According to the National Restaurant Association, Valentine’s Day is the second most popular day of the year to dine out (Mother’s Day is No. 1).
Twenty-eight percent of Americans dine out on Valentine’s Day. And while just about any eatery will be crowded 10 days from today, there are some spots that are more sought after than others.
Gracie’s in downtown Providence has a table that hosts marriage proposals throughout the year. Known to the staff as “21,” it is tucked away in an alcove.
Executive chef Joe Hafner says that “21” has been booked for Valentine’s Day night for weeks.
But Hafner says that there is another secluded spot for proposals and romantic celebrations, Gracie’s downstairs Wine Room. “It’s set up for eight people, but we have parties of four that return there for anniversaries and birthdays. They got engaged here and come back on the same date every year.”
At XO in Providence, Table 8 is the most requested table when men call to make the reservations. Located in the front window and raised on a platform, guests have a view of passers-by and of the city skyline. More engagements have happened at Table 8 than any other table in the restaurant, with management’s count at 50 and growing. And, they say, not a single “No.”
10 Prime Steak and Sushi boasts a table to see and be seen at, the Owners Table, known as Table 5. It’s also a cozy and romantic window seat with a view of the movers and shakers at the bar.
Citron’s romantic table is also called Table 21, located in the corner of the restaurant with a view of Waterplace Park. In addition to being a Valentine’s Day spot, it is in demand for a perfect view of Providence’s fireworks on New Year’s Eve and Independence Day.
Newport means romance to many. At Castle Hill Inn, management says that proposals occur so often there, they can’t limit them to one table. However, numerous couples who have toasted engagements and anniversaries know about the tables against the windows in the Sunset Room. As one of the very few restaurants on the water in this part of the country with a west-facing view, tables in this room are most popular for such occasions.
At the Spiced Pear at the Chanler Hotel, a customer with love on his mind was the inspiration for the restaurant’s Valentine package. According to food and beverage director Keith Hill, the man wanted a secluded table to celebrate his wife’s birthday. He wanted a ‘chef’s table’ with specially selected courses and some tableside presentations, as executive chef Kyle Ketchum is known for, but not at the usual Chef’s Table directly in front of the restaurant’s exhibition kitchen.
Hill took the idea and turned it into what he calls the Ultimate Romance Dinner for Two. The Spiced Pear’s private Winthrop Dining Room is the setting. Rose petals are scattered on the table and candles give a soft glow. A six-course menu featuring tableside presentations is accompanied by wine pairings. The couple can tailor the menu to their own preferences and set the mood for the evening by choosing their own music. The dining room’s sound system is equipped with an iPod connection.
Even the dire economic news that is so prevalent these days does not seem to deter lovers. Reservations for two at 7:00 p.m. for Valentine’s Day at Capital Grille in Providence and Meritage in East Greenwich have been sold out since January. •
Dining Out with Bruce Newbury (bruce@brucenewbury.com) can be heard on TalkRadio 920 WHJJ-AM Fridays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at noon.
