A special night out can be the main event on Valentine's Day. But there's no shame in getting a deal while you are dining.

This Valentine's Day, Americans are expected to spent $25.8 billion, a bit short of 2020's record spending of $27.4 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, which surveyed 8,329 adult consumers about their holiday plans last month.

Nearly four out of 10 people plan to go out to eat to celebrate Valentine’s Day, more than any other holiday surveyed by data and tech firm Numerator. The Chicago-based research firm surveyed 5,132 consumers in January about holiday plans for the year.

About 34% of people planned their Valentine's Day celebrations more than a month ahead of the holiday, Numerator found. But if you're among those who don't, there's still time – and some deals for you.

Heart-shaped foods for Valentine's Day:Show your love with heart-shaped pizza, donuts, more

Valentine's Day dining deals

• Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza & Wings: On Valentine's Day, buy a heart-shaped pizza for only $10 and get a discount on a bottle of wine (toppings not included, wine prices vary).
• Ben & Jerry's: Two new flavors have arrived in time for Valentine's Day: PB S'more, with chunks of chocolate peanut butter cups, toasted marshmallow ice cream, graham cracker pieces and a marshmallow swirl; and Impretzively Fudged, chocolate ice cream with fudge-covered pretzel pieces ($4.99-$6.99).
• Biggby Coffee: On Valentine's Day buy one, get one free or $1 off any drink (any size up to 24 ounces).

• BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: For Valentine’s Day, the restaurant chain has a special Sweetheart Pizookie, made with chunks of Ghirardelli chocolate and topped with vanilla bean ice cream, fresh strawberries and strawberry purée. Special drinks include the new Mango Strawberry Mimosa. And those who dine on Valentine's Day also get a coupon for a free Pizookie redeemable Feb. 15 through March 31. All $50 gift cards purchased through Valentine's date get a $10 bonus card redeemable Feb. 15- March 31.

• BurgerFi: Get a $3 Frozen Custard Shake with any purchase on Valentine's Day. (Offer good in-restaurant only at participating locations.)
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill: The Italian-American restaurant chain has a special four-course menu for two for Valentine's Day ($65, shared appetizer, choice of soup or salad, entrée, and dessert to share) including Tomato Caprese with Burrata, Chicken Parmesan, 7-ounce Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin or 9-ounce Tuscan-Grilled Filet and Red Velvet Cake (offer good now through Feb. 18).

• Fazoli’s: Get a free Cheesecake Factory Bakery Cheesecake or Italian Cream Cake with any entrée purchase on Valentine's Day using code VALENTINES24 (at participating locations only).
• Gerber: Some younger significant others deserve treats, too. Gerber has some new offerings including Wonderfoods Superfood Hearts with Quinoa Strawberry Banana Broccoli and Lentil Banana Carrot Raspberry Plantastic Organic Yum Hearts. Get 21.4% off any order of $100 or more through Thursday, Feb. 15, on Gerber.com.

• Goldbergs Fine Foods: Get the Lover's Dozen bagel platter with 14 heart-shaped bagels and choice of cream cheese, available only on Valentine's Day (in-store, online or in-app for pick-up only).  
• Handel's Homemade Ice Cream: The ice cream franchise has special February flavors including Cherry Cordial, Cherry Magnolia, and Black Cherry, plus Strawberry Handel Pops.

• Huddle House: Dessert on Valentine's Day at the restaurant chain includes two new cakes: Chocolate Overload Layer Cake and Carrot Layer Cake. 
• Insomnia Cookies: Whatever your mood on Valentine's Day, the late-night bakery chain has something for you. Want to end things? Get the It’s Not Me, It’s You Pack ($26.75) with a dozen cookies and a breakup note. You can also get Happy Valentine’s Day box sleeves (six or 12 cookies, $16.25 & $27.75) and Lookin’ Like a Snack box sleeves (12-pack, $27.25). Limited time treats include Red Velvet Cookies ‘N Cream Brookie, Ghirardelli Chocolate Lava Cake Filled Deluxe cookies, Red Velvet cookies, and Valentine's Day cookie pizza, Red Velvet Heart cookie cake, and Chocolate Chunk heart cookie cake. (Available in store and for local delivery until Feb. 18 or until supplies last. Price and availability vary by location. Also available via nationwide shipping.)

