By Lanier Laney

Valentine’s day is just around the corner and restaurants are starting to book up fast. Here’s a short list of what’s happening around town to give you some ideas:

Did you hear that Beaufort’s own City Loft Hotel was voted by Tripadvisor Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards for 2012 as the #9 Hotel (out of the top 25 chosen in the entire country) for best service? Quite an accomplishment! Congrats to <strong>Stephanie</strong> and <strong>Matt</strong> and <strong>the whole wonderful staff</strong> for giving new visitors to our town such good memories of Beaufort!  For Valentine’s day they still have a few king rooms available at their special ‘local’s only’ rate of $159.00, which includes a bottle of wine and an early 12 p.m. check in. Call (843) 379-5638 for reservations.

Breakwater Restaurant, <strong>Donna Lang</strong> says they are running some wonderful Valentine Dinner Specials and also some bubbly specials (843-379-0052)!

Across Carteret street from City Loft  at Wren Bistro, <strong>Chef Annie Sergent</strong> is cooking up some exciting Valentine Specials along with drink specials (843-524-9463).

Around the corner, a block away at 706 Craven, <strong>Chef Tony Fairbanks </strong>at the Tooting Egret has whipped up a delicious menu that includes pork tenderloin, crab cakes or chicken roulade. Two seatings 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.,  $40 for 3 courses. Check out the whole delicious menu on Facebook at The Tooting Egret (843-521-4507).

Up the street at the new Italian Restaurant Griffin’s at 403 Carteret (on the corner of Craven),  Ricardo says, “Remember, Italy is for lovers”; and he invites you join he and his wife <strong>Chef Laura</strong> for a very romantic evening. They will have two seatings at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. with a special five-course menu which includes prosecco (843-524-0240).

Over at Saltus  there will be a wonderful Valentine menu prepared by <strong>Chefs Brian Waters </strong>and<strong> Penn Ten Eyck. </strong>A four course meal for just $55 (843-379-3474).

Plums also will have a special Valentine menu according to owner <strong>Lantz Price</strong> (843-525-1946).  Good news!  Lantz  also just told me that Plums is expanding to Bluffton. In a spot in the Truffles/Kroger shopping center complex,  so be sure and tell all your friends over there that they soon too can experience one of Beaufort’s favorite places to eat.

At Southern Graces, <strong>Chef Christopher Hewitt</strong> has put together a magical and romantic Valentine’s Dinner.  You can view it on their Facebook page.  By reservations only call (843)-379-0555.  And after dinner, there’s always the Beaufort Inn upstairs.

For a true Southern Valentines Day, check out the special Romance package at the beautiful antebellum Rhett House Inn (www.rhetthouseinn.com/packages), which  includes a half dozen roses, champagne, dinner certificate and carriage ride. Call (843) 524-9030 or book online.

Since we are on the subject of Valentine’s, don’t forget you can still get tickets to the wonderful dancing, music and incredible silent auction items of the <strong>Valentine Ball</strong> at the Lyceum on Parris Island on February 11, which would be another great surprise Valentine gift for your sweetie! Go online to www.valentineball.org to purchase tickets.