RALEIGH, N.C. — Even when January drags on, somehow February and Valentine’s Day sneaks up on me every year. We get a week or so into February and I think, “Oh! Valentine’s Day! We should have a date night!” Then, I inevitably realize I have not secured a babysitter, nor made reservations at any of the amazing spots people in the Triangle talk about.
What if we just took the pressure off Valentine’s this year? It’s in the middle of the week, just after the Super Bowl, when we have undoubtedly stuffed ourselves silly.
I’m saving this list for later in the month and other times in the year for dates with my husband. If you can make it work for Valentine’s Day, do it! You deserve a date night.
This is our list of local favorites we can’t wait to visit again and new ones we want to try. Let me grab my calendar and start texting babysitters. I’m getting hungry.
Anniversary oysters with New Orleans flair
Aw! Aren’t we cute!? This picture is from an anniversary celebration at
St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar. Downtown Raleigh on Wilmington Street is where we enjoyed St. Roch’s creative cocktail menu and appetizers. My husband loves oysters and was excited to find the perfect shells to shuck from their raw bar.
I had learned that the chef, Sunny Gerhart, was a New Orleans native who had trained under Raleigh’s Ashley Christensen, so I was ready to try one of his dishes. The Market Catch as my main course did not disappoint! So many great flavors.
The vibe is way cooler than we are, but comfortable and intimate. The staff will make you feel at ease if you’re new to oysters.
Dinner and an overnight in Cary
Okay, so I didn’t plan ahead for this Feb. 14, but in 2024 we might have to getaway to Cary. Wait. What? Cary? Hear me out.
Downtown Cary is really changing and has some amazing spots. I would know. I’m from Cary. Although I don't make it to my hometown too often, even though I’m nearby in Raleigh, I want to check out
Peck & Plume, offers modern American classics with global influences. Look for ingredients from local farms on their menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner and North Carolina craft beer.
If you can still make a reservation this year, you have to try this. Peck & Plume has a deal for Valentine’s dinner and a stay at
The Mayton Inn.Italian in Wake Forest
Along South Main Street in Wake Forest is a beautifully renovated historic house from the 1800s. Since 2018 it has been home to
Amalia’s Authentic Italian Restaurant, run by Executive Chef Filippo Fanfani. A native of Italy, Fanfani learned from his grandmother Amalia and from a top Italian culinary school.
The menu is small and everything seems delicious. I already can’t decide what I want, so I hope my husband is ready to share with me on our date.
Local mom, Kim LaPorte of Wake Forest says she drives by Amalia’s all the time. “I tell my husband Joe, ‘We have to go to this place! It looks beautiful and I hear it’s so good!’” This is your sign Joe in Wake Forest, take your wife on a date to Amalia’s.
Valentine's vibe at Vidrio
My favorite place in Raleigh for ambiance is
Vidrio. I love the lighting, the blown glass art on the walls and the display of more than 300 wine bottles. I can’t stop looking at how beautiful everything is. Then the food comes and that is beautiful too.
Founded by Lou Moshakos, a native of Greece, Vidrio has a fantastic take on Mediterranean food. Executive Chef Saif Rahman uses local ingredients for a seasonal, rotating menu designed to be shared with your table. They have dozens of wines on tap and staff offers great suggestions for wine pairings. They are offering
“The Feast of Saint Valentine” over the Valentine’s weekend.
The Restaurant at The Durham Hotel
Like a very bad version “Who’s On First?,” I got into a conversation with a friend about great spots in Durham. She was like, “Have you been to
The Restaurant at The Durham?” and I was like, “Yeah, I’ve been to lots of restaurants in Durham.” “No! THE Restaurant at The Durham,” she replied. You can figure out how the rest of this went.
She was talking about The Restaurant in The Durham Hotel. She and her husband took a night away at The Durham recently and she said The Restaurant was delicious. Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with all fresh, North Carolina ingredients I was ready to book a private event there, if I were awesome enough to host private events. The space is beautiful! They also have a
Valentine’s at The Durham if you can book it.
If I wasn’t confused enough, my friend said they got drinks on
The Roof too.
Other great date night spots in the Triangle
- Sitti - A Raleigh favorite for amazing Lebanese food downtown.
- Cucciolo Terrazza - An Italian place in North Hills.
- Hawthorne & Wood- I want to be out on the patio as it gets warmer in this Chapel Hill restaurant.
- Azitra - My favorite for Indian food! A beautiful restaurant in Brier Creek.
Amy Davis is a monogramming mom of three and fitness instructor with FIT4MOM Midtown Raleigh and web contributor for the historic Village District. She is a regular Go Ask Mom contributor. 
