of-brilliance but I hope I can act and think that quickly if I do. ;)

[craigwatanabe]

Wow, now THAT's a great Valentine's Day! Wish more guys were as quick-thinking and creative as you!

I thought about getting a picnic dinner together and enjoying it out at a park or overlook or something like that, but I didn't want to arm myself with bug spray (blech) or deal with cops flashing their lights at us to make sure we aren't doing something illegal. :rolleyes:


Tops of tall buildings are fantastic places of seclusion where you can get pretty intimate right in the middle of town. You just gotta know how to get up there. A couple of Bennies always does the trick as security guards don't make a whole lot and most of them are UH grad students using that overnight job as study time. Slip him a $50 and suddenly he's happy and willing, heck he'll even let you leave your car in front of his post for safety!

Plus at the tops of buildings in the middle of concrete jungles, there are no mosquitos! But it's the magic of the sounds of the city below that eminate all the way up to the rooftop where you're safe and sound and totally unabashed with your date AND a security guard downstairs making sure no one else has the same plans! You want to give her a rush she'll never forget, do it at the edge of the rooftop, all she see's is Kalakaua Avenue upside down
30-something stories below. When it's time to say, "Oh Yeah" the rush will be immense. :D She'll be lightheaded going into the next day!

Heck it sure beats getting intimate on the beach at night. Anyone who has had sex on the beach and says it's the greatest is LYING THRU THEIR TEETH!!! I know, once you get sand on you...da bugga stay like having sex with sandpapah!! Oh da itai!!! :eek:

Ah the good old days...Now I'm married and too many kids running around da house. Getting away from the kids nowdays is sneaking out at 10pm because the 2-year old cannot sleep and going to WalMart for some late night shopping and the toddler in his PJ's slouched over Daddy's shoulder fast asleep as we buy stuff we don't need.

That's about as romantic as it gets for this couple! An Oreo shake and curly fries from Jack in the Box drive thru and parking in the driveway instead of the garage in the dark to have some cozy up time before sneaking back in the house so we don't wake up the older boys. I guess that's still romantic cuz it's not what you do, it's how you do it :D

[Menehune Man]

That really was beautiful Craig. Right on!

[lavagal]

Craig!
You are the MAN! How many kids do you have now? Are any of them rooftop babies? I don't even care, you're just a great story teller!

@:)

[Shan-n]

WOW Craig!!! I gotta find me a boyfriend so I can surprise him with something like this :D That is a fantastic idea!! Thanks for sharing!!

[tutusue]

Jeez, Craig! No wonder you have so many kids! You forgot how NOT to be romantic! :D Way to go. Listen up guys!

[craigwatanabe]

Thanks for all the compliments...and yes it really happened...all of it!

One thing about Valentines day is what's expected, you know the roses and chocolates delivered at "her" working place just so she can brag to her co-workers, then dinner at some posh restaurant.

Then there's the unexpected for the unsuspecting. When I first dated that girlfriend whom I shared the jacuzzi with, I was working at a radio station on Oahu. I dropped off a finished production order containing one tape cart and a note to proof listen and check for errors in the read before putting that commercial spot in the next day's rotation.

The spot was for a Jazz Festival at Turtle Bay then the upcoming (later cancelled) Gloria Estefan concert at the Blaisdell. Tagging the spot was the question asking her for a date out to those two events with me plus an overnighter at the (then) Sheraton Makaha resort. From down the hall between the reception desk where she worked to the production room where I was dubbing I heard this, "YES YES YES!!!" then the intercom at the studio console beeped and her voice in a calm manner saying, "I'll go".

I gotta admit...that was good ;) Now my wife is the recepient of my spontaneous actions...yeah that's what keeps us young (at heart anyway). Oh to be 20-something again. :rolleyes:

But this year, make Valentines Day one she'll never forget and for the gals out there, guys like flowers delivered to their working place too ya know!

[Glen Miyashiro]

It's a little late but I gotta agree with Craig about avoiding the restaurants on V-Day. I can't top his story but my best V-Day was a moonlight picnic for two in Kapi'olani Park, over by the archery range. The whole jug-of-wine, loaf-of-bread thing. Can't beat it.

And the mosquitoes weren't a problem, really. :D

[saigonwarrior]

"guys like flowers delivered to their working place too ya know!"[/QUOTE]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

[craigwatanabe]

Obviously never had a girlfriend?

[AbsolutChaos]

Never been to this place, but they are having a relatively inexpensive Pix Fixe Menu for Valentine's day...might be a casual option for those of you who don't want to make Valentine's Day a big deal but do want to acknowledge the day in some way...

