Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day can be a stressful affair. Finding a last-minute romantic restaurant can prove difficult and if you are lucky enough to get a reservation you could end up spending an arm and a leg.
According to the Daily Mirror, studies show the average person will spend £45 on 14 February “in an attempt to shower their loved one with flowers (or gifts), chocolates and champagne”.
The Week has rounded up some of the best meal deals for two that won’t break the bank.
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Sushi shop boxes for two and Mauro Colagreco collaboration
With its new collaboration with Mauro Colagreco, whose Restaurant Mirazur on the Cote D’Azur was recently awarded a coveted third Michelin star, Sushi Shop continues to offer some of the very best home-delivered sushi in the country. Highlights of the collaboration include yellowtail sushi marinated with saffron and harlequin flowers, or a tasty ceviche of yellowtail, diced mango, pomegranate, lime and coriander.
Alternatively, Sushi Shop's Valentine's boxes start at £35 for 42 pieces, with more than enough salmon avocado rolls, chicken katsu rolls, and tuna sushi for two.
Waitrose
Waitrose’s 2019 selection includes a starter, main, two sides, dessert and a bottle of fizz for £20.
The options are varied, with nine starters, 14 mains, 11 sides and ten desserts. Diners can choose a bottle of red, white, sparkling rosé or prosecco, or a box of luxury chocolates.
Highlights include smoked salmon cheesecakes, Scottish cooked mussels or cheddar and Emmental soufflés, with rib eye beef steaks or coq au vin as a main.
There is also a vegan option of courgette and pea risotto, followed by beet wellington and chocolate tortes.
Cook
The chefs at Cook are busy preparing Valentine’s feasts, so all you have to do is pop their dishes in the oven.
This year, the company is offering a choice of four delectable food boxes for delivery - for fish lovers, lamb lovers, beef lovers and veggie lovers. Each box has a starter, main and side to serve two, perfect for “avoiding the schmaltz and inflated prices in restaurants”, as they put it.
Prices range from £14.25 for mushroom risotto, vegetable and chickpea tagine and minted couscous to £23.25 for salmon pate, lamb shanks, braised red cabbage and dauphinoise potatoes.
Marks and Spencer £20 meal deal for two
Long regarded as king of the dine-in deal, the high-end high street retailer is the perfect place to pick up a last-minute meal for two.
For £20, shoppers can “tuck into restaurant quality food from the comfort of your own home”, says the shop. The deal includes a starter, main, side, desert, box of chocolates and a bottle of fizz, with this year’s edition offering up options of seabass fillet, rump steak with peppercorn sauce and a vegan roasted mushroom stroganoff.
The offer runs from 12 to 16 February.
Co-op’s Irresistible Valentine’s menu
Treat your loved one for just £8 with Co-op’s Irresistible Valentine’s menu, one of the cheapest deals available.
The offer includes a main for two, and either two sides or one side and a dessert from Co-op’s Irresistible range. The Sun says “the best main to pick is a 700g Irresistible Pecorino Mac & Cheese for £6 as it’s one of the joint-priciest options and it contains the most food”.
Add the triple-cooked chunky chips or dauphinoise potatoes and top it off with either the two-pack chocolate melt-in-the-middle puddings or sticky toffee pudding.
Tesco’s Finest
Britain’s biggest high street supermarket is also getting in on the act, and in a bid to trump its rivals is offering champagne as part of its Valentine’s Day package.
The meal deal includes a starter, two mains, a side, a dessert and a half bottle of champagne, full bottle of prosecco, wine, or box of chocolates. There are 28 options each to choose from, “equalling 38,400 different combinations” says the Mirror.
There are a number of vegetarian options, with Finest goats’ cheese with maple roasted butternut and caramelised onion the pick of the bunch.
Dinner for two will set you back £20.
Valentine’s Day at Pizza Express
For those who don’t fancy staying at home but have missed the Valentine’s Day rush to book a restaurant, Pizza Express is reviving its romantic meal for two menu.
From £28.95 you will get you a three courses, including limited-edition dough ball hearts.
Offer only valid on 14 February.
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