Places to go with friends on Valentine’s

The top-selling pesce saro is a Mallorcan-style ceviche with white fish, avocado and marinated olives. Majorca, an island of Spain, is known for its beautiful manufactured pearls and fresh seafood.

For a single gal Chenny Liemkeo, Valentine’s Day is a crapshoot. “You may or may not have a date, and even if you do, who should you go with? Especially when you’re dating more than one person,” the 38-year-old benefits manager said with a laugh. Sometimes, it’s easier to hang out with her BFFs. Often, she and her girlfriends will get together for a “Gal-entine” night on the town.

Restaurants and wine bars are about to toss up rose petals for Valentine’s Day, the second most popular holiday for dining out after Mother’s Day. About one-quarter of all Americans dine out that night, and that include plenty of singles who simply want to raise a glass to friendship.

“Atmosphere and ambience are important.  You don’t want anything too upscale or too romantic, but you would like something cozy and, of course, with a good selection of wines. That’s important,” says the Buzz-area resident. Her top pick is Oporto, the Portuguese-Italian-inspired wine bar (3833 Richmond and 125 W. Gray). “The small-plate appetizers are delicious. We’ll order a bunch to share.” She recommends the crab-and-avocado crostini with lump crab meat and green aioli. Consider also:

• Teppay Japanese Restaurant (6516 Westheimer) serves authentic, grade-A sushi and sashimi. The chawan mushi egg custard with seafood is fragrant with real yuzu citrus from the chef’s garden. 
• Majorca Bistro and Tapas (207-A Gray Street) highlights family-style paellas (seafood, chicken-and-rabbit or veggie version) that are ideal for sharing, along with a wide selection of Spanish tapas.
• Maharaja Bhog (8338 Southwest Freeway) showcases authentic thali served on a round tray with bowls that diners can fill with 20-25 daily vegetarian options. This destination, reminiscent of the glamour of Bollywood, is a  local treat since it’s  the only U.S. location of this well-known Mumbai thali chain. For $13.99 (lunch) or $16.99 (dinner), it’s an all-you-can-eat fest. 
• Dolce Vita Pizzeria Enoteca (500 Westheimer) sets the standard for wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas. Chef-owner Marco Wiles keeps this welcoming establishment in the heart of Montrose perfectly tuned with well-prepared, simple pastas, vegetable dishes and an excellent all-Italian wine list.

Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to [email protected] with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section below.