LAURA DOUGLAS/Assistant Photo Editor Auburn graduate Ben Bates and wife Paula, a junior in textile engineering, celebrate at Provino’s Italian restaurant located on Opelika Highway. This will be their first Valentine’s Day together as a married couple.

Besides diamonds and dozens of roses, a romantic, candlelit dinner is one of the best ways to a woman’s heart.

Sorry, hamburgers, fries, pizza and cheap wine just won’t cut it on Valentine’s because girls and guys want something special on this lovers’ day.

And what better way to win over the opposite sex than by visiting some of 

Auburn and Opelika’s Italian, American and Japanese fine dining venus on the most romantic day of the year.

“It’s the biggest day of the year next to Mother’s Day,” said Mike Bedsole, manager of Cock of the Walk, a seafood restaurant in Opelika.

Carol Riddle, manager of Auburn’s Terra Cotta Cafe, agrees. 

She said her restaurant “most definitely” sees an increase of diners on Valentine’s Day.

Because of the increase in Feb. 14 business, the Terra Cotta Cafe is offering a special menu for diners wanting an elegant meal.

Patrons can enjoy a four course meal consisting of three to four different appetizers, a salad or soup, entree and dessert.

The cafe is serving a choice of deep fried oysters Napoleon, smoked salmon Carpaccio and black Angus beef bruschetta for the special appetizer choices, Riddle said.

Entree choices consist of quail in a puff pastry, filet mignon, potato-crusted salmon or grilled veal chops.

A dessert of chocolate and fig sauce will be served as the final course of the meal, Riddle said.

She said diners can enjoy a glass of champagne with their meals while a pianist plays softly in the background.

If Italian food is more of your craving, diners can enjoy Noodles, located above Bourbon Street on College Street.

Noodles owner Luz Orozco said his restaurant also sees an increase of diners on this romantic holiday. 

“Last year, Valentine’s Day was on Sunday, so we had a lot of people eating on Saturday night,” Orozco said. “This year, we’ll probably see a different crowd with Valentine’s Day on Monday.”

Because of the planned increase in business, Noodles has also prepared a Valentine’s special for patrons.

Orozco said diners at Noodles can enjoy a selection of a three course meal on Valentine’s Day.

Patrons can choose between a Mediterranean or Caesar salad and an entree choice of spaghetti Pomodoro, lasagna, chicken parmigiana or shrimp or chicken fettuccine Alfredo.

Noodles customers also have a choice of either chocolate Confusion cake or the house specialty, tiramisu, a lady finger-like dessert, for the Valentine’s Day special.

Pasta lovers can also enjoy the menu selections at Provino’s Italian restaurant in Opelika, and owner Kim Sellers said the bistro will offer regular menu items like chicken, shrimp and veal parmigiana and a selection of wines.

Sellers said Provino’s open fireplace is a popular romantic spot for couples.

If seafood is the choice you’re craving on Valentines Day, Cock of the Walk has a menu selection just for you and your Valentine.

Popular selections at the tranquil restaurant surrounded by trees and overlooking a pond are shrimp, oysters, crab claws, crawfish and catfish, said owner Janet Bartlette.

“We will present fresh roses or carnations to each of our female guests,” Bartlette said.

Oriental food connoisseurs can take their loved ones to Shogun Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar on Valentine’s Day.

Andy Lee, owner of Shogun, said the restaurant won’t offer a special, but diners can enjoy the most popular menu items including teriyaki chicken, sushi, steak and lobster.

“We’ve already stopped taking reservations,” Lee said. “We’re pretty much crowded.”

Since dining out is a special way to treat a loved one on Valentine’s Day, break out your finer clothes and make reservations early so Cupid’s arrow will be sure to strike you.