Our recipe for a successful Valentine's Day involves crafting a night of flavorful food and free-flowing wine.

To do so on the cheap, we dine at a BYOB.

Here are some of our favorites, each conveniently located near an excellent wineshop. Your savings will leave money for another route to V-Day success, sausages and goat caramels.

Spoon Thai A sparkling Reginato Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay blend ($15) from Provenance will temper the blazing heat of this Lincoln Square Thai restaurant's sautéed mushrooms with roasted rice powder ($7), and complement the sweetness of the coconut-peanut-shallot one-bite salad ($7).

Chilam Balam The creative Mexican cuisine of this Lakeview BYOB begs for something medium-bodied and lively. Try a dry, lightly sparkling Meinklang rosé ($16) from nearby Pastoral, with blue-marlin ceviche ($10.50) and mole negro-topped Cornish game hen ($14).

Urban Belly Pair a ripe, acidic Domaine Specht Gewürztraminer ($18.50) from Provenance Logan Square with Bill Kim's piquant egg noodles laced with garlic, chile and Chinese eggplant ($11).

Bonsoirée Usually closed Mondays, this Bucktown BYOB is open for V-Day (with a $135 tasting menu), and its creative, globe-trotting cuisine will match most any bottle from nearby Red & White or Cellar Rat.