I’ve Cracked The Code To An Amazing, Stress Free Valentine’s Day In Charlotte

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays I have very mixed feelings about. On one end, why not have a day to show the people you love just how much you appreciate them? But I also see the "Anti-Valentine's Day" people's point; you should be doing this every day of the year.

Nonetheless, my fiancé and I have had to navigate the awkward... "What do you want to do for Valentine's Day?" conversation quite a few times at this point, and I think we have cracked the code.

As you know, Valentine's Day can be one of the busiest nights for restaurants. If you don't think too hard in advance about it, you'll have a hard time finding a reservation at a good Charlotte restaurant.

Cooking at home can be just as stressful sometimes as grocery stores are packed leading up to Valentine's Day, and on Valentine's Day with last-minute people buying sweets, flowers, cards, and wine.

Lucky for you, I'm here to share how my fiancé and I have cracked the code to perfect Valentine's Day in Charlotte.

Did you know that Harris Teeter has a bargain bin of cheese? While cutting their cheeses up into portions, they always have extra scarps. Instead of throwing those scraps out, they sell them for a discounted price. Most of the cheeses in the bin are under $5! Just grab three or 4 of those, some meat and crackers, and suddenly, you have a very affordable charcuterie board

Have you ever tried Pasta and Provisions meal kits? You can pick out an entrée (meatballs, chicken piccata, braised short rib, etc.), fresh pasta, a bag of salad, and fresh focaccia bread for under $30. Yes, this will require some "cooking" but the pasta takes about 5 minutes to make, and the entree's really only need to be heated up, so it's pretty fool-proof. There are a few different locations of Pasta and Provisions too so you won't have to make a long drive.

(PRO-TIP) - Instead of battling it out at the grocery store, pick up a bottle of wine here! 

Charlotte has SO many delicious local bakeries and ice cream shops all over town. Instead of buying something from the grocery store (remember, we are avoiding the stressful part), stop by a local bakery the day before and grab a desert that will last for 24 hours. Not only will if probably taste batter, but you'll be supporting local businesses.

Nothing says buzzkill like having to scroll for an hour finding the perfect thing to watch. Pick out a movie ahead of time so it's all ready to go! If activities are more your speed, you can pick up a new card game, but do so ahead of time so you won't be scrambling!

And there you have it; the perfect, stress free Valentine's Day celebration. This is what my fiancé and I have been doing for years now, and I recommend it to all my friends! My personal favorite part is you get to do all of this in the comfort of your homes and can even wear sweatpants if you want. You can also dress up fancy if you want too... that's just not my style.

Let me know if you try this out for Valentine's Day, and how it goes!

Are you hoping to celebrate Valentine's Day with your significant other this year in Charlotte? It can be a little rough to plan what you consider to be the most "perfect" Valentine's Day. But, for me, I love planning some of the most romantic date nights for my boyfriend. This will be our first Valentine's Day together and I know he has some fun things planned up his sleeve. We all know that dinner is one of the best ways to end the night, because who doesn't love a good meal? I decided to take the time to look up some great restaurant options in Charlotte. From seafood to steakhouses to lowkey spots, you may have never heard of. But they would probably make some of the best options for you to enjoy this Valentine's Day.

Maybe you are looking for the best spots to book an early reservation before everything gets booked up. So, have no fear - that is why I am here! I want to be able to help you really find the perfect date night spots for Valentine's Day. So, I am listing out some of the most romantic restaurants I can find here in Charlotte. Book that reservation and soak up the romance with that special someone! Eat up and tell me how much you enjoy some of these spots.

Interested in enjoying a great French atmosphere? La Belle Helene is one of those places you may want to book a table at. The interior is very old school French and the vibe and atmosphere is beautiful and romantic. You and your partner can enjoy a great meal and great glass of wine or cocktail. The menu offers choices such as duck confit, oysters, ratatouille, French onion soup, and more! They also have a private dining option if you want to host a romantic dinner for a few different couples.

Mariposa is one of those places that make you feel like you've stepped into a different place. The restaurant brings all of your favorite culinary imaginations together in one spot. Your total dining experience is a vibe from the atmosphere to the menu to the service. For dinner, they offer up a wide range of cuisines for you to enjoy. Enjoy small shareables like street corn fritters and Spanish octopus. Or you can enjoy their larger shareable plates like crispy skin brazino and hearth roasted salmon. Mariposa allows you to dine into a wide range of culinary options with tasty cocktails to sip on the side.

Here is another spot that I have been dying to go to and heard many great things about. Deluxe Fun Dining is the ultimate dining experience that offers a unique take on eating out. For Valentine's Day they are offering up a special 3 course menu for $99 per person from 2/09 - 2/18. Experience food a new level with their unique presentations and dish styling. The atmosphere allows you to not only eat good, but experience some fun and enjoy eating out. The 3 courses allow you to choose a starter or salad, main dish, and dessert for your Valentine's Day meal.

Saku translate to "to bloom" to "to laugh" in Japanese and the restaurant truly brings that ambiance. Saku is a Japanese style restaurant that specializes in robata grilling of yakitori & kushiyaki, high quality sushi, classic Japanese comfort food, handcrafted cocktails and sakes. If you are a fan of Japanese food then this might be the perfect place for a date night. The ambiance is beautiful and makes you feel like you entered into a Japanese cherry blossom field. 

The Crunkleton is one of those places you see a video of on TikTok and automatically want to stop and see what it is. They offer up great cocktails and open fire cooking that you can dive into and enjoy for the night. You can set a reservation to be seated inside or in their patio and enjoy the ambiance for the night. Their dinner menu is filled with many options such as raw or charred oysters, mussels, wings, salmon, steak, burgers, and more.

Supperland is one of those places that if you have been in Charlotte then you probably have heard about or been to before. Supperland is settled in a renovated mid-century church and could be the go to place for a date night. The beautiful architecture inside really captures your attention and allows for a nice setting during date night. Enjoy some great southern dishes such as a seafood tower, oysters, cast iron cabbage, mac and cheese, and more.