--$15.50 per person for salad, choice of baked cornish hen or fisherman pie, and choice of desert (guess drinks aren't included?)
--French Pastry Bistro, 3447 Waialae, corner of 9th in Kaimuki
--free parking in back
--739-0993

[craigwatanabe]

Never been to this place, but they are having a relatively inexpensive Pix Fixe Menu for Valentine's day...might be a casual option for those of you who don't want to make Valentine's Day a big deal but do want to acknowledge the day in some way...

--$15.50 per person for salad, choice of baked cornish hen or fisherman pie, and choice of desert (guess drinks aren't included?)
--French Pastry Bistro, 3447 Waialae, corner of 9th in Kaimuki
--free parking in back
--739-0993


Two thing about Valentines day it's either gotta be impressive or expensive. I hope that place you're talking about has more than a stuffed chicken to impress your date cuz it ain't expensive.

You can still go there but do it in style, in other words make it impressive. One year I took a girlfriend to a Steve Miller concert at the Blaidell Arena. As we arrive to park my car the lot was full (I knew it) and she was a bit miffed that we'd have to walk a few blocks to get to the concert.

Well as I pull up to the bus stop fronting the Concert Hall, two sharply dressed individuals emerged from the crowd and waited for us. I come to a stop and one person opens her door and I get out the other side. I tell her, "let's go". Dumbfounded she says what about my car as these two people drive off with it.

I figured I'd have a problem with parking so I asked two of my friends to pose as valets and help me impress my girlfriend. Imagine the sour looks on the guy who pulled up behind me expecting the same service. :D

so AbsolutChaos you said the parking was free! My my how impressive. But imagine pulling right up to the French Pastry Bistro on crowded Waialae Avenue and getting out of your car to assist your date and having a friend scoot your car away for you. Now that's impressive!

Catching the bus? Hey that can be romantic, but have a friend waiting for you at the bus stop with a red carpet and flowers in hand ready to give to you as both of you step off the bus onto the carpet. Expensive? Nah...Impressive? Hell yeah! Score one for the big guy!

[CranBeree]

been hinting to the hubby that i would LLLOOVEEE to spend some time up in Hilo!! so i hope he gets my hint...we spent last valentines day in Hilo..

[AbsolutChaos]

Two thing about Valentines day it's either gotta be impressive or expensive. I hope that place you're talking about has more than a stuffed chicken to impress your date cuz it ain't expensive.

You can still go there but do it in style, in other words make it impressive. so AbsolutChaos you said the parking was free!



Honestly, when I posted the Bistro thing, I was meaning it more for the person who has only been dating someone for maybe a month max and wants to acknowledge Valentine's day without going overboard on someone they aren't sure is "the one." I've had many a conversation with friends in this situation. They haven't been dating the girl or guy that long, but Valentine's Day is coming up. Auuggh! Panic time. They can't just ignore it. They feel they are still in the "casual dating" stage, not the "yep, I'm really attached to this person" stage. Or they only want things to stay casual and don't want to step it up. They gotta do something but they don't to be overly mushy.

Otherwise, I suppose you could also always get the food to go from the Bistro place, throw it into a nice picnic basket, suppliment it with further romantic goodies and wine, and to the whole outdoor thing or the rooftop thing or whatever, yada yada..

As for me, I prefer expensive over romantic. Romance is nice in theory, but romance makes me uncomfortable, probably because of my parents disapprove of dating and my weird irrational fear that somehow they are gonna find out through the secret Indian gossip network over a distance of thousands of miles. ;)

Ya know what? Parking being free turns me on. :D I never thought I'd feel that way, but that was before I moved to Honolulu. In the Midwest everyone seems to drive a giant SUV, the parking spaces are bigger than my current apartment, and parking spaces were everywhere. Now parking in town is like finding buried treasure. Don't knock the free parking! If you are new to area and don't know who to bribe to impress your date, free parking is a good thing. You can relax and work on making all those romantic ideas flow, because the biggest headache, trying to find parking, is taken care of.

[glossyp]

We just got this special posted at the site and I wanted to share it because it is one of the best deals I've seen. Complete dinner for two (to go) for only $39.99. It's from Jimmy's Lakeside Bakery Cafe in Wahiawa and his food rocks. Jimmy's Valentine's Special (http://www.hawaiidiner.com/restaurants/restaurant.php?restaurant=588.2.87)

P.S. Gotta agree with AbsolutChaos about the parking thing - I spend alot of time planning where to park when I'm running around town and I've skipped meals at several restaurants because the parking is either non-existent or impossible to find.

