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Valentine’s Day meal deals 2021: Supermarket dine in for two offers, from M&S, Tesco, Asda and more OLD

<p>Whether it’s meaty mains or vegan-friendly delights, there’s something for everyone this year</p> (The Independent)

Whether it’s meaty mains or vegan-friendly delights, there’s something for everyone this year

(The Independent)

Whether you relish in the opportunity to get romantic or prefer to keep things low key, Valentine’s Day offers an excuse to celebrate.

Last year’s event was one of the last seasonal holidays to be celebrated without coronavirus restrictions in place – since then, we’ve had a lockdown Easter, Christmas and many, many birthdays.

And with the past year tainted by curtailments, and the current lockdown rules stipulating restaurants must stay closed in England, why not mark the occasion by treating you and your fellow foodie to a delicious dinner at home.

While you may feel that dinnertime is becoming less of an occasion, there are still ways to turn it into a dining experience to remember. Luckily our favourite supermarkets have stepped up to make it that little bit easier, offering delicious “dine in for two” menus.

You can expect everything from steak and chips to a full three-course affair with a bottle of wine – at Waitrose you can even opt for fizz – all at a more purse-friendly price than ordering a takeaway.

With everything pre-prepared, neither you nor your valentine will have to take on any arduous cooking responsibilities, making the celebrations just that little bit easier.

Whether it’s a date night with your partner, galentine’s celebration, or just enjoying a nice dinner with your household, these are the meal deals you need on your radar.

You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

M&S

M&S
M&S

Price: £20

Availability: From Wednesday 10 February

What’s included: Starter, main, side, dessert, wine/fizz and box of chocolates

This isn’t just any meal deal… The OG founders of the “dine in for £10" craze, it should come as no surprise that the popular M&S Valentine’s Day offer is back.

This year M&S has upped its game and is offering you a bottle of rosé prosecco instead of wine, and much like the other supermarkets, it’s offering an entirely vegan menu too. Starters include everything from a new salmon sharing platter to vegan mushroom pate, while for mains there’s lots to choose from, be it duck breast or beef bourguignon.

On the side, there’s tenderstem broccoli or truffled cauliflower cheese, which immediately took our eye. But, the goodness doesn’t stop there. For pudding, there’s tarte au citron, vegan churros with chocolate sauce and a profiterole stack.

As part of its offering, the Colin and Connie caterpillar cakes have had a romantic makeover with the retailer launching a limited edition love is in the air with Colin and Connie gift bag (M&S, £30), which can be delivered straight to your door. The hamper contains a love cocoon Colin and Connie the Caterpillar cake, a packet of miniature Colins and four bags of the cartoon insect’s sweets.

Available in-store from 10 February

Asda

Asda
Asda

Price: £15

Availability: Thursday 4 February

What’s included: Starter, main, two sides, dessert, and drink or box of chocolates

Asda has upped its offering from last year by adding new lines and a full vegan menu. If you eat a plant-based diet, make a vegan meal of it by starting with duckless spring rolls, followed by vegan burgers and finished off with chocolate and raspberry ganache hearts.

Alternatively, there’s a host of meat and fish options. For the starter, we’d choose either the antipasto platter or tempura prawns, followed by pancetta-wrapped chicken breast and sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

As for drinks, there’s plenty to choose from too – including sparkling rosé, prosecco or red or white wine. It’s a great offering at a budget-friendly price.

Available online and in-store from 4 February

Waitrose

Waitrose
Waitrose

Price: £20

Availability: From Wednesday 10 February

What’s included: Starter, main, two sides, dessert and drink (including fizz) or box of chocolates

While it’s one of the most expensive options, we think this looks like one of the best supermarket dine-in deals on offer for Valentine’s Day. With 12 mains to choose from, including a rack of lamb, vegan spiced vegetable filo swirls, coq au vin or salmon fillet, Waitrose has you covered this year. Serve with any two sides of your choice, such as parmentier potatoes or a baby leaf salad, followed by a delicious dessert (the espresso martini chocolate tortes caught our eye).

