Best Lake Charles Restaurants for Valentine’s Day

A romantic setting, a wonderful menu, a night out on the town -- you can never prepare for Valentine's Day too early. There's a lot of great places to take the person you love on love's holiday, but we have a few recommendations for you, in no particular order. Bon appetit!

Harlequin Steaks & Seafood

501 West College Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605 -- (337) 310-0077

A Lake Charles tradition since the mid-1950s, the Harlequin is known for their fine steaks and great seafood. It's known as a great place for a business lunch, but is also perfectly suitable for a night out with the one you love. Not a bad idea to call ahead and get a reservation. They don't have an online menu, unfortunately. But get the crab cakes.

Pat's Of Henderson

1500 Siebarth Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601 -- (337) 439-6618 [Menu]

Easy to find, easy to love, Pat's of Henderson has an extensive menu that's heavy on high-end Cajun cuisine. If you're looking to impress -- especially if your date hasn't had much experience with Cajun food -- it's hard to go wrong with the menu at Pat's. Their gumbo is award-winning, and the service is excellent. They're located right off Interstate 210.

Mazen's Restaurant

217 West College Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605 -- (337) 477-8207 [Menu]

So, you might not automatically think Mediterranean when you think Valentine's Day, but if you're tired of the steak and seafood route, this is a more adventurous option. You may remember Mazen's back when it was Aladdin's -- but a new location and a name change doesn't hide a great menu, including quail, duck, lamb and veal. And yes, they've got great steaks and seafood, too. You won't be disappointed.

La Truffe Sauvage

815 West Bayou Pines Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601 -- (337) 439-8364 [Menu]

Ooh, la la. French for "The Wild Truffle," La Truffe Sauvage is one of the better-kept secrets in Lake Charles. It's fine dining at it's very finest. Tucked away near the Lake Charles Raquet Club off Lake Street, the menu is second-to-none. This is gourmet dining for discriminating palates, so if you're looking to impress, this will do the trick.

Pujo St. Cafe

901 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 -- (337) 439-2054 [Menu]

If you're looking for a more affordable option that's still high-class enough to impress, Pujo St. Cafe's a great choice located downtown. Not to say that it's boring, by any means -- with dishes like Crabmeant Florentine, Ahi Tuni or Chicken Las Cruces, you've still got plenty of exotic fare to try. But we're also getting back into solid steak and seafood territory. Plus, you're close enough to downtown to continue the evening after the meal is over.