Looking for valentine's day dinner ideas for two that feel a little more special than your usual dinner? Heart-shaped ravioli, golden scallops and a chocolate dessert give you plenty to choose from.
There are a few pretty table ideas here too.
You can keep things simple with a shared pizza or go all out with steak and lobster. Pick something you both love, then borrow a little inspiration for how to serve it.
Dinner ideas for a Valentine's night in
steak with mushroom sauce
We’re starting off strong with these beautifully browned steaks surrounded by sliced mushrooms. I love how the sauce fills the pan, with little green herb sprigs scattered over the top.
Read also: 20 New Years Eve Dinner Ideas for a Delicious Night In
For your dinner, you could serve a smaller version with mashed potatoes on the side. I’d definitely want something to scoop up that sauce.
golden shrimp with pale sauce
How good do these shrimp look? The golden edges, pale sauce and chopped green garnish make this platter worth saving.
If you want to follow the presentation, arrange your shrimp close together on a white plate with the sauce spooned over them. I’d pair yours with rice or a simple green salad.
heart-shaped ravioli
I am obsessed with this heart-shaped ravioli. It’s so cute against the red sauce, especially with the light dusting of grated cheese.
Let the hearts overlap a little when you plate them, just like these. The thin green garnish is a lovely finishing touch without hiding the shapes.
red roses and candlelight
Want a little table inspiration to go with your dinner? This is a larger gathering setup rather than a table for two, but the red roses and gold-colored details are gorgeous.
For your own version, try a small vase of roses between two place settings. Keep candles clear of the flowers and greenery rather than copying the crowded arrangement.
shrimp and saucy pasta
If a big bowl of pasta sounds like your kind of Valentine’s dinner, this one is for you. Pink shrimp sit among long noodles coated in pale sauce, with chopped herbs scattered throughout.
Read also: 20 One Pot Chicken Dinner Ideas With Rice, Pasta and Colorful Veggies
I’d serve this in two shallow bowls so you can see the shrimp on top. There’s no need for heart-shaped everything.
scallops over pea risotto
This scallop plate may just be one of my favorites here. I love the golden tops against the pale risotto and bright green peas.
The browned citrus pieces and leafy garnish make it even prettier. Keep the scallops grouped toward the middle if you want to borrow this plating idea.
a pizza that spells love
How cute is this? A heart-shaped pizza with cheese letters spelling “LOVE” is such a fun idea for a night in. There are even little cheese hearts sitting over the tomato slices.
This photo shows the pizza before the crust has browned. Use it as shaping inspiration, then follow your chosen pizza recipe for baking.
beef wrapped in golden pastry
If you’re looking for something a little more elaborate, this Wellington-style beef is worth a look. The cut piece shows a pink center inside a dark filling and golden pastry.
I love the leafy salad and yellow tomatoes beside it. A simple side like that would be my choice with a pastry-wrapped main.
chicken with sliced mushrooms
The mushroom fans have another option here! These golden chicken pieces sit in a pale brown sauce with plenty of sliced mushrooms.
Read also: 20 Crockpot Ground Beef Recipes and Dinner Ideas to Explore
The little parsley sprigs are such a pretty finishing touch. For your own dinner, try serving the chicken over rice with some of the mushrooms spooned on top.
a fondue sharing board
Don’t want separate plated courses? This fondue board gives you a different direction.
The red pot is surrounded by bread cubes, sliced steak, potatoes, apples and grapes.
The background decorations are wintry rather than Valentine-themed. Borrow the sharing idea for February with a smaller selection of your favorite accompaniments and a clear space around the heated pot.
browned lamb chops
Sometimes the main dish doesn’t need much decoration. These lamb chops have browned, herb-speckled outsides, with pink centers visible in the sliced pieces.
I’d keep the dark plates if you have them. You could add roasted vegetables on a separate serving dish rather than crowding the chops.
cheese hearts and salami roses
OMG, how adorable are those cheese hearts? Between the salami rose, dark grapes and chocolate-dipped strawberries, there’s so much to love on this board.
For a smaller version, choose a couple of cheeses, some folded salami and your favorite fruit. I’d put decorative roses in a separate little vase beside the food.
bright pink beet risotto
Who needs heart-shaped food when you have this color? The bright pink rice and darker beet pieces look so pretty with white cheese crumbles scattered over them.
I love the loose green herbs on top too. Save this as inspiration if you’d rather make a colorful rice dish than one of the steak options.
steak and lobster
If you want to go all out, this steak and lobster plate is for you. The orange shells sit on either side of the browned steak, with green herbs across the top.
The plain gray plate keeps the presentation simple. I’d follow that lead and serve any extra sides separately.
little sushi hearts
I know the ravioli hearts above are adorable, but these sushi hearts are a close second. The pink-orange tops follow the heart shapes, with rice and dark seaweed layers visible underneath.
If you’d rather order dinner, you could ask a local sushi restaurant whether they offer a similar presentation. No need to turn date night into a shaping challenge, haha!
chocolate lava cake
Don’t forget a little something for after dinner. This chocolate cake opens up to a glossy center that spills onto the plate, with powdered sugar over the top.
I’d keep the presentation just as simple and set out two spoons if you’re sharing. A few strawberries on the side would be a pretty addition.
salmon with lemon and capers
This is another gorgeous seafood option. I love the browned salmon tops with all those capers and bright yellow lemon slices tucked between the fillets.
For your own plates, you could add small roasted potatoes or green vegetables alongside the fish. Keep a lemon wedge on each plate to follow the picture.
sushi and a night on the sofa
Don’t want a formal sit-down dinner? No problem!
This coffee-table setup has sushi, two drinks and a separate board of chocolate and sweets, with the TV ready in the background.
Try your own version with a sushi order you both enjoy. I’d use flameless candles around a table this full so there’s more room to reach for the food.
lasagna by candlelight
This is such a lovely reminder that your dinner doesn’t have to be fancy. A dish of lasagna sits between two plated portions, with white candles and matching glasses around it.
The framed print is seasonal, but the dinner setup works beyond the holidays. For Valentine’s Day, you could swap it for a little handwritten note and keep the simple white table.
shrimp salad with berries
Last but definitely not least, we have this colorful shrimp salad. I love the strawberries and blueberries among the green leaves, avocado pieces and thin red onion slices.
The browned shrimp look so good on top. If you want to follow this serving idea, bring one large bowl to the table with dressing on the side and divide it between your plates.