Valentine’s Day dining in Morris County

Whether you’re celebrating with a spouse, partner, family or friends, Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to share a special meal with someone you love and Morris County has no shortage of memorable dining experiences to please every palate.

From ethnic to continental cuisine and new restaurants to time-honored establishments, following is a range of great Valentine’s Day destinations that will surely warm your heart.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Where to go for Valentine's Day dinner in N.J. http://dailyre.co/1DgXfhO

Caffe NaVona 147 Route 46, Rockaway, 973-627-1606; www.caffenavona.com — An area favorite, the 200-seat Caffe NaVona has been serving classic Italian fare in an elegant, enchanting atmosphere for more than 20 years. On Valentine’s Day weekend, the restaurant will offer a special menu that includes such appetizers as sea scallops in a champagne cream sauce with a port wine reduction ($14.95), fresh burata mozzarella served over roasted beets with a balsamic demiglase ($12.95), and butternut squash ravioli in a homemade coconut cream sauce with toasted pistachios ($12.95). Entrées will include macadamia-encrusted sea bass with a cucumber mango salsa ($35.95), filet mignon in a Sangiovese demiglase with shitake mushrooms ($35.95), and homemade gnocchi served with traditional Neapolitan meat sauce ($18.95). “For dessert, enjoy our Gi Gi Torte, which includes layers of white and chocolate mousse with marshmallow served over an Oreo cookie crust ($7.50) or our New York-style Cheesecake a la Nancy, which features slow-cooked Bing cherries,” said restaurant president and executive chef Marco DeFilippis. “With our delicious food and live piano music from Alberto Lorenzetti, we’re a great place to celebrate the holiday.”

Twelve Islands Greek Taverna 1255 Valley Road, in the Stirling section of Long Hill Township, 908-647-2193; www.12islandsgreektaverna.com — Offering a special menu for Valentine’s Day, this four-year-old, 100-seat restaurant offers “everything made in the Greek tradition,” said server John Rousakis. From grilled lamb chops marinated in olive oil and thyme and served with briam — roasted vegetable ratatouille with Greek herbs, potatoes, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, and onions — ($35) to fresh fish specialties served whole or fileted and such traditional desserts as galaktomboureko, flaky-sweet baklava and creamy ekmek cake ($5), Twelve Islands promises a feast for the senses. With photos and paintings of the Greek islands adorning the walls and Greek music playing in the background, “it’s a nice, authentic Greek experience that diners will enjoy on Valentine’s Day,” Rousakis said.

Il Capriccio 633 Rt. 10, in the Whippany section of Hanover Township, 973-884-9176; www.ilcapriccio.com — First opened in 1984, this 170-seat culinary landmark has been delighting diners with authentic, gourmet Italian cuisine in an upscale setting for over three decades. Amid an interior decorated with fresh flowers and Tuscan-inspired murals and tapestries, the restaurant’s extensive a la carte menu features a number of items that Valentine’s Day diners will enjoy. Among those, “our pan-seared Chilean sea bass served with cannellini beans and broccoli rabe ($35) and whole-roasted branzino, which we de-bone tableside ($36), are both very popular, as are our osso bucco ($42) and Macaroni Alla Chitarra topped with Sardianian Bottarga caviar ($24),” said Salvatore LeRose, director of dining room operations. “And save room for our Chocolate Indulgence, featuring dark chocolate ganache served on a Nutella praline crust with gelato ($10),” he added. “We’ll have live piano music and it will be a beautiful, romantic night.”

Thai Chef 28 Diamond Spring Rd., Denville, 973-983-0800; www.thaichefdenville.com — First opened 15 years ago and taken over by owner/chef James Chang in 2004, this family-owned establishment has an extensive menu and a large, regular following. “I visited Thailand three times last year and have been offering a number of very traditional Thai dishes since then,” said Chang of the restaurant’s beautifully-plated entrées, such as Crispy Duck Breast in Basil Sauce ($20-25) and Goong Ob Woonsen, a dish featuring glass vermicelli noodles with prawns served in an authentic clay pot ($19). Along with such signature items as Thai Chef’s Peking Duck Roll — a homemade fresh crepe filled with Peking duck and rolled and cut into pieces like sushi ($8) — are more conventional Thai menu items including Pineapple Fried Rice and homemade desserts like Sweet Mango Sticky Rice ($8) and Grand Marnier Chocolate Souffle ($9) to please every palate, from conservative to adventuresome. “We’re considered a hidden gem in Denville,” said Chang. “We’ll be busy on Valentine’s Day weekend, but with our white linens and romantic ambiance, it will still be a relaxing and intimate setting.”

Guerriero’s Ristorante 162 South St., Morristown, 973-267-5055; www.guerrieros.com — For a dining experience that feels like coming home, there’s nothing like Guerriero’s, a warm and inviting destination that’s been family-owned and operated by Jack and Lynn Guerriero for the past ten years. At the cozy 50-60-seat cash-only establishment, Valentine’s Day diners will enjoy a special four-course prix fixe menu featuring a house or pear salad, a pasta course with choices of penne or ravioli, entrée options including chicken rollatini, veal marsala and a salmon special, and a dessert of limoncello or chocolate mousse cake for $47.95 per person. “Everything on the menu is from recipes my dad made for us growing up — it’s like you’re eating in our home,” said manager/hostess Leigh Guerriero of the Valentine’s Day ‘Sunday Dinner’ that will be offered during 4 and 6 p.m. seatings on Feb. 14.

Nicole’s Ten 246 Rt. 10, Randolph, 973-442-9311; www.nicolesten.com — Offering both Valentine’s Day specials as well as their regular menu items throughout the holiday weekend, this contemporary restaurant opened in 2008 offers eclectic comfort food and an extensive collection of wine and craft brews in a modern setting. Among the specials are their Artisan Mac & Cheese small plate ($10-14), featuring a blend of six artisan cheeses, braised shallots, and braised spinach infused with lobster and prosciutto, wild boar sausage, and short rib. Diners will also enjoy such dishes as the Seafood Pot Pie, a puff pastry filled with a savory blend of shrimp, bay scallops, lobster, New Zealand mussels and seasoned vegetables in a lobster and crab bisque ($28), as well as the restaurant’s grilled and blackened Grouper Taco Grande served with avocado, chopped tomato, baby arugula, cilantro, Cajun coleslaw, caramelized poblano, and red onion relish with mixed chipotle cheddar and gruyere cheese over a ‘tortuga’ tortilla shell ($21). For dessert, the ‘Mango Chango’— a New York-style cheesecake that’s fried and coated in cinnamon and sugar and served with fresh mango and vanilla ice cream ($8) is recommended. “Our menu is designed for a shareable experience, so Valentine’s weekend is a great time to enjoy some of our small plates, hand-crafted cocktails or one of our 24 rotating drafts available in shareable sample flights with that special someone in our cozy and romantic dining room,” said owner Nicole Dabal.

Got an eatery to recommend? Email eabreu@gannettnj.com.