• Jimmy John's: The sandwich chain has limited time Red Velvet Brownies and Red Velvet Cookies available through February (in participating locations, with pricing varying by location; $2.60 in New York).

• Johnny Rockets: From Feb. 14-18, buy any shake, get one free.
• Krispy Krunchy Chicken: If you love chicken sandwiches, try the fast-food chain's new Cajun Chicken Sandwich, an all-white meat breast fillet marinated in mild Cajun spices, topped with signature honey sauce ($4.99, pricing may vary).
• Krystal: The fast-food restaurant has a special $20 Twin Flame Meal – with chili cheese fries, 4 Krystals sliders, 2 Chiks or 2 Krabbycake Sliders, 2 apple turnovers, and 2 small drinks – available through Feb. 19 in store and online. And post a picture on Facebook or Instagram with hashtag #KissandTellKrystal for a coupon code for a free Chik (online only, valid until Feb. 29).
• Logan’s Roadhouse: Get Prime Rib on Valentine's Day through Feb. 18.
• Metro Diner: The restaurant chain has some special Valentine's Day-themed dishes for a limited time, including Strawberry Shortcake Griddles, Strawberry Shortcake Bread Pudding, Strawberry Shortcake waffles and pancakes, and the Pretty in Pink Mimosa.
• MyMochi: Win one of 29 free boxes of new MyMochi Waffle Bites, frozen waffles made with the sweet rice flour used in traditional mochi. Go to the MyMochi website to enter on Valentine's Day.
• Noodles & Company: The restaurant chain is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a new limited-time dish Chicken Prosciutto Tortelloni with Smoked Gouda, available nationwide starting on Valentine’s Day ($10 for a small dish and $12 for a large). And Noodles & Company's Wisconsin Mac and Cheese ($6.50 for a small) now has 50% more cheese sauce.

• Nothing Bundt Cakes: The bakery chain has some special limited-time sweets for the holiday including Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter cakes (prices start at $32) made with chocolate chips and Reese's Peanut Butter Chips, topped with cream cheese frosting and drizzled with peanut butter sauce. Also available: Conversation Hearts Bundtinis – get two mini-Bundt cakes with heart-shaped notes ($38-up) – and the Love You to Pieces Bundt Cake ($40-up).
• Pancheros Mexican Grill: Members of the Burritos With Benefits loyalty program get buy one, get one free entrées all day on Valentine's Day through the Burritos With Benefits loyalty program app. Also on the menu for a limited time: Sizzlin’ Shrimp, which can be used in tacos, on a bowl or salad, in a burrito or in a quesadilla (available until March 31; prices vary by location).
• Panera: Starting Valentine's Day and for a limited time, members of the MyPanera loyalty program get 20% off Panera’s You Pick Two menu, which includes new Sourdough Melts, the Bacon Avocado Melt and Southwest Chicken Melt. Also get 15% off online gift card purchases Feb. 11-18 (good for retail plastic and egift card purchases and reloads made online or egift card purchases made using Apple Pay in Messages only; offer not valid in cafe, on bulk gift card purchases, or purchases from third parties).
• Perkins: The restaurant chain has prime rib on the menu starting Valentine's Day through Feb. 18. And a new menu starting Feb. 14 includes Hibachi Grilled Shrimp Skillet. Dessert options include Chocolate Overload Cake and Wildberry Pie.

