From prix-fixe deals to sweet treats, Valentine’s Day brings smiles to Flatbush area 

BROOKLYN — Love was in the air on Friday as New Yorkers joined the annual Valentine’s Day festivities, and people around Flatbush were no exception. 

Across the country, consumers were expected to spend a record-breaking $27.5 billion on the holiday, according to the National Retail Federation. More than a third of that spending was expected toward a night out. In Brooklyn, some Haitian restaurants saw their share of couples, friends and families marking the occasion with food, drinks and good company.

Even amid economic uncertainty and unease in immigrant neighborhoods, some residents and visitors still made their way to local hot spots, embracing the holiday as a moment of joy and indulgence. From romantic prix-fixe dinners in Prospect Lefferts Gardens to last-minute gift shopping near the Newkirk Avenue-Little Haiti subway station, Valentine’s Day unfolded in central Brooklyn with a mix of American fare and Caribbean cultural flair. Some opted for a taste of home with Haitian-inspired dishes, while others capped the night with sweet treats or live music.

“The griot with the pikliz on the Hawaiian roll was like a different experience,” said Reneitia, a diner at DjonDjon.

Reneitia and her partner, Clo, both in their late thirties, asked to be identified by their first names for privacy reasons. They were visiting from Boston. Clo, who is American, had discovered Djon Djon on social media and was drawn to its Haitian cuisine and ownership.

“I wanted to support a Black local business,” she said. “My girlfriend’s also Haitian, so I knew she would love it.”

For Reneitia, who grew up with a Haitian mother, dishes like legim ak sòs pwa and diri blan –  stewed vegetables with white rice and beans – were staples at home. But at Djon Djon, the menu offered unexpected twists—like the griot sliders. Choosing it was a welcome departure from the expensive steakhouses she frequented on prior Valentine’s Day celebrations.

In the future, she said, “I’ll never, ever go to, like, an expensive high-end steakhouse [for Valentine’s] ever again.”

Here are some images from the evening.

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