By Bhavna Batra > University of Maryland, Ian Brecher > University of Maryland, and Courtney Egelston > Syracuse University

Although Valentine's Day may be regarded as a cliché, hallmark-created holiday, let’s face it: every girl wants to be wined and dined, and showered with gifts on this day. Unfortunately for you, fellas, this can put a dent in your wallet.  But don't look at us with those puppy dog eyes anymore, we at CM have found several romantic destinations that will offer you an excellent meal and pleasant ambience all for fifty dollars or less.

Alero Restaurant Lounge-Dupont Circle

For a lively atmosphere and tasty food, go here. Alero offers a traditional Mexican environment along with its cuisine; you’ll find yourself listening to the live salsa band and surrounded by mirrored walls and Mexican art. Appetizers range from $3.95 to $8.95 and are big enough to order one and share.  Entrées are particularly economical in price, with the cheapest being the $5.95 cheese quesadilla (served with a choice of pico di gallo, cheese, guacamole, and all the trimmings).  All desserts are $3.95—even the sweet, decadent tres leches cake. If you order right, you can even afford two glasses of the house red wine at $4.50 a glass. Definitely a great pick!

Recommended Line up:

Appetizer: 3 empanadas $5.95

Entrée: 2 chicken quesadillas $19.90

Dessert: 2 Tres Leches Cakes $7.90

Two glasses of wine: $9.00

Grand total: $42.75* (not including tax+gratuity)

Cava Restaurant-Rockville

For those who enjoy mixing things up and trying several dishes at once, this Greek tapas restaurant is for you.  All dishes are served mezze-style, with portions large enough to share with your valentine.  The dark brick interior lit by candles at every table provides the ambience of an upscale restaurant at a low cost.  Most dishes run between a modest $5.95 and $17.95, with the exception of certain platters. The food has a delicious blend of spices, and seafood lovers in particular will be dazzled by the offerings of the Opa Opa Shrimp and Mussels Kolokani, both which are tossed in rich, creamy sauces. For those wine connoisseurs, different varieties of traditional Greek wines, Spanish Reds, and Argentinean Malbecs are available along with cabernet, merlot, pinot noir, and shiraz from other regions of the globe, ranging from $6.00 to $11.00 a glass.  Most people are turned off by tapas restaurants because they can be very expensive for a small amount of food.  For fifty dollars at Cava though, you can try several diverse dishes without sacrificing taste or your wallet.

Siri’s Chef Secret-Greenbelt, MD

This restaurant is the perfect for the Valentines Day enthusiast. The entire restaurant is decorated with (tasteful) hearts and red and pink balloons, adding to the already romantic low lighting and soft music which plays in the background. Get your reservations early because a special Valentines Day menu, created by the chef with certain traditional Thai dishes, is all offered at a low cost. Their Gai Ka Pow (known as Basil Delight) with succulent tender ground chicken seasoned with authentic Thai basil and sprinkled with a hint of lemon can be ordered to taste (medium spicy to “Thai spicy”). As a native of Thailand, I give this restaurant 4 stars (out of five) for their Thai dishes, which range between $8.95 and $16.95 per entrée.  For those who are not as enthusiastic about Thai cuisine, an American menu is also offered, which includes a flavorful chicken marsala at $14.95 that comes with a salad, vegetables du jour and a choice of rice or potatoes. Though alcoholic drinks may not be an option for those with a $50 budget, the food and environment more than compensates.

Other restaurants with an affordable menu:

Japanese Cuisine:

Ziki Japanese Steak House-Gaithersburg, MD: Japanese Restaurant

Indian cusine:

Tandoori Nights-Gaithersburg, MD: Indian Cuisine

Asian French Cuisine:

*Oya Restaurant Lounge-Washington, D.C.

*only under $50 if you order the $20 Lunch Prix Fixe (Lunch menu)

For our Baltimorians:

El Trovador’s Restaurante

318 S Broadway, Baltimore, MD

Throw a little spice into your February 14^th with El Trovador’s bright, upbeat décor and authentic Mexican food. The platters are big enough to satisfy even your hungriest appetites and the extensive menu offers everything from tacos ($9.95) to lobster ($18.50). Don’t be fooled by the wide array of choices--every dish stays true to its saucy roots. El Trovador also offers a hip bar with plenty of choices when it comes to alcoholic beverages, including Mexican beer ($3.50/glass) and sangria ($5.95). With elegant table settings and exotic entrées, you’re sure to give your Valentine a sophisticated but nontraditional holiday.

Sabatino’s Italian Restaurant

901 Fawn Street, Baltimore, MD 

Located on the corner of Fawn Street in the heart of Baltimore’s Little Italy, Sabatino’s is certainly one of the city’s most prized eateries.  For over 50 years, the same family has delivered its guests delicious and authentic Italian dining, set against a romantically rustic atmosphere.  Sabatino’s is truly a prime spot for a perfect Valentine’s Day meal.  While some of the items are a bit pricey, the enormous menu makes it relatively easy to stay in the $50 range.  If you choose a homemade pasta dish, like meat ravioli, manicotti or gnocchi, the entrées will only cost $13.25 each.  Share a fresh Insalata Caprese with buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes for $8.75.  The desserts range from $4.25 to $6.00, from which you can choose a traditional Italian treat, like tiramisu or a cannoli.  Or, perhaps you might want to travel off the boot, and try the caramel apple cheesecake or the chocolate mousse cake.  And don’t leave out the vino, which ranges from $4.75 to $6.00, by the glass.  A meal at Sabatino’s will certainly say, “That’s Amore,” without cleaning out your wallet. 

Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop

222 Albemarle Street, Baltimore, MD

The name just sounds like Valentine’s Day, and what could be more romantic than sharing delicate desserts? Vaccaro’s was started by an Italian immigrant with recipes straight from Sicily. Today it’s a leader of fine Italian pastries and the perfect place to satisfy a sweet tooth. The staff highly recommends the tiramisu and the cannoli, which are both big enough to share. CM’s suggestion: get one of each for a tasty treat, filling enough to count as dinner. It may not be a four-course meal, but for a total of $11.90 (not including tax or gratuity) you can have a full stomach and a full wallet. Bonus points if you tell your date how bella she looks tonight.

Artisian Gourmet Pizza:

Iggie’s Pizza

818 N Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 

Japanese Cuisine:

Asahi Sushi

629 S Broadway, Baltimore, MD

Rolls range from $3.50-$12, and the average meal comes to about $15 a person.

Thai Cuisine

Thai Arroy

1019 Light Street, Federal Hill, Baltimore, MD