At a restaurant known for romance, the magic happens out of sight.
The doors were set to open in an hour at one of the most romantic restaurants in the nation’s capital on one of the most romantic days, and much work remained.
Servers hurriedly folded napkins. Others decorated tables with red rose petals. In the kitchen, one chef piped butter into dozens of dishes while Executive Chef Ercan Sahin sliced yellowfin tuna for the carpaccio appetizer and gingerly arranged the thin pieces of fish onto plates.
Restaurant kitchens are known for being high-pressure environments, but at Bistro Cacao, Valentine’s Day brings some of the highest intensity. The Washington Post spent the evening there to see what happens out of sight at a place people seek out for romantic moments throughout the year. Bolukbasi has lost track of how many proposals have taken place at her restaurant over the years. “I can’t even count,” she said.
Part of the pressure that day has to do with numbers — more customers to serve and dishes to cook than normal. But the real pressure comes from an intangible desire to deliver a memorable experience that’s worth it to patrons who are, at least at Bistro Cacao, shelling out $125 per person — excluding drinks — for a five-course dinner menu.
“We have to make sure, from A to Z, that we are doing everything the right way, the perfect way, because it’s a special day, and people want to feel that they’re being treated specially,” Sahin said. “People are coming with a lot of expectations. It’s a busy day. It’s a crazy day.”
Washington Post Article by Liam Scott / February 16, 2026
To read more about this article, you can click here