8 Reasons Why Valentine's Day Is The WORST Day To Eat Out

Boring set menus, bland dishes, and a sterile atmosphere make February 14 the worst time to eat out. Food editor Andrew Webb goes into rant mode.
Many many years ago, single and living in South London, I found myself having a drink in a pub with two single female friends on the evening of February 14. We were a bit peckish, and asked about a table for three in the pub’s restaurant area. ‘A table for three? Tonight?” said the manager eyeing me up and down closely, “but it’s Valentine’s night!” He then pulled back a curtain to reveal row upon row of single tables a mere 8” apart, with couples uniformly turning their heads, blinking in the candle light and all looking at the three of us in astonishment.

Ah Valentine’s day, when people who don’t regularly eat out, eat out. A meal to be ‘enjoyed’ in the close company of other couples (none of whom you must look at but whose every word you can hear) in a hushed ‘romantic’ silence reminiscent of the exam hall.

Here then, are just some of the reasons why it’s the worst time to eat out:

Aphrodisiac foods

There are no foods that are scientifically proven to increase sexual desire, none. So all those menus featuring chocolate, oysters or in some cases both are a waste of time.

We’re terrified of public displays of affection…

Kissing in public, in a restaurant no less, full of actual other couples, all looking at you and scoring your efforts – the horror.
via GIPHY

Unless we’ve had at least triple the recommend daily units of alcohol

Dutch courage will win the day.

The food is always terrible

Chicken or the beef? Chicken or the beef?

Leaving restaurant: “That was lovely.”
Outside: “Well, it was okay.”
In car: “I mean, it wasn’t great.”
Back home: “We won’t go there again.”
— VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish) January 15, 2017

You absolutely cannot look at your phone

Even though you’re dying to.

The guy selling roses

If you buy one, you look like a cheap sucker, if you don’t, you look tight.

“Ahh, you shouldn’t have. No, really, you shouldn’t have.”

The staff don’t want to be there either

Unlike Christmas, they’re not even on double time. Plus no large groups means more work for them as every table is a two. And you better tip!

The couple next to you are better looking

Both of you know this to be true, neither of you mention it on the journey home.

The General Manager’s view

But don’t just take my word for it, here’s a former general manager who worked many a Valentine’s night, speaking on condition of anonymity.

It’s February 14 and you want to express your love for your significant other so you think take them out to dinner. Sure, we’ll book you in and make damn sure that your stay doesn’t exceed the 90-minute table turn time; in at 7pm billed and out by 8.30pm just as the evening’s hotting up. That table reset so fast the next set of diners travel back in time.

To take the pain out of any decision making we’ll up-sell a menu to you – only £75.00 for five courses – of fabulously rampant gross profit generating tawdriness with a glass of bubbles thrown in. As you’ve not got to discuss what you’re going to order, you can use that time to sit in silence like all the other couples in the restaurant apart from when you gladly and gleefully engage with your charming and erudite waiter who breaks the silent rage across the now flat prosecco and the room temperature oysters.

But after the cacophony of Decembers office Christmas dinners and the January freeze in turnover, we do welcome you with grateful and open arms. For all those reasons above it’s one of the worst evenings to come out and dine, but do come. We need you star crossed lovers. Come out and spend, spend, spend.

About the author

Andrew Webb

Food & Drink Editor

Born in the Midlands and raised in the North West of England, Andrew came to London to attend St Martin's College of Art. After ten years working for the BBC and Channel 4, he set off on an eight month food tour of Britain, which led him to write his award-winning book, Food Britannia. He was previously the Editor of Lovefood.com and also produced and hosted delicious magazine's podcast. Responsible for the Culture Trip's food and drink content, he is interested in hearing about food events, product launches and potential interviews with chefs and food producers. He's also judged the British Pie Awards, reviewed restaurants, and spoken at food festivals, and so knows a good plate of food when he sees it. He can be found tweeting here @foodjournalist