Well before one whispers “be mine” on Valentines Day, perhaps some wining and dining should be on the menu. And area restaurants are going all out with special menus, whether prix-fixe or a la carte, to tempt the romantic in you and yours.

Some, like the Severn Inn and Carrol’s Creek Cafe, come with a view — an extra treat if gazing into the eyes of one’s partner is not enough. But certainly filling enough are the menus planned for the occasion.

Herewith is a taste of just some of the many spots hoping to share the evening.

At the Severn Inn, chef Nick Baker is preparing a three-course sample plate menu. Choose roasted beets with goat cheese or fried oysters skewered with smoked pork belly, followed by filet mignon, swordfish or sea scallops scampi, with chocolate ganache cake or caramel apple tart for dessert. $78 per person. 1993 B&A Blvd., Annapolis. 410-349-4000. severninn.com.

Sam’s on the Waterfront, long a local favorite, offers a five-course prix-fixe menu for the holiday. Among the choices are shrimp bruschetta or tomato lobster bisque, followed by sea bass or veal scallopini, then strawberry cheesecake. $75 per person. 2020 Chesapeake Harbour Drive East, Annapolis. 410-263-3600. samsonthewaterfront.com.

Carrol’s Creek Cafe, for over 30 years a destination for upscale-casual dining overlooking Annapolis Harbor, has an extensive a la carte menu for Valentine’s Day. For starters, choose from sea scallops in phyllo, House cured pastrami salmon, tuna tartare, cream of crab soup or Ceasar salad, among others. Entrees include sea scallops, filet mignon, osso bucco and herb encusted rockfish. 410 Severn Ave., Annapolis. 410-263-8102. carrolscreek.com.

Luna Blu’s Italianate menu offers up a prix-fixe meal with antipasti choices like burrata, shrimp and fried risotto balls with smoked mozzarella, along with primi selections like beef short ribs over garlic mashed potatoes, lobster tail over lobster risotto, or squid ink pasta with shrimp and crabmeat in a champagne cream sauce. For the dolci, choose chocolate covered strawberries with prosecco for two or limoncello ricotta cake. $60 per person. 36 West St., Annapolis. 410-267-9950. lunabluofannapolis.com

At Flamant, fine dining nestled in West Annapolis, the four-course prix-fixe Valentine’s menu features an optional wine pairing per course. Choose from scallop crudo or trout caviar, then Maine lobster quenelle or white gigantes bean soup with black truffle tapenade, followed by coffee-rubbed short ribs or bronzino filet. For dessert, it’s red wine-poached pears or chocolate beignets. $85 per person. Optional wine pairings are $55. 17 Annapolis St., Annapolis. 410-267-0274. flamantmd.com.

Osteria means host in Italian, and the passion of Osteria 177 chef/owner Arturo Ottaviano comes through in the detailed Valentine’s Day dishes he has wrought. The dishes sound much more romantic in Italian as presented on the menu, but choices include calamari, shrimp and sea scallop skewers with wasabi mayonnaise, seared veal tenderloin with tonnato sauce, and Kobe beef carpaccio for starters. Then there’s bone-in beef tenderloin, veal chop or Chilean sea bass. Maybe a panna cotta for dessert. $90 per person unless you want to add the Osetra caviar for two for a cool $120. 177 Main St., Annapolis. 410-267-7700. osteria177.com.

Down in Galesville overlooking the West River, Pirate’s Cove’s a la carte Valentine’s Day menu is simpler. Choose from cold water shrimp cocktail and ahi tuna poke to start, then pick from filet of beef and crab Oscar, twin lobster tails or fresh Atlantic halibut. But leave room for the chocolate satin pie. 4817 Riverside Drive, Galesville. 410-867-2300. piratescovemd.com.

At Preserve chef Jeremy Hoffman has crafted a four-course menu plus amuse bouche of warm gougeres filled with aquasco jack cheese from P.A. Bowen Farmstead in Brandywine. Then pick from appetizers like grilled oysters with caviar, Chesapeake smokehouse salmon toast, the scallops with sunchoke-saffron chowder or gulf shrimp dumplings in broth. Mains include braised lamb shoulder with gnocchi and pan-roasted porgy. For dessert, there’s butterscotch mousse or a vegan pot de creme with dark chocolate and fruit preserves. $85. 164 Main St., Annapolis. 443-598-6920. preserve-eats.com

The Light House Bistro by and for the Lighthouse Shelter has a three-course meal, starting with a choice of beet salad, grilled endive, tortellini in chicken consomme, followed by entrees like wine braised short rib, grilled swordfish or mushroom risotto. Desserts include flourless chocolate torte or grilled bread pudding. $50 per person. 202 West St., Annapolis, 410-424-0922. lighthousebistro.org.

Paul’s Homewood Cafe, which has stood at the same place on outer West Street since 1949, features an array of a la carte choices for Valentine’s Day. Among them are Greek shrimp saganaki or spanakopita, plus main dishes like pan-roasted wild rockfish, lamb chops with Greek honey rosemary lemon sauce. How about baklava with vanilla ice cream for dessert? 919 West St. 410-267-7891. paulshomewoodcafe.com.

pfurgurson@capgaznews.com