Many full moons ago, I, Nicky Balestrieri (the senior creative director at ExtraExtra, PAPER's sister events and marketing company) was given the nickname "Susan."  I had gone in to get my hair done for my birthday at Mud Honey Salon, and while I was giving specific directions for the elegant chignon with a touch of baby's breath that I wanted, drag queen-turned hairdresser Corvette cut me off. "You are the whitest woman we have ever met," he exclaimed. "You're such a Susan!" Et voila, Susan was born.

To put it simply, Susan is a Planner, with a capital P, and loves putting together parties, dinners, unveiling, premieres, and Chardonnay rooftop brunches on breezy Spring mornings. She really does it all.

So on this Valentine's Day, as I get ready to board a plane to Los Angeles, I decided to use some of my Planning skills for the public good, and put together a guide to my favorite Valentine's Day-appropriate restaurants. Just tell them Susan sent you.


Tiny's and the Bar Upstairs
135 West Broadway, Tribeca

Tiny's and the Bar Upstairs is located in the most romantic little house with the most romantic little rooms with the most romantic little fireplace. Romantic!
On the menu: Gorgeous, nouveau-American fare like farm-fresh kale salads, homemade buratta, and pan-seared scallops with celery puree and Jerusalem artichokes.

Tremont
51 Bank Street, West Village

Even though Marc Jacobs keeps buying gorgeous little street corners in the West Village and turning them into book and baby stores, the Ohio natives behind Tremont managed to save one and turn it into the most lovely West Village-by way of Amagansett bistro.
On the menu: The food is Old-Country -- updated. (Think house-made duck pastrami and lemon cod croquettes - and have huge portions so you two love birds can share!)

EO
510 Hudson Street, West Village

Perhaps one of the first establishments to start the speak-easy tornado of the mid aughts, without this little 30-table bar and restaurant in the West Village, there would be no Milk and Honey, no St. Germain stocked in households bars and no Boardwalk Empire. 
On the menu: Chef Julia Jaksic rules her kitchen with carnivorous pleasure (Read: bone marrow poppers, duck confit salad, elk loin and my absolute favorite steak tartar in the city).

100 Acres
38 MacDougal Street

The best of Ricky King's little New York Empire (which also includes Five Points and
Cookshop), this is the quintessential NYC-chic version of a farm-to-table neighborhood joint.
On the Menu: Round radishes and anchovy butter and Carolina shrimp and grits. Oh, and ask to sit in the back. It's darling.

Hotel Delmano
82 Berry Street, Williamsburg

There's no place in New York more stylish and antique-gorgeous than this Williamsburg
cocktail bar. Every little detail was considered in creating this magic little corner of the
world, from the curved marble bar to the mignonettes accompanying the Imperial Seafood
tower to the rosemary branch served in your perfect little cup of booze.
On the Menu: While not a restaurant, the small plates and super-fresh raw bar is more
than enough to tide you over.

Rayuela
165 Allen Street, LES

Tapas are fun and flirty, and Rayuela does them well at their beautifully designed and perfectly-lit LES outpost. While they have a full menu, I recommend sampling their unexpected "estilo libre" cuisine (basically Spanish fusion taken to a whole new level) via their "grazing menu."
On the menu: Load your table with quinoa-crusted oysters, hamachi ceviche, and
house specialty carica tejada, and accompany with muchos mescal cocktails (mescal is
the new tequila BTW so your date will be impressed when you order and say this).