Given the realities of the recession, you may have expected that when it came to Valentines Day at Brighton restaurants it was going to be a rather more subdued affair this year but thankfully it appears that’s not the case. In fact, not only does it look like there’s still plenty of love in the air, there’s something rather reassuring about the fact that when it comes to celebrating Valentines Day at Brighton restaurants, 14th February is going to be as all-singing and all-dancing as ever.

In the words of Jerry Maguire (ok, I’m reaching but you get the point) we live in cynical times so the fact that even in the credit crunch you’re able to enjoy the company of your soul mate is cause enough for celebration. And, as food tends to be an aphrodisiac, it makes sense to celebrate Valentines Day at Brighton restaurants before leaving them with the washing up and heading home to reap the rewards. Whilst it may not be fair, more often than not it appears that in life two heads are better than one – from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to buy one, get one free, it pays to have a partner in crime.

Enjoying Valentines Day at Brighton restaurants doesn’t have to be eye-wateringly expensive though. Whether you’re spending on a shoestring or have decided to throw caution to the wind and celebrate in spectacular style, your Valentine will thank you for making the effort. And, if like me, the thought of spending your Valentines Day evening trying to outdo countless other couples on the ‘no, we’re the most in love’ front leaves you seriously contemplating a lifetime of eternal singledom, fear not. As Valentines Day falls on a Saturday this year, there are plenty of Brighton restaurants that are stretching celebrations out over the entire weekend. Here are my top tips:

Riddle and Finns
Hmm, so it's Valentines Day and suddenly you remember that you totally forgot to book a restaurant to show the object of your affection just how much you care. Whilst it's not a great start to such an auspicious date, luckily Riddle and Finns doesn't just happen to be one of the best restaurants in Brighton, handily they have a no booking policy too (even on Valentines Day). If all the tables are full, they'll put your name on the list whilst you pop to a bar around the corner in The Lanes. Even better, in addition to the a la carte menu there's a special Valentines menu running on 13th and 15th February as well as Valentines Day priced at £45 per person. For that you'll get a selection of light bites, a hot shellfish platter, a whole baked fish to share and a selection of chocolates. 

Oki-Nami
Whether co-owner Norman Cook will be wooing Zoe with sushi at the restaurant on Valentines Day remains to be seen but even if he’s not in situ, Oki-Nami still promises food that’s as sexy as the surroundings. Their set menu (3 courses for £25 per person) includes oysters, sushi and chicken skewers to start, sashimi, steak and sea bream for mains, plenty of veggie options and a Valentines special for dessert plus green tea ice cream and Japanese millionaire’s shortbread. Wash it all down with their specially created Valentines Day cocktails.

Madame Geisha
If you're treating a stylish Valentine who's a stickler for quality food and cocktails, one of Brighton's most recent additions to the dining scene is a fantastic choice. For £35 per person you'll get a Champagne cocktail on arrival and a choice of scallops, Thai coconut soup with tiger prawns, fresh scallops, enoki mushrooms and galangal or shitake mushroom parcels with caramelised onion and roasted red pepper coulis for starters. For main courses, pick from sake poached organic salmon, slow roasted pork belly and sauteed organic tofu with bamboo and snow pea salad. Finish the meal with a few of their excellent sake cocktails and either hot ginger pudding, an organic chocolate and chilli tartlet or fresh fruit with hot chocolate fondue.

Tin Drum
If you’re looking to seduce your Valentine with several courses then the Tin Drum in Seven Dials is a great option. They’re going one step further than their sister restaurants too with live music (Spanish, acoustic and jazzy sounds) on 14th February. One course of the five course taster menu (£25 per person) unusually includes a Bellini within it and not content with that they are also concocting aphrodisiac cocktails based around chocolate and pomegranates. Sexy stuff.

Arrogant Frog
The French are famed for their dedication to the art of romance and what they don’t know about it could fit on a frog’s leg. Don’t be put off by the name, this Hove restaurant is intimate and friendly. The special Valentines Day a la carte menu includes home-made foie gras with Armagnac and Jerusalem artichoke soup with truffle and parmesan crisps for starters, roasted rack of Black Gascony pork and monkfish for mains plus crepes, creme brulee and red cherry marmalade, vanilla and mascarpone mousse with a chocolate crumble for dessert.