[Vale46]

Well, after reading all of the many great romantic and heartwarming love stories and how romantic we all can be, I've decided to try my luck at taking my Valentine to....The Bistro. Now don't think that I haven't heard or taken to heart anything that super duper romantic craig had to say about late nite rooftops, jacuzzi's with a view, or packing a magical v-day basket with wine. I figure I have many more V-days to come so I'll have many more opportunities to be able to employ craig's techniques. ;) Others' suggestions of keeping it simple yet romantic in a moonlit park or beach (thats totally a timing thing) also are great suggestions that I will have to implement into my budding romanticism-ization(new word, just made that up :p ).

In the meantime, I'd have to agree with glossyp and others about the overly commercialized, over-priced, noisy v-day-dinner-at-roys/sam choys/alan wongs/hoku's restaurant thing. I've done that circuit before and have to agree about all of it being too much, not to mention boring. Also, I'm not too strict on the correlation between the time frame of the relationship and what kind of restaurant I take her to. My girlfriend and I have been together a little over a year now so I'd already be excluding my choice if I went by that rule. My decision is solely based on the best way to give my V-day a truly special experience.

The Bistro, from what glossyp has said and also from what I have heard from countless others, sounds like the right place to acquire that experience. It isn't your 'typical' fancy 'special occasion' restaurant, V-day or otherwise, like those mentioned above. It sounds like a very classy establishment with an ambience that exhudes a touch of elegance. No loud cafeteria level noise, no big crowds, fine flavored food, high class service-a true out of the ordinary experience. I'm hoping that because of these special qualities that the Bistro is reputed for, my v-day will have a romantic evening to remember.

Oh, and btw, yes, money is an object to me but it won't be on that day. ;)

Good luck to everybody on their romantic V-day plans and thanks a million for helping me with mine!:)

[Kittrick]

If you guys are into something different, my wife and I go to Tudo da Bom, a Brazilian restaurant at McCully Shopping Center on special occasions. This place is awesome, as the server brings out like 30 different cuts of meat on spits. It's like Bubba Gump's in that there's a marker on your table to tell the waiter to stop bring cuts of meat...if you don't make the marker red the meat will keep on coming!! Dipping the meat in Yucca flour is quite good as well. Their buffet area is small, but the vegetables are the highest quality. Servers are all Brazilian complete with accents and the ambiance is great, with lit candles on every table. Service is top notch. Dinner is $30 per person. Reservations recommended.

[HawaiiFoodTours]

As the former Restaurant Reviewer for the Honolulu Advertiser and currently the owner of Hawaii Food Tours (http://www.HawaiiFoodTours.com) , I can definitely send you in the right direction for fabulous food.

For your Valentine's Day Romantic evening try the following:
Azul (at the JW Marriot in Ihilani)
The Bistro at Century Center

These two places exhibit wonderful service, great food, and a romantic ambience.

Enjoy!

Matthew Gray (http://www.HawaiiFoodTours.com/MG-tasting.jpg)

[jkpescador]

I was looking at the ads in the newspapers and they sound great. If anyone tries any of these valentine's specials please post about your experience. The menus sound great but I don't know about spending upwards of $50 per person, the crowd, etc is worth it. She is. But the hassle. Hmm.

[pzarquon]

These two places exhibit wonderful service, great food, and a romantic ambience.Thanks for your informed advice, Matthew. It was only recently I'd even started hearing about The Bistro at Century Center. That's how out of touch I am with the food scene here, I guess.

I can't imagine most of the top-line places weren't booked solid weeks ago, though.

Like jkpescador, I'd be interested in any reviews or reactions from anyone who dives into special occasion dinners for Valentine's Day. Braving the crowds for Mother's Day brunch is about as brave as I've ever been in this area.

This Valentine's Day, my wife and I will again probably keep it simple, maybe Thai in Mililani or Molly's in Wahiawa (unless they're booked, too!)... it's just nice to be out at all these days!

[Linkmeister]

If you guys are into something different, my wife and I go to Tudo da Bom, a Brazilian restaurant at McCully Shopping Center on special occasions. This place is awesome, as the server brings out like 30 different cuts of meat on spits. It's like Bubba Gump's in that there's a marker on your table to tell the waiter to stop bring cuts of meat...if you don't make the marker red the meat will keep on coming!! Dipping the meat in Yucca flour is quite good as well. Their buffet area is small, but the vegetables are the highest quality. Servers are all Brazilian complete with accents and the ambiance is great, with lit candles on every table. Service is top notch. Dinner is $30 per person. Reservations recommended.

Sounds like Mongolian BBQ with a South American twist. ;)

[Pomai]

We're most likely going to Blu Water Grill (http://www.bluwatergrillhawaii.com/) in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, next door to The Shack (http://www.shackhawaiikai.com). Of course, we won't even dare try to reserve for Valentine's day. We'll schedule AROUND that day.

