Valentine's Day on the North Shore

[Northshoregirl]

If anyone has heard of any special menus for Valentine's Day at North Shore restaurants, please let me know. The only one I've found so far is a $75 prix fixe menu at Tryst in Beverly.

Alternately, if you have a favorite romantic spot on the North Shore, please recommend. By North Shore, I mean Swampscott/Beverly/Manchester/Gloucester rather than Winchester and Lynnfield.

[Janiekins]

I have eaten at 62 on the Wharf in Salem 2 times in the last month. The food was wonderful. Also love the atmosphere of the bar.

I just ate at G's Bar and Kitchen in Swampscott - very good!

[Northshoregirl]

We are planning a trip to (and blog review on) both Sixty2 on Wharf and G Bar. What do you recommend we try at G Bar?

[snowcone]

This is not on Valentine's Day, to be exact, but the golf club at Turner Hill in Ipswich is open to the public for brunch on Sundays. It is a beautiful mansion that has been renovated and is a georgeous spot. There is a new chef there and the food is really good.
I am not sure if they are open to the public on other evenings, but it would be worth calling there to see about Valentine's Day dinner and trying to book a table near the fireplace.

[Northshoregirl]

Thanks for the tip! I love brunch and will put it on my list to try. Have you been to the brunch? I'm wondering what you enjoyed and how much it cost.

[negrazer]

Hands down the most talented chef on the North Shore is at 62 on Wharf in Salem and second place is quite distant from there. Capt's is a joke in comparison. Duckworth's would follow for me as a second choice, then Tryst. Tryst is good, but do you have to serve mash potatoes with everything?

What I look for in a menu is for no 'bail out' ingredients; that each dish has a purpose and isn't a dumping ground for ingredients from another dish. 62 is the only establishment doing that on the North Shore

[Northshoregirl]

I'm glad you posted this because 62 on Wharf is at the top of my list of high-end North Shore restaurants to try. If you have any favorite apps or entrees, would you please let me know? I'm curious if you've tried G in Swampscott, another high-end place on my list to try.

[nytransplant]

We just went to 62 on Wharf on Sat night and thought it was great! We sat at bar and I ordered arulga salad with mancheno (sp.?) cheese and dates ($10), gnocci with sausage and veggies ($10) and shrimp wrapped in panchetta with awesome aoili souce ($5). Husband got steak ($28). and had most of the shrimp. He said he has had better steaks for the $ but I loved my small portions and food was great. They also sell wine in these small carafes, maybe called quartinos (again sp.?) and was like a glass and a half. Very good and will go back again ;)

[Northshoregirl]

Okay, now I'm definitely going. I love those small carafes. No idea why! I also love gnocci.

[hungryheader]

Bella Verona in Salem is small (romantic), authentic (feels like your in the North End) and reasonable. The food is excellent.

[Northshoregirl]

Yes, Bella Verona is one of my favorites. You really get a lot for your money, and I love the atmosphere.

[deeg22]

I'd recommend the GrapeVine in Salem on the waterfront... best food on the northshore by far.

[marilu]

We area boring couple. We love Pellana in Peabody and we are having dinner there on Valentine's evening. They have their regular menu offerings with their usual few specials. No set menu for a crazy price. We are usually happy there even on busy nights.

[Northshoregirl]

Good thinking. Nothing boring about good food in a place you like!

[nytransplant]

First of all, love your blog. I live on the north shore as well, always looking for great restaurants. I have found an italian restaurent I like in Marblehead called Sablone's. Dont know what they are doing for V Day. We are going into Boston for tango lessons and dining in the south end. Hope you have a great night! Also Lobster Pool in in the summer at sunsetis awesome!

[Northshoregirl]

Thank you so much for the kind words about the blog. We just posted today about our favorite Italian restaurant in Marblehead (Caffe Italia), but it looks like we need to get ourselves to Sablone's!

[Cathleen02]

Capts in Salem has 3 courses for 29.95 or 5 for 39.95

http://www.capts.com/ValentineDay.aspx

[Northshoregirl]

Great price, that's for sure. Have you been to Capts? Any recommendations?

[Cathleen02]

We go to the bar a lot, they have ridiculously cheap apps on weeknights 5-6 or 6:30 (.25 to .50). I've had dinner there a few times and have never been disappointed. We actually went on Valentine's a few years ago and it was very nice.

[Northshoregirl]

Cool. I will check it out!

[bgavin]

We had a fabulous dinner at Tryst to celebrate my husband's birthday in January. The crab cake they offer is unlike any I have had before and absolutely splendid.

We are going back there to celebrate Valentine's Day -- but a day or two early.

Duckworth's is also quite wonderful. I guess if we knew if you were dissatified with Tryst (cost, location, menu) or if you were only looking for additional options?

[Northshoregirl]

I haven't been to Tryst, so thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like I should definitely try it! I'm just looking to present the hubby with a few romantic options. I am also planning to put a round up of special V-day menus on my blog.

[bgavin]

Just clicked over and looked at your blog. Very nicely put together!

I live in Rockport - so your postings were spot on.

[Northshoregirl]

I'm glad you like it. We are having so much fun doing it. If you are so inclined--please tell your NS friends! ;)

We haven't reviewed a Rockport restaurant yet. What would you recommend? I've eaten ice cream and strudel on Bearskin Neck and lunch at The Greenery, but that's about the extent of my knowledge of eateries up there.

[BostonZest]

Did you thy the open table listing. I used that one in my recent article on Valentine's day and they listed a few places I would consider North Shore.

http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m...

[Northshoregirl]

Thanks for this. I didn't think to look at Open Table. Truth be known, I didn't know they did listing likes this--cool. Unfortunately, there's really nothing in my area. BTW, I didn't know about your blog, which is right up my alley.

[phonelady]

Duckworth's bistrot in Gloucester?

[Northshoregirl]

I haven't been. Looks great, though, from looking at their site. Do you eat there a lot? Any favorites?

[Northshoregirl]

Actually, I took another look and saw there are a couple of places listed in Newburyport, which is cool.

[contessa1]

I just signed up for OpenTable! Looks like a great site. I'll pass on the site.
Where were you when I was a Concierge???? Dang.....it would have helped!
Good Luck!
Contessa

[treb]

Good luck, I tried them long ago, most restaurants didn't even know I had a reservation through OT, never used it since.

[justbeingpolite]

I think those bugs have long since been worked out. I use it fairly frequently to make and change reservations with no problems