With the economy in such turmoil and restaurants tripping over each other to invite you into their comfortable environs, this year’s Valentine’s Day may not be be a restaurant lovefest. Normally when the evening is a Saturday night, restaurants do the whoopee party. They celebrate with overflowing tables.

Not this year. It’s questionable how many people will go out for a special dinner. Some restaurants have adjusted their calendars and turned them into Valentine’s Weekend Specials. Others are just scaling back and hoping that  traditionalists will stay on the agenda and celebrate in a restaurant.

These are bad times for restaurants and Valentine’s Day, the second most popular holiday after Mother’s Day for dining out, may find fewer taking advantage of the many specials. The dozen roses from the local grocery store or the cliched box of heart-shaped chocolates may prove more popular than the romantic restaurant meal. This may be the night for the less expensive, potentially equally romantic, home-cooked dinner.

Dinner for two, prix-fixe menu, champagne dinner–these are all common Valentine’s Day front-burner restaurant choices, but will the numbers match those of just even a year ago?

The Washington, DC area is bracing for the answer to the ultimate heartfelt boost: Where will President Barack and Michelle Obama dine? Everyone is waiting and shouting, “pick me…please.” The long-term benefits from such a visit are measurably positive. The secret’s safe with me. Where will they dine?

The glasses are chilling.