On this day of romantic gestures that sweep you off your feet and carry you off to a world where Etta James' "At Last" is the theme song and pink cherry blossoms gently fall from the trees (those of you familiar with "Pleasantville" know what's up), you simply cannot go wrong with Italian cuisine. Now, not just any old run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant will do on Valentine's Day, particularly if you are hoping to get frisky later in the evening. Enter Francesca Al Lago's located at 111 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., right between the capitol and Lake Monona. The soft lighting, intimate table setting and portraits of Italian villas creates the perfect atmosphere for a romantic evening with that special someone. The menu, which changes biweekly, has special Valentine's Day courses, including (but not limited to) Ravioli Tartufati-a decadent cheese filled ravioli with garlic and parmesan cream sauce, fresh tomatoes, and a splash of white truffle oil-and Pizza con Proscuitto e Rucola complete with arugula, lemon, olive oil, roasted plum tomatoes, mozzarella and prosciutto. If those mouth-watering descriptions have not sufficiently convinced you to take your sweetheart there this evening, keep in mind both of these entrees are carefully crafted into heart shapes along with a number of their Valentine's Day desserts.
Although dishes containing seafood can be a little pricey-between $20 and $32-most of the entrees only cost between $10-$20, so you can feel free to splurge on a three course meal without putting a huge dent in your checking account. For all you poor souls plagued with a gluten allergy, Francesca's has a special gluten-free menu. The menu offers scrumptious pastas such as Linguine al Pomodoro-gluten-free linguine topped with a spicy tomato sauce, garlic, olive oil and an assortment of fresh herbs-and mouthwatering desserts like Vanilla crème brulee and Torta di Lava-a chocolate flourless cake with a cool mint center and a mint-chocolate gelato, raspberry sauce and fresh berry topping.
If you and your darling are 21 (or have fake i.d.'s) the wine list is quite extensive, and there just isn't anything better than pairing a classy bottle of wine with a plate full of heart shaped ravioli, am I right? If you happen to be a naïve fool who forgets that reservations are absolutely essential for anywhere other than McDonald's on Valentine's Day, do not fret. The bar is a charming place to wait for your table with intimate lighting and carved wood architecture. Plus, there really isn't anything like getting a nice buzz off a glass or two of Casamatta Bianco from Tuscany to start your date (or any meal for that matter) right.
Before you leave for the evening, make sure to grab at least two handfuls of the hard candies placed in a large bowl by the host or hostess. These are no ordinary hard candies, my friends. When you get to the interior, a burst of mint, mocha, chocolate, orange or raspberry (depending on which one you get) tantalizes your taste buds. Even if you're stuffed like a turkey on Thanksgiving, take at least a handful to enjoy later in the week while you reminsce about your perfect Valentine's Day at Francesca's Al Lago.
Whether you've been together for seven years or seven days, Francesca's is sure to satisfy both your appetite and lovey-dovey nature this Valentine's Day without breaking your meager bank. For all my single ladies out there, the staff at Francesca's will not judge you should you decide to split a bottle and a plate of heart-shaped ravioli with your B.F.F. rather than a significant other. As someone who brought her dear old mother as her date to Francesca's last year, I can tell you from experience the staff refrained from passing scathing looks our way. So go ahead and bring your bosom buddy-you'll still get offered a bottle of wine and the heart shaped desserts.
