For the Desperate: Eater's Last Minute Valentine's Day Guide

If all the jewelry commercials and "50 Shades of Gray" ads haven't been a clue, here's a friendly reminder that Valentine's Day is Saturday. The day is a notoriously bad one for eating out at restaurants: expect big crowds, hurried service, jacked-up prix fixe menus and cheesy promotions.

But if you absolutely must eat out on Saturday, there are still some tables available (as of this morning, anyway — book fast). Want to pay $20 for the privilege? There are a couple more options, courtesy of reservations newcomer Table8. Just prepare to dine very early or very late, if OpenTable is any indication. And remember, Eater warned you.

OpenTable:

Agua 301: 7:15
Alba Osteria: 8:15
America Eats Tavern: 9:30
Ardeo + Bardeo: 9:30
Art and Soul: 9:15
B Too: 9:15
Baby Wale: 7:45
Belga Cafe: 9
Bibiana: 4:30
Bombay Club: 4:30
Boss Shepherd's: 9:30
BUL: 5:30
Cafe du Parc: 8:30
Cedar: 9:30
Chef Geoff's (Original): 8:30
Coppi's: 9
Creme: 7
DGS: 9
Dino's Grotto: 9:30
District Commons: 9:30
Domku: 7
El Centro DF: 7:45
Evening Star Cafe: 9
Family Meal: 9:30
Food, Wine and Co: 9:30
Fuego Cocina: 9
Heavy Seas Alehouse: 7
Hill Country: 7:15
Jackie's: 9:30
Jackson 20: 9:30
Jaleo Bethesda/Crystal City: 9
Johnny's Half Shell: 5
La Caraquena: 9
Liberty Tavern: 9:30
London Curry House: 7
Lyon Hall: 9:15
Mad Fox Brewing Co.: 7
Mala Tang: 7:15
Mango Tree: 7
Masala Art DC: 7:15
Medium Rare Capitol Hill: 9:30
The Occidental: 9:30
Orange Anchor: 8
Oval Room: 4:30
Ovvio Osteria: 8:45
P.J. Clarke's: 7
Penn Commons: 7:30
Poste: 4:30
Posto: 5
Restaurant Nora: 4:30
Rice: 9
Roofers Union: 6
Rustico Ballston: 8:30
Sixth Engine: 8:30
Soi 38: 7
Spice Xing: 7
St. Arnold's Cleveland Park: 7
Sticky Rice: 5
Tortilla Coast (Both): 7
Vendetta: 7
Vinoteca: 5:30
Water & Wall: 9:30
Willow: 9:15
WK Hearth: 9:30

Table8:

Jaleo: 7:30 p.m. ($20)
Kapnos: 7 ($20)
Oyamel: 7 ($20)
Zaytina: 7 ($20)