Sweet deals in town: Restaurants offer specials for Valentine’s Day

Published 9:05 am Friday, February 14, 2014

Like so many of other cities across the globe, Dowagiac couples will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in the tried-and-true fashion of hitting the town for the evening.

Fortunately, there will be plenty of luxurious, yet affordable, dining choices awaiting them downtown Friday night.

The Wounded Minnow Saloon will be featuring its annual Valentine’s Day dinner special. Couples will be able to enjoy a 20-ounce sirloin dinner for two for $50, which also includes an additional entrée item, such as chicken marsala, crab legs, grilled shrimp or walleye.

“It ends up being a pretty good feast,” said owner Kyle Belew.

The special also includes a salad bar, two sides, dessert for two, a rose and two glasses of champagne. In addition, the saloon will also be giving out special gift boxes, which contain coupons for free food from the eatery as well discounts for local businesses like Vincent J. Jewelers, Caruso’s, Underwood Shoe Store, Imperial Furniture and the Hairitage.

“People have been asking us if we’re doing the gift boxes again this year,” Belew said. “One lady told me that she ended up saving hundreds on shoes and jewelry last year because of the coupons.”

Belew said the restaurant has received more than 60 reservations thus far for tables on Friday and Saturday, though he anticipates their will still be plenty of room available for walk-ins on Friday.

The special has proven to be quite popular among customers since its introduction three years ago, Belew said. 83 percent of the reservations they have received have been from people who purchased it in previous years, Belew said.

“You won’t find a value like this anywhere else,” he said. “That’s why we have seen such great success for it.”

Zeke’s Restaurant will feature a variety of dinner specials on Friday night, including prime rib for two for $34, a full rack of ribs and a New York strip for $24.95, and a surf and turf dish with customer’s choice of boiled or grilled shrimp for $24.50.

However, the restaurant expects its most popular special of the night will be its all-you-can-eat fish deal for $8.95.

“We know it will be our best seller, since a lot of people will be looking for a good bargain,” said General Manager Jackie O’Brien. “We really stocked up on the pollock, since people are going to buy it.”

Zeke’s expects to filled to capacity during the evening, O’Brien said. The restaurant has traditionally experienced strong sales during the holiday, the manager added.

“No matter what the weather is, we’re always busy,” she said. “I guess snow doesn’t really bother the locals too much on Valentine’s.”

The Wood Fire will also have a number of dinner specials that run throughout the weekend. The restaurant will feature it’s take on steak Oscar, called “steak Felix,” with a combination of crab and lobster meat served over steak. They will also serve miso-glazed halibut and their “lobster Diablo,” a lobster dish saluted in hearty tomato sauce with garlic arugula.

For dessert, the restaurant will be serving martini mousse, its signature Valentine’s Day dish. As the name suggests, the dessert is a combination of chocolate mousses served in a martini glasses.

“We go all out for Valentine’s Day,” said Chef Cheryl Horiuchi.

The restaurant will also feature live entertainment throughout the weekend. On Friday, Dennis Glander will play the piano for guests.

Though the Wood Fire is mostly booked for Friday, there are still tables left in the early afternoon and on the weekend, Horiuchi said.