Local Restaurants Prepare for Valentine's Day with Limited Reservations

Restaurants in Fort Wayne, Indiana are fully booked for Valentine's Day weekend as they gear up to serve hundreds of customers.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Restaurants in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area are preparing for a busy Valentine's Day weekend, with many establishments reporting that they are completely booked for Saturday, February 14th. Establishments like Eddie Merlot's, Baker Street Steakhouse, Copper Spoon, Cork and Cleaver, Marquee, and Don Hall's have all said they will be serving hundreds of customers on Valentine's Day, with some also seeing increased reservations on the days surrounding the holiday.

Why it matters

Valentine's Day remains one of the most in-demand nights of the year for local restaurants, as couples look to celebrate the holiday with a special dining experience. The high volume of reservations highlights the importance of the holiday for the restaurant industry, as well as the need for establishments to be well-prepared to handle the influx of customers.

The details

Restaurants in Fort Wayne have been working hard to get ready for the Valentine's Day rush. Baker Street Steakhouse, for example, said they have been preparing since Wednesday and have 560 reservations for Saturday. Copper Spoon and Marquee are also completely booked for both Friday and Saturday. The restaurants are offering special menus and desserts to celebrate the holiday, such as Baker Street's Lovers Tasting Menu and heart-shaped red velvet cakes.

  • Restaurants started receiving Valentine's Day reservations as early as the last week of December.
  • Restaurants have been preparing since Wednesday, February 11th, for the busy weekend.
  • Valentine's Day is on Saturday, February 14th, 2026.

The players

Eddie Merlot's

A restaurant in Fort Wayne, Indiana that is fully booked for Valentine's Day and will be serving nearly 650 people.

Baker Street Steakhouse

A restaurant in Fort Wayne, Indiana that has 560 reservations for Valentine's Day and is offering a special Lovers Tasting Menu and heart-shaped red velvet cakes.

Copper Spoon

A restaurant in Fort Wayne, Indiana that is completely booked for both Friday and Saturday of Valentine's Day weekend.

Marquee

A restaurant in Fort Wayne, Indiana that is completely booked for both Friday and Saturday of Valentine's Day weekend and is seeing increased reservations on Thursday as well.

Magali Ort

The Executive Chef at Baker Street Steakhouse.

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What they’re saying

“A big part of our success is being ready for everything. So we started prepping on Wednesday. Actually, we have a lot of our team that's been here for a little bit longer than their usual time, just to make sure that we're ready to go and rock. So everyone has a great experience this coming weekend.”

— Magali Ort, Executive Chef, Baker Street Steakhouse (WANE)

“We're hoping to provide a great experience memory, a great memory, of course, because that's what we do. We're in the hospitality business, that's what we love to do. Just have our imprint on your special day, and hoping that you come back to dine with us again.”

— Magali Ort, Executive Chef, Baker Street Steakhouse (WANE)

What’s next

Restaurants will continue to serve customers throughout the Valentine's Day weekend, with some having limited availability on Friday night and Sunday.

The takeaway

The high demand for Valentine's Day reservations at local Fort Wayne restaurants highlights the importance of the holiday for the restaurant industry. Establishments have been working hard to prepare for the influx of customers, offering special menus and desserts to create a memorable dining experience for couples celebrating the holiday.