Call it amateur night. For some couples, it’s the one evening a year they spring for an extravagant, fancy dinner. Unfortunately, it’s a good bet that every big-ticket romantic hot spot has been booked since last year, and expectations run high on such a night (god forbid you end up next to the guy nervously proposing).

May we propose a few fun and unusual Valentine's Day plans? There are plenty of dining options and city adventures that don't involve a rip-off prix fixe and a heart-shaped chocolate cake on a doily. Here are many ways in which the riches of New York can help you entertain, intoxicate and seduce.

For the adventurer
The street foods of Vietnam are not for the faint of heart; they are hearts. And tongues, too (because there's nothing sexier than having your food kiss you back). At the Soho Vietnamese newcomer BUN, chef Michael Huynh treats customers to a selection of authentic snacks from his homeland, some of it not for the squeamish. With the 7 Spices Duck Hearts and Tongue confit, here’s a chance to prove to your loved one the extent of your heart’s desire. Gross? Maybe. But winningly charming. If a dish of small hearts (quite delicious) or tongues (kind of chewy, honestly) is not your thing, Bun’s kitchen produces more straightforward options, like king crab spring rolls, curry shrimp and short ribs.

When the 2nd Ave Deli reopened late last year, never has a warmer “welcome back” been seen. But your arteries might not agree after this literal interpretation of a heart’s love: the Instant Heart Attack, a sandwich of two potato pancakes piled with your choice of corned beef, pastrami, salami or turkey. It’s big enough to share, so your arteries won’t croak—and you’ll have much more time together on this planet.

For the daytime lover
This one’s for the freelancers, students, night workers and those lucky enough to finagle two solid hours for lunch on a Thursday: Make it a daytime celebration by going out for a midweek brunch. The famous pancakes and waffles from Clinton St. Baking Company are a perfectly appropriate Valentine's Day meal, and fittingly, Clinton Street has declared February to be Pancake Month! On the 14th, the day’s special pancake will be served with burgundy cherries and Valrhona chocolate. Not a bad way to impress a date; plus, you gain the sugar high for that afternoon quickie.

Another famous pancake slinger is the irascible purveyor at Shopsin’s, recently relocated to the Essex Street Market. There is no better day than Valentine’s Day to order Shopsin’s infamous “Slutty Cakes.”

For the fast-food romantic
Table service. Standing in lines. Either way, it's such a drag. Avoid the lot by placing a phone order at the new-and-improved wintertime Shake Shack. Though a $25 minimum is required for the call-ahead service, show what a big spender you are by creating your own over-the-top Shake Shack sampler: Double Shackburger, Shack-cago dog, ‘Shroom burger, cheese fries, a hopscotch concrete, hot vanilla and a Pooch-ini for the dog for good measure. Head straight to the pick-up window, bask under the glow of the newly installed heat lamps, and admire the ultra-romantic Flatiron scene.

Alternately, take your sweetiecakes to Midtown’s Burger Joint, the hole-in-the-wall burger destination in the otherwise super-fancy Le Parker Meridien. For maximum romantic potential, book a room in the hotel for the night, followed by breakfast at Norma’s in the morning.

For the cocktail Casanova
There's something terribly illicit about sneaking into PDT's secret lair. Enter the somewhat dingy environs of Crif Dogs on St. Marks, squeeze into the old-fashioned phone booth, and you’ll miraculously find yourself in the dim confines of one of the city's finest cocktail establishments. Out-there but balanced mixes like the Desert Rose (with rose-infused gin), Falling Leaves (with pear brandy) and Harvest Moon (rye, Lillet Blanc and chartreuse) are shaken, stirred and poured by talented bartenders with flair, and have sexy names to boot. As the night wears on and that third cocktail empties, cut the buzz with a classic chili dog prepared by the guys at Crif Dogs on the other side of the wall. What says love more than a cognac cocktail called Buona Notte, served with waffle fries?

Another secret cocktail den is Little Branch in the West Village, a basement spot that feels both dank and sophisticated at once. The small tables are ideal for intimate conversation, the lights suitably low, the drinks delicious. No chili dogs, though.

For the sweet-toothed sweethearts
So you’re not going out to dinner, but Valentine’s Day still means sugar. Hopefully chocolate hasn’t taken the place of romance in your life, but skip the drug-store heart-shaped box and walk to ChikaLicious Puddin’, the brand-new to-go counter from the same folks as ChikaLicious dessert bar down the street. Three kinds of rich puddings (apple, brioche and the V-Day appropriate “adult” chocolate) are made fresh to order in a slick storefront space. If it’s nice out, settle down on a bench in front of the church on Second Avenue and 10th Street. Otherwise, head straight home and enjoy the rest of your evening with your Valentine.

Also seek out the Dessert Truck, where $5 chocolate bread pudding and crème brulee are served curbside from a refurbished mail vehicle. We’re waiting to hear about the first proposal to take place on the street—the Dessert Truck chefs might just be amenable to placing a ring in the cake.

Photo by Jori Klein