Throw in aperitifs, wine, desserts and other wallet-emptying options, and the stresses can be overwhelming, perhaps even romance-wrecking. Sometimes, the couple at a hard-to-get reservation can look terribly awkward, with conversation faltering and food pushed around plates not for lack of deliciousness but from anxiety-infused loss of appetite.
As a confirmed solo diner, I never plan to take anyone out for Valentine’s Day dinner — even though I eat out every night, including Feb 14. Still, I’ve seen how well or badly these dates can go from my perch at many restaurant bars.
That’s especially true of those who’ve decided to dine together on their first Valentine’s. It’s meant to be special but, as the traditional celebration for lovers, the occasion is fraught with meaning and the vexing overtures of destiny.