Our last two experiences there have been excellent. Can't beat the peaceful Hawaii Kai marina waterfront dining experience. Their service is very attentive, even when its busy, which is almost EVERY night. One of the owners used to be the chef at Ryan's in Ward Center.

They took the Banana Blintz off the dessert menu, but man! I'm not a dessert-kind-a-guy.. but that thing was ono! Maybe this time I'll try the Banana Lumpia item. Looks good. Last time we ordered the Mac Nut Crusted Prawns... awesome! They still have that so maybe. Maybe.

[glossyp]

Well, after reading all of the many great romantic and heartwarming love stories and how romantic we all can be, I've decided to try my luck at taking my Valentine to....The Bistro.

Good luck to everybody on their romantic V-day plans and thanks a million for helping me with mine!:)

You are one of the lucky ones. I checked with The Bistro yesterday to see if they had any reservations available for a report I was doing. They are completely booked with a double digit waiting list. Have a wonderful time!

[Vale46]

You are one of the lucky ones. I checked with The Bistro yesterday to see if they had any reservations available for a report I was doing. They are completely booked with a double digit waiting list. Have a wonderful time!

Wow, really?! :eek:

Guess it was kinda smart of me to get all my advice from you guys and make my V-day decision early then, huh? :p Thanks for everybody's advice. Now i have ideas and places to go for years to come(definitely gotta try craigs rooftop/jacuzzi technique - gotta save that one for later:D).
Hope everybody has a wonderful V-day, no matter where its at or how its done. As long as you can let your someone special feel just that-SPECIAL. :)

[AbsolutChaos]

I was looking at the ads in the newspapers and they sound great. If anyone tries any of these valentine's specials please post about your experience. The menus sound great but I don't know about spending upwards of $50 per person, the crowd, etc is worth it. She is. But the hassle. Hmm.

Don't think my experience really will count, as the place I went to closed their doors forever the day after Valentine's Day.

Someone from HT kindly sent me an PM about their experiences with another place prior to their closing so that I'd be warned to expect less-than-stellar (or even non-existent!) food and service. As a result, I made sure I went with considerably lower expectations (acutally, I didn't know what to expect!).

Showed up to find the place (Donato's) was pretty busy. I was relieved to find they had more than one person as waitstaff. When we arrived, there was no hostess. She finally showed up and directed us to a table for two that actually had some space around it in comparison to some of the other tables. We also had a nice big window...which unfortunately looked out on some empty concrete floor on the lower floor of Manoa Marketplace. (That window ended up being the unfortunate victim of my crime later on that evening when I accidentally tore off a piece of bread and inadvertently also unleased a projectile of tomato sauce that landed with a small splat on the pane. I think I already mentioned that I was a messy eater in another post, heehee. Luckly my boyfriend was unharmed in the incident. :D )

I didn't care for the cold bread we received to tide us over until the first course arrived. It was smeared with some cold bland tomato sauce that reminded me of something out of a Chef Boyardee can. The fresh peach bellinis helped, though. The wine we picked out turned out to be sold out, so we had to make do with a second choice from the very limited wine menu. We did have to wait a while in between courses (I'm assuming there was limited kitchen staff too), and I found the courses to be simple (not surprising for a restaurant's last day) but well-prepared. I couldn't help but think that the main entree that I had that night at Donato's was very similar to a SALAD with similar ingredients at another restaurant I enjoy. I also didn't think the price was quite up to the food I received, though my boyfriend, who eats pork and beef, got a substantial portion for his meal. The desserts were again simple and easy to make, featuring gelato, but I didn't mind not having a choice for dessert, as I had gotten to have molten lava cake the night before at a business dinner.

The crowd was definitely loud. The bottles of wine were flowing freely, and so were the voices of the groups at the large tables surrounding us. At least everybody seemed happy--no melodramtic crying or anything like that. :p I liked the decor, but the noice definitely detracted from my experience. The waitstaff was pretty friendly, which did help. Thank goodness we were at least seated at a table with a LITTLE distance from all the other big tables! I wish we could have been seating on the second level instead of the main floor. That would have helped.

All-in-all, I had a good time. I regret not visiting Donato's when their full menu was available...oh well. It's always nice to dress up for a change and spend time with a loved one, so that's all that matters in the end (that, and not hitting your boyfriend with flying tomato sauce over the course of the evening)!

[Lalalinder]

http://www.salishlodge.com/?source=adwords

We spent a couple nights here for Valentine's, and it was worth it.

[craigwatanabe]

Valentines Day at the Watanabe's was a treat for me. My wife surprized ME with a grilled Saba dinner (my favorite fish) with shrimp tenpura and a bottle of wine.

I opted instead of buying flowers, I made a dozen roses out of paper napkins painting them red and green. These roses should last until next Valentines day.