• Pollo Campero: Earn double Campero Rewards in the restaurant's loyalty program on Valentine's Day.
• Potbelly: Members of the Potbelly Perks loyalty program get a free Red Velvet Cookie on Valentine's Day with purchase of any entrée, including a sandwich, bowl of soup, or whole salad (get the deal by ordering on Potbelly.com, the Potbelly App or in-shop with a scan.)
• Qdoba: Qdoba Rewards members get a free entrée on Valentine's Day when they buy an entrée and a drink. If you aren't a rewards member yet, you can sign up on Feb. 14 to get the deal.
• Red Lobster: Valentine's Day coincides with the seafood restaurant's annual Lobsterfest celebration (subject to availability for a limited time at participating Red Lobster locations in the U.S. and Canada). This year's Lobsterfest brings some new dishes including Crispy Lobster & Shrimp Stack, Lobster & Shrimp Lover’s Dream, Lobster Lover’s Duo, and Lobster Flatbread. New drinks include the the Deep Sea Lobsterita, Mango Berry Sangria, and Mocha Espresso Martini.

• Red Robin: Through Feb. 18, get Red Robin’s Lovebird Combo ($29.95), which comes with your choice of two gourmet burgers – including the gourmet cheeseburger and Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich – served with a bottomless side of steak fries, Yukon chips, steamed broccoli, side salad, garlic parmesan broccoli, coleslaw, garlic fries or sweet potato fries, plus an onion ring shorty as a starter. (The combo is available for dine-in only; ancient-grain veggie patty available for substitution for no additional charge.) You can also order a the new limited edition Red Robin “Juicier” tracksuit, made in collaboration with Juicy Couture, to celebrate the fast-food chain's new juicier and more flavorful burgers.

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• Round Table Pizza: Through Valentine's Day get $5 off any large or extra large pizza. Any large pizza can be made into a heart-shaped pizza, too. To get the deal, use code HEART5 at checkout.
• RXBAR: Working out at your gym where your ex also goes is tough any day, not just Valentine's Day. But RXBAR wants to pay 10 lucky winners' exes to join a new gym so you don't have to deal with that. Sign up at RXBAReXes.com through Feb. 14 to win $1,000 for your ex to join another gym and a box of RXBARS – and you get $100 for yourself to spruce up your workout wardrobe and a year's worth of RXBARS.

• 7-Eleven: The convenience store chain has some sweet specials for Valentine's Day including Buy One, Get One Candy for $1 when you purchase a king-size or share size Reese's, Kit Kat, M&Ms, Snickers and other candy and get a second one for $1. Other offers: Seven Select brand treats including Peach Heart Gummis ($2.99) and Chocolate Flavored Heart Pretzels ($2.99); Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk BIG Cookie, made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate mini Kisses, (two for $3); and new flavored Seven Select Dessert Sliced Cakes in Rainbow and Marshmallow Cookie Dough flavors.
• Smokey Bones: Valentine's Day dining offers include 16-oz bone-in New York strip ($27.99, comes with choice of 2 regular sides), BBQ shrimp appetizer ($10.99), shrimp & grits ($19.99), grilled salmon ($23.99, two sides), and chocolate cake ($9.99).

• Smoothie King: Get free extras and enhancers with your purchase of a 20-ounce smoothie or larger Feb. 13-15 (one per customer, per day).
• Sonic Drive-In: For Valentine's Day (Feb. 13-March 3), get Reba McEntire's Reba's Sweetheart Meal ($11.89), which includes a cheeseburger with everything on it, tots and the new Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake.
• Surcheros: Get two entrees, two drinks, a medium queso or guacamole and a S'mores Quesadilla for $30 on Valentine's Day from 5 p.m. to close. 
• Whole Foods: Serve up surf and turf at home and, if you are an Amazon Prime member, you get 20% off on Animal Welfare Certified steak and sustainable wild caught lobster tails.
• Wingstop: Heat up your Valentine's Day with Wingstop's Hot Honey dry rub wings, available for a limited time starting Feb. 14, delivering sweet flavors with a bold kick of cayenne pepper and ancho chili. And if you are in Manhattan, you can dine at the fast food chain's upscale transformed dining spot Flav'r by Wingstop.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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