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A Steakhouse-Worthy Valentine's Day Menu

We understand the allure of a steakhouse dinner on Valentine's Day: it's indulgent, it shows that you care, and it's nice to feel fancy every once in a while.
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We understand the allure of a steakhouse dinner on Valentine's Day: it's indulgent, it shows that you care, and it's nice to feel fancy every once in a while. With 50 other diners similarly hoping for an intimate experience, however, the reality of a romantic dinner often doesn't meet expectations. So this year, strip away the checked table cloths, and cook your beloved a decadent, steakhouse-worthy dinner at home. Sure, you'll have to do the dishes, but it's a small price to pay for the assurance that there won't be any amorous strangers leaning into your bread basket.

More from Food52:
• Shake things up with these 5 Valentine's cocktails.
• Browse 7 more steak recipes to steal the show.
• Got a cooking question? The Food52 Hotline is here to help!

Brought to you by the spirited home cooks' community at Food52.

A Steakhouse-Worthy Valentine's Day Dinner Menu
Sunday Steak with French Butter(01 of10)
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Salting meat and letting it sit in the fridge overnight may be the most important thing you can do in preparing a good steak. This steak gets a generous pat of Maitre d' Butter, which is used liberally in French restaurants, and makes everything better. - thirschfeld
Photo: Tom Hirschfeld
Grilled (or Broiled) Oysters with a Sriracha Lime Butter(02 of10)
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We wish more people would grill or broil oysters -- it's so easy and the quick blast of heat concentrates the oysters' brine and browns their tips without drying them out. - Amanda & Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Caesar Salad with Pancetta(03 of10)
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This salad is everything a Caesar should be -- assertive, complex, and rich -- with a few bonus points tacked on for the inspired use of pancetta (both on its own and as an instrument for crisping the homemade sourdough croutons). - Amanda & Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Spinach, Mushrooms and Cream for Dinner(04 of10)
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Cream and spinach are always a happy, indulgent pair. Nigel Slater's spinach-mushroom gratin, even toned down, is a splendidly dissolute dinner. - Nicholas
Photo: James Ransom
Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese(05 of10)
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With a generous hit of half and half and butter (infused with bay and garlic) and a dollop -- or four -- of fresh goat cheese, these potatoes are creamy and ethereal with the lightest of tangs. Caramelized onions, which are both folded into the potatoes and piled on top before serving, thread their a mellow sweetness throughout. - Amanda & Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Sour Cream Dinner Rolls(06 of10)
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These rolls take time, but they're worth it. The finished product is complex and layered in flavor because they use a combination of several different starches, and they're enriched by the dairy fat from the sour cream and butter. A perfect complement to any dinner. - Amanda & Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
The Perfect Manhattan(07 of10)
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When it comes to favorite cities, I’ll take Manhattan. And when it comes to favorite whiskey drinks, ditto. Here is a classy drink that has never left the cocktail A-list. - Erika Kotite
Photo: James Ransom
Spinach Gratin(08 of10)
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Creamed spinach with a crunch, this gratin applies a layer of finesse to an age-old comfort food. - Amanda & Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
French Onion Soup(09 of10)
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This is almost, but not quite, the traditional French onion soup that comes to mind. It starts with a full 3 pounds of onions and some smashed garlic, which you caramelize slowly and thoroughly in butter and olive oil. And don't forget to put a piece of toast in the bottom of each bowl -- it makes for a lovely surprise. - Amanda & Merrill
Photo: Sarah Shatz
Chocolate and Cabernet Sauvignon Italian Cake(10 of10)
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This is a lovely moist and delicate cake with bold fruity flavors from the wine with a nice complexity from the spices and chocolate. It's a perfect elegant dessert to finish off a dinner party. Be sure to use a good wine that you'd like to drink. - biffbourgeois
Photo: James Ransom

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