The starters sound good too – you can expect dishes from Heston Blumenthal’s range, like his bloody mary prawn cocktail, as well as breaded vegan melts. Plus, your drink of choice can include a bottle of fizz, which is something that other supermarkets are not offering.

Available online and in-store from 10 February

Aldi

Aldi
Aldi

Price: From £7.47

Availability: From Wednesday 10 February

What’s included: Depends on menu chosen

The budget-friendly supermarket has announced its Valentine’s Day meal deals, and it’s doing things a little differently to other retailers, with starters, mains, sides and desserts all being sold separately. The cheapest set, coined “lovers on a budget”, comes in at just £7.47. Opt for this and you’ll get duck breast, dauphinoise potatoes and two white chocolate and raspberry cheesecakes.

Alternatively, dine on steak and chips, with a dessert of mini pancakes, for less than £10. Seafood lovers won’t need to trawl the sea of supermarkets for a cheap offer either, since Aldi’s dine-in deal offers six Scottish oysters, salmon en croute and a vegetable medley for £11.97.

Plus, you can pick up a bottle prosecco frizzante for just £3.99.

Available in-store from 10 February

Morrisons

Morrisons
Morrisons

Price: £15

Availability: From Wednesday 10 February

What’s included: Starter, main, two sides, dessert, and choice of wine, soft drink or chocolates

There’s an extensive menu on offer that includes lots of new products and a fully vegan option, too. Starters include mussels with a red wine and Iberico chorizo sauce, camembert tear and share, and a vegan chorizo palmier. Follow with a main of beef wellington or a mushroom and leek bake, and a choice of two sides of which there are six on offer. Finish it all off with a dessert – will you choose raspberry panna cotta or a vegan chocolate pudding? Wash it down with a bottle of white or red, or opt for a pressé if you’re not a drinker.

Available online and in-store from 10 February

Tesco

Tesco
Tesco

Price: £15

Availability: From Monday 8 February

What’s included: Starter, main, side, dessert, and wine, prosecco or non-alcoholic alternative

While the menu is fairly similar to last year’s offering, Tesco has reduced the price of its meal deal from £20 to £15. Kick your evening off with vegan crispy mushrooms, an antipasti platter or hot smoked salmon and watercress tartlets. Move on to slow-cooked beef bourguignon, pesto and Parmigiano breaded chicken or vegan wellington. For dessert, choose from millionaire’s tarts or Belgian white chocolate and raspberry pots.

Available online and in-store from 8 February

Co-op

Co-op
Co-op

Price: £15 (or £12 with a soft drink)

Availability: From Wednesday 10 February

What’s included: Starter, main, side, dessert and drink

All the food in this year’s Co-op offering is from its “Irresistible” premium range, and there is also a full vegan menu on offer for the first time. You can expect starters to range from chorizo arancini to vegan slow-roasted tomato and vegetable tarts. For your main course, choose from rump steaks with peppercorn butter or salmon en croute, and serve with a side of buttery mash potato or an asparagus and tenderstem broccoli medley. If there’s still room for more, you’ll also get a dessert from a choice of five, including Belgian chocolate and orange tortes or a vegan dark chocolate and sour cherry brownie. While the same price as Morrisons, you’ll get less choice and only one side.

Available online and in-store from 10 February

Iceland

Iceland
Iceland

Price: £8

Availability: From Tuesday 2 February

What’s included: Main and two sides

Last year Iceland offered three Gino D’Acampo dishes and a bottle of wine, but this year is a slightly more stripped back affair. In its "restaurant quality romantic meal for two” range, choose either sirloin or Aberdeen Angus rump, served with steak-cut chips and onion rings. While this is one of the cheapest dine-in options, it’s worth noting that you will miss out on a starter, dessert and drinks.

Available online and in-store from 2 February

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