Though Valentine’s Day falls one day a year, some local restaurants are helping couples celebrate all weekend.

The Oyster Bar (1830 S. Calhoun St.) has offered Valentine’s Day specials for two or three days for years, owner Steve Gard says.

“The biggest reason is, up until (Valentine’s Day), you’re still getting calls from these poor guys that spaced (out), and all of a sudden, they’re in hot water for not remembering Valentine’s Day,” he says. “One, it helps business, and two, it kind of relieves some pressure.”

Even those who are planning ahead might be out of luck on Feb. 14 at The Oyster Bar, which offers a truncated menu for the day; Gard says 10 or 15 calls came in over the weekend looking for Valentine’s Day reservations, and the restaurant has been booked for the past two or three weeks. This year, those stragglers can also book their reservations on Saturday or Sunday. Call 744-9490 for (your one-or-two-days-after) Valentine’s Day reservations.

Other local restaurants are keeping the Valentine’s Day menu to the day-of only. Toscani Pizzeria (120 W. Wayne St.) is offering specials in addition to its regular menu Thursday.

As of Monday morning, the restaurant had about 10 reservations, manager Robin Bellis says, which is on par with reservations in previous years, regardless of when Valentine’s Day falls. She anticipates more reservations coming in, in addition to the walk-ins Toscani typically receives the day of. Call 423-6706 for reservations.

DeBrand Fine Chocolates, too, is offering its Valentine’s Day special for one day only: It will offer chocolate-covered strawberries, for the first time, at its 10105 Auburn Park Drive location. Get your strawberries, while supplies last, on Thursday.

Coming soon

•Last week, the former Richard’s Restaurant, 2912 Getz Road, was knocked down, paving the way for an Indiana chain to hit Fort Wayne: Scotty’s Brewhouse.

Though the lease has not been signed yet, owner Scott Wise considers the new location a done deal and hopes to open the restaurant’s doors in August or September.

This will be Wise’s ninth location, eight of them Scotty’s Brewhouses. That ninth is Thr3e Wise Men Brewery in Indianapolis. Beer from Thr3e Wise Men is served in all Scotty’s Brewhouse restaurants, which means customers can fill their growlers to-go.

“It’s a great venue for seeing sporting events, and it’s kid-friendly,” he says. “The fact that you can go in there for a business lunch or on a Saturday night with a bunch of friends or on a Sunday with your family after church – all those scenarios play out to work well together.”

Scotty’s two most popular dishes, Wise says, are the dill chips (battered and fried pickles) and the shewman burger (an award-winning burger served with peanut butter, jalapenos, cheese and bacon for a sort of Thai flavor).

•Los Cabos Mexican Grill, 10812 Coldwater Road, is scheduled to open Feb. 20, manager Carlos Valencia says.

The restaurant will offer Mexican favorites including burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, tamales and tacos.

New restaurants

The IPFW Hospitality Management program will run the Mastodon Grill as the French-themed restaurant Moulin Rouge this semester. Dinner will be served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through the semester.

The menu includes eight appetizers, six entrees and four sides, plus a fixed price option and a bar menu.

The following restaurants have been approved to operate by the Fort Wayne Allen County Department of Health:

•The Bulldog Pub, at 615 Broadway St., New Haven

•Culver’s, at 1425 W. Washington Center Road, in the former Cosmos House of Pancakes

•The Grill, at 5537 S. Anthony Blvd.

Fundraiser

Fort Wayne Sister Cities International is hosting a dinner and gala benefit Feb. 20. A Taste of Fort Wayne Sister Cities will feature food from Fort Wayne’s sister cities: Takaoka, Japan; Gera, Germany; Plock, Poland; and Taizhou, China.

Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. with a social bar, cash bar and silent auction at 6 p.m. and dinner buffet at 7 p.m.

Paid reservations are due today and can be emailed, along with any questions, to bnohinek@gmail.com. Reservations can also be paid for through PayPal, at www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=W4ENLQPT4GVTE. Reservations are $50 in advance for $55 per person at the door. Corporate tables are $1,000 for eight.

Miscellaneous news

•There is a sign in the window of House of Greens on Lima Road that says the restaurant has closed for the winter. The phone number is disconnected.

•Yum Yums Yogurt-U-Make (10454 Maysville Road) has won a 2012 EDGE (economic development and growth through entrepreneurship) Award for business.