Valentine's Day stresses me out. There, I said it. It's on par with New Year's Eve for a night that's supposed to be unforgettable, when you go all out to declare your love in the most romantic, make-everyone-groan-when-they-see-your-blissful-Instagram way. But most of the time, you're shelling out twice as much for flowers, frantically calling every Chef's Table-caliber restaurant in town, and swallowing the all-too-steep cost of prix fixe menus. All because it's Feb. 14th, and you'll feel like a miserly chump if you didn't.
This year, I'm revolting. I won't be part of the Michelin-starred, drop-a-car-payment-on-one-night machine anymore. It's never been my husband's and my style — we met in college, in a swing dance class, and for our first date he took me to the home of the Dollarmama, Applebee's. When I heard that White Castle offers an upscale, full-kitsch-and-red-hearts dinner on Valentine's Day (and that they'd set up a romantic dinner for two in front of Delish's cameras and 16 million of our closest Facebook fans), I had to surprise my husband with it. He gamely showed up to an address in the Bronx, not totally aware of what he was getting himself into — and then saw the gleaming ivory turrets of White Castle.
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"I'm definitely feeling the vibe," Nate told me, as we settled into our chairs. He wasn't being sarcastic; a bemused smile plastered his face. "I'm blown away. This is such a great — unexpected, but great — surprise."
The restaurant's tables were covered with ketchup-red tablecloths, the windows covered with glittering red streamers that blocked out the gridlock and eternally shouting New Yorkers outside. Paper hearts were hung from the ceiling, and flickering LED votives at every table set the mood, which was somewhere between middle-school dance and "you want Chicken Rings with that?" Every restaurant gets to determine its own decor, as well as what its servers — because yes, for one night only, White Castle has table service — wear.
It's a tradition that started with a single restaurant in 1991 and became such a hit that just about every White Castle participates these days. In fact, the demand's reached such a fever pitch that the company partnered with OpenTable this year, so you can reserve a spot in advance.
While the chain's playfully self-aware of the absurdity of ordering Surf & Turf — AKA a triple-decker beef and fried fish slider — as a local acapella group croons ballads over your shoulder*, you can't help but get into the campy-cool vibe. People have proposed there, rolled up in limos, even dressed up in couples costumes, like Batman and Robin, all in the name of having a Valentine's Day unlike any other.
And truly, it was unlike any other. Nate and I ordered a sampler of just about everything — classic slider, chicken and waffles, loaded smothered fries, surf and turf, even this year's specialty item of the night, chocolate-covered strawberry smoothies — all for less than it typically costs for two drinks at a bar. We came, we snacked, we slow-danced in the dining room ... and then Nate accidentally spilled a fudge-topped smoothie all over White Castle's fine linens.
"That's what love is," said White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson, who witnessed what will henceforth be known as The Incident. "That's the vulnerability of being able to be your true self, not being afraid to spill."
Leave it to White Castle's VP to be an unexpected life guru. I think we found our new Valentine's Day tradition — if they'll have us back.
*Not every restaurant offers live music. The Bronx location we visited often has Fordham University students perform each year, and others have had violinists and other performers, but it isn't guaranteed.
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