The Real Eating Company
Perfect for couples who need to get back for the babysitter, the restaurant starts taking orders at 6.30pm, with last orders at 9.30pm so you won’t have to worry about sitting in an empty restaurant and leaving before most couples arrive. The three course set menu costs £29 per person with options including scallops, foie gras and Jerusalem artichoke soup for starters, rack of lamb, roast halibut and butternut squash ravioli for main courses and pudding plates for two to share plus a selection of British cheeses to round the meal off.

Sevendials
If you feel like splashing out for Valentines Day at Brighton restaurants then you need to make it fine dining and despite its rather less than scenic surroundings, perched as it is beside the Seven Dials roundabout, once you set foot inside the heavy doors of the restaurant its tranquil air is instantly relaxing. The special five course menu costs £45 per person and includes a glass of Champagne when you arrive, starters that range from oriental spiced duck to twice baked thyme and parmesan souffle, mains including loin of lamb and lemon sole and sharing plates of Valentines Day desserts or Sussex cheeses. The meal is rounded off with hand made chocolates - so that’s one less present to worry about. 

Zilli Brasserie
If the thought of sitting shoulder to shoulder with a restaurant full of lovestruck couples is enough to put you off your soup, get in there early. The much feted Zilli Brasserie is running its menu throughout Valentines Week. Opt for oysters to start, followed by a whole lobster, squid and scallops to share and round off the meal with a dark chocolate and strawberry heart fondant.

English's
Oysters are one of the most famous aphrodisiacs to be served on Valentines Day and luckily English's specialises in them. The restaurant is serving its usual a la carte menu throughout Valentines week with some of the finest seafood in Brighton on offer.

Alfresco
Seduce your Valentine with spectacular sea views and one of the simplest Valentines Day menus that you'll find on 14th February. The Valentines Day set menu costs £22.50 per person and includes crostini on arrival, a choice of mushroom risotto or crabmeat and crayfish tails for starters, a choice of three options for mains (salmon, chicken breast or vegetarian calzone pizza), all rounded off with a surprise Valentines Day dessert.

Due South
Request a table upstairs beside the window for some of the best views out to sea. The restaurant will be offering its special Valentines menu on Friday 13th (don't let the date put you off) and Sunday 15th February for £35 per person, whilst on Saturday 14th February it costs £45 per person. Make sure when you book that you state that you would like to order from the Valentines menu, otherwise you can order from the usual a la carte menu. The leisurely Valentines meal offers a glass of rose Champagne and a Sussex Valentines tasting platter to share on arrival, a choice of Brighton scallops or goats cheese to start and a serving of Champagne sorbet to cleanse the palate before moving onto mains. Pick from a whole grilled sea bass to share, sirloin of Castle Farm beef or Jerusalem artichoke gnocchi with shitake mushrooms and black truffle. Finish your evening with a selection Coco Loco organic fairtrade chocolate, poached rhubarb with cardamom panna cotta or a selection of Sussex handmade cheeses. Walk it all off with a romantic stroll along the seafront.

  
Riddeli
If you're hankering after an intimate meal on Valentines Day, Riddeli fits the bill beautifully. £40 per person buys you a selection of Sussex canapes on arrival, Brighton scallops to start followed by Champagne sorbet, a choice of Castle Farm beef fillet, sea bass fillet or wild mushroom risotto for mains, an elderflower and gin jelly pre-dessert, Coco Loco organic fairtrade chocolate fondant with sorbet or rhubarb and pear tatin with honey ice cream for dessert followed by fairtrade coffee and petit fours. On the other hand, if you'd rather celebrate at home, order a Valentines hamper for £65 and they'll deliver it for free within four miles of Brighton Pier. The hamper includes a lobster fruits de mer platter for two, an organic fairtrade chocolate mousse and a bottle of chilled Champagne. They are also selling a Valentines wooden gift box (£45) that contains a bottle of Champagne, smoked salmon and organic chocolate truffles.