Top Valentine's Day Dinners In Philadelphia

Valentine's Day may be in part an invention by card companies to sell merchandise, but it still is for some a reminder to take some time out for each other. At the very least, it's a great excuse to go somewhere special to eat. Some options may be to take a cruise down the Delaware, eat at an Iron Chef location, find fun ambiance or even chose farm-to-table. If you are planning something special this Valentine's day, here are the top five picks of places to dine this Valentine's Day in the Philadelphia area.

The Farm & Fisherman Tavern
1442 E. Route 70
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
(856) 356-2282
www.fandftavern.com

The Farm and Fisherman Tavern in Cherry Hill, NJ serves delicious fresh farm-to-table dishes all grown and produced in the region, as well as locally produced beers and wines. Baking is done on premises. Customers rave about the freshness of the food and the quality of the seafood dishes. The Farm and Fisherman Tavern offers plenty of vegetarian options and some gluten free and vegan dishes. This restaurant is run by a husband and wife team with a lifelong passion for food. Reservations are suggested.

Talula's Garden
210 W. Washington Square
Philadelphia, PA. 19106
(215) 592-7787
www.talulasgarden.com

A whimsical and romantic evening awaits you in this Washington Square West/Market East restaurant. Talula's Garden is a farm-to-table restaurant which makes dining not just delicious, but also very fresh and great for the local economy. You can relax that your meal is not going to upset your body later. Talula's Garden brings to your table not just complimentary bread, but also cheese.

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Amada
217/219 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA.19106
(215) 625-2450
www.philadelphia.amadarestaurant.com

Amada is a popular restaurant in Old City; the food is described by many as excellent. If you are looking to not break the bank and maybe just go with drinks and appetizers, Amada is almost famous for their tapas (small plates). Either way, they have some of the best Latin flavors in the entire city. Chef Garces of Amada also just happens to be an Iron Chef, so you know you will be able to enjoy a fine meal. Amada also has the option for booking a table online.

The Spirit of Philadelphia
401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(866) 455-3866
www.spiritofphiladelphia.com

One fun option might be to sail down the Delaware River on the Spirit of Philadelphia. Here you can enjoy a show, dance and have dinner on Valentine's Day weekend. The price includes a rose, champagne toast, dinner and DJ entertainment. Dining on the Spirit is always a buffet (with some service for drinks, desserts and salads). The meal includes salad, a carving station, vegetarian options, accompaniments and dessert. The decks are climate-controlled so you don't have to worry about being too cold. There are three cruises to choose from: the Saturday cruise (on the 13th) is from 7-10:30, and the Sunday cruise on Valentine's Day itself is 6-9:30. There is also a lunch cruise. Prices range from $45 (for the lunch) to $90 a person for the Sunday cruise.

Lambertville Station Inn & Restaurant
11 Bridge St.
Lambertville, NJ 08530
(609) 397-4400
www.lambertvillestation.com

For a special evening or even for the whole Valentine's weekend, you may want to check out the Lambertville Station Inn & Restaurant. Lambertville is just across the river from New Hope. Romantic ambiance fills the air in this remodeled train station. The menu is full of creative and romantic dishes and includes items such as bison and buffalo. The food here is high quality and supplied by local growers and vendors; the chefs even grow their own herbs. There are also beautiful views of the river and canal to be enjoyed.

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Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.