13 places to celebrate Valentine's Day in the Twin Cities area

From a traditional night out on the town to tea celebrations and cozy at-home meal kits, there are no shortage of ways to spend Valentine's Day all weekend long. We have the ideas — the romance is up to you.

Chef Benjamin Moenster is offering a five-course tasting menu on Valentine's Day. Courses range from a chilled lobster salad opener, followed by a lamb Bolognese ravioli to duck breast with smoked maple glaze. Finish with a frozen strawberry mousse and take home petit four boxes. Cost is $105 per person; get reservations here.

730 Washington Av. N., Mpls., boroughmpls.com.

A unique — and sustainable — gift idea. Farmers Kitchen + Bar's "Bee Mine" gift box ($60) features products made with honey and pollinator-forward ingredients including a dried floral bouquet from Pluck Flower Farm, cocktail/mocktail mixer by Sweethaven Tonics, a beeswax candle from Slow Burn Candles, honey soap from Heirloomista, lip balm from Bare Honey and honeycomb candy from Farmers Kitchen + Bar. Pre-order online and pick up Feb. 11-13.

750 S. 2nd St., Mpls., farmerskitchenandbar.com

Yes, the historic St. Paul restaurant is open for Valentine's Day. But if you're willing to celebrate a day late, you can still get tickets for the O'Shaughnessy Whiskey Dinner on Feb. 15. Sample newly released Keeper's Heart whiskey with master distiller Brian Nation along with chef Nick O'Leary's three-course meal with whiskey pairings. Get your tickets ($150) here.

1096 Grand Av., St. Paul, thelexmn.com

The new Minneapolis hotspot has a special three-course Valentine's dinner and drag show on Feb. 13. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 with the show at 7. Cost is $45. Brunch options available for Feb. 12 and 13; doors open at 10 a.m., brunch is served at 10:30. Tickets are $35. Reserve your spot for either event here.

990 Central Av. NE., Mpls., lushmpls.com.

Choose a four-course dine-in or takeout option. It's surf-and-turf for two ($150) for carryout: crab and spinach dip, choice of salad, filet mignon, crab-stuffed lobster tail, garlic-Parmesan potatoes, vegetables, rolls and chocolate mousse cake. Want more? Add on a lobster bisque or a kid's celebration meal. Order the heat-and-serve meal by Feb. 11 at 3 p.m.; pick up Feb. 13 or 14.

Dining in? It's choices abound. Choose an appetizer to share and soup or salad to start. Entree selections include filet mignon, mahi-mahi, shrimp scampi pasta, pork chop or chicken breast Marsala; share a dessert of chocolate cake, cheesecake or skillet bread pudding. Cost is $85 for two, and the special is available Feb. 11-14. Reserve your table here.

1565 Cliff Road, Eagan, masonjar.kitchen.

Celebrate as your schedule allows — a three-course prix fixe menu is available from Feb. 11-14. Starters include Caesar salad, mixed greens or clam chowder; main-course options are shrimp, filet mignon, lobster tail, and crab- and shrimp-stuffed salmon; it's cheesecake, chocolate silk pie or apple pie for dessert. Reserve your table here; price depends on entree option.

3203 Galleria, Edina, mccormickandschmicks.com

Chef JJ Cachuela is preparing an eight-course tasting menu for the big day. Offerings range from a second course of halibut, leeks and smoked carrots to a fifth-course rib-eye and a chocolate torte cake finish. Cost is $115 per person; wine pairings are additional. Reserve your spot (for $30) and get menu details here.

1115 2nd Av. S., Mpls., monellompls.com,

For a sweet (and relaxing) way to celebrate, try Northeast Tea House's "Gongfu by Candlelight" Feb. 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. Choose from a menu of curated teas paired with sweet treats as part of the elaborate gongfu tea session. Cost is $60 per couple; make your reservation here.

224 Hennepin Av. E., Mpls., northeastteahouse.com

As they say in Minnesota, well, this is different. If you're fresh off a breakup, celebrate being single at the Black Heart's Ball on Feb. 14. There will be food specials throughout the weekend, and those willing to shred a picture of their ex from 4 to 5 p.m. will get a free beer.

18404 Kenrick Av., Lakeville, northerntapmn.com.

What's the big day without sweets? Preorder special valentine treats for pickup Feb. 11-13 including the Dessert Tasting Collection ($60), which includes an Isabel Macaron Tart, a six-piece bonbon box, brownie, fruit jellies and chocolate marshmallows. Gluten-free options are available, too: the "Chocolate Ménage a Deux" ($16) gets your choice of flourless chocolate cake with dark chocolate mousse, ganache and a chocolate hazelnut crumble, or a raspberry flourless chocolate cake — all perfect for sharing.

Patisserie 46, 4552 Grand Av., Mpls.; Rose Street Patisserie, 171 Snelling Av., St. Paul. patisserie46.com

Can you find romance in the Rainforest? From Feb. 11-14 there's a special three-course dinner menu, which includes soup or salad, a choice of entree (Aloha salmon and shrimp, fajitas, shrimp pasta and more) and dessert. Cost is $70 per couple. Make reservations here.

Mall of America, 306 South Av., Bloomington, rainforestcafe.com.

Cozy up at home with a heat-and-serve meal kit from Red Cow and Red Rabbit ($149). Kits include shrimp cocktail, herb-crusted Manhattan loin, roasted red pepper gnocchi, broccolini, bread and a chocolate mousse torte. Preorder by noon on Feb. 12, pick up Feb. 13 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Red Rabbit locations: 201 Washington Av. N., Mpls.; 788 Grand Av., St. Paul; redrabbitmn.com.

Red Cow locations: 3624 W. 50th St., Mpls.; 208 1st Av. N, Mpls., 2626 Hennepin Av., Mpls.; 393 Selby Av., St. Paul; redcowmn.com.

Toast your someone special from Feb. 11-13 with two special cocktails (First Kiss and Crimson & Clover) at the distillery's new River Falls, Wis., location, which will also feature a "Sweet Specials" menu. Dinner options range from black berry bruschetta ($7) to sea bass ($42) and a filet-lobster combo ($43). Reserve your spot here. Or take the celebration home with a Strawberry Pineapple Smash cocktail kit ($19.99, alcohol not included), available at both Tattersall locations and metro-area Lunds & Byerlys.

1777 Paulson Road, River Falls; 1620 Central Av. NE., Mpls., tattersalldistilling.com.