Hungry? It’s Valentine’s Day, and as the legend of St. Valentine might put it – let’s eat! Ain’t no better way to celebrate the day of love. Here’s a little San Diego dining guide for dummies ó a good way to gratify the clueless one’s taste.

First, for all those Don Juan and Don Juanita hotshots who crave a chance to make a dazzling impression on that new petit ami, a bit of gold can go a long way. These restaurants run a bit pricey, but can be well worth it.

Aux Delices offers a pre-planned ìValentine’s Day Menuî that includes various appetizers, main courses, deserts and an intermission with live amusement. All this for only $50 per person. Yes, it is a tad expensive, but now one can be lazy yet look cool and rich at the same time. Reservations are highly recommended and are done only with a credit card. To make a reservation, call (858) 549-9751. Aux Delices is located on 6904 Miramar Rd., Suite 201, San Diego.

Some may pine for a little something more creative: try Forever Fondue. Here’s a place that will feed one’s belly and challenge one’s motor skills simultaneously. As the name suggests, the restaurant serves nothing but fondue. Fondue appetizers, fondue main courses and choco-tastic fondue desserts. Forever Fondue is half dinner, half game. This is a restaurant that will make you work for your food. The price runs around $20. Again, reservations; there is a location in Mission Valley on 6110 Friars Rd., San Diego, and the phone number is (619) 295-7792. There is also another location in La Jolla on 1295 Prospect St.; the phone number is (858) 551-4509.

Pricey list out, moderate fine dining from here on out. Not willing to spend a lot of money due to an unsure or possibly undesirable date, yet still want to look impressive? Here are some easy restaurants.

Casa de Bandini in San Diego’s Old Town is a sure way to go. Mexican delights for the reasonable price range of $5 to $15? °Es muy bueno! Shell out another couple bucks and get serenaded by a mariachi band. Also, one cannot forget to mention the gigantic margaritas at Casa de Bandini. They are so huge, even a horrible date will end up fantastic by the end of the night, guaranteed. Casa de Bandini is located on 2754 Calhoun St., San Diego, in the middle of the Bazaar del Mundo courtyard; the phone number is (619) 297-8211. Reservations are only taken for large parties.

For someone who dares to venture into the wild, sample Bombay Exotic Cuisine of India. One can try authentic tandoori chicken and naan bread, all the while grooving with some authentic Indian beats. The off-the-wall paintings add some real flavor to the food. Bombay ranges within $10 to $20. It is located on 3975 5th Ave., Suite 100, San Diego (Hillcrest area). The phone number is (619) 298-3155. Reservations are recommended.

Now for the real deals ó where to find the cheap eats. Keep in mind, an inexpensive dinner by no means has to be un-romantic. A cheap dinner can always lead to much more fun and perhaps even more spicy things on a Valentine’s night agenda.

Deep in San Diego’s Little Italy is Filippi’s Pizza Grotto. Connected to an old Italian market, Filippi’s offers nothing more than the classic checkered tablecloths and 100-percent pure Italian pizza goodness. As un-romantic as it sounds, Filippi’s offers a great environment for dates to stare lovingly into each other’s eyes. OK, not really. It does, however, stir up a very casual environment that allows for great conversation. There aren’t any stuffy waiters hovering over the dinner tables refilling water glasses after every millimeter of depletion. The price is between $5 and $15, however, and no reservations are necessary, though early arrival is recommended. Fillipi’s Pizza Grotto is located on 1747 India St., San Diego. For information, call (619) 232-5094.

Kabuki Sushi is another restaurant that offers the same casual milieu. The restaurant is not set up in any exotic or fancy fashion and there aren’t any dangerous paintings of Japanese women in kimonos hung on the walls. Kabuki does offer, however, a special sushi center-piece bar which serves sushi on floating boats on a small river bed surrounding the sushi chef-masters. It can’t get any cooler than that. Diners pick off whatever plate of sushi they desire and the waiters and waitresses keep count. There is no dress code other than ìno shirts, no shoes, no service.î The price range is very fair: between $5 and $15, depending on the plate. There are no reservations ó the restaurant works on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is located at 4475 Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach. For more information, call (858) 270-1986.

Those who want to stray from the exotic cuisines can go to Seau’s for some all-American food. One of San Diego’s top sports-themed restaurants, Seau’s offers an array of hamburgers, sandwiches and more. There is no other word to describe this restaurant than casual. A date at Seau’s cannot go wrong, for once it starts hitting that boredom spot the diners can always resort to the television screens filled with sports action, live entertainment (depending on the night) or maybe even just happy hour. Also, if money spent on food isn’t enough, diners can go to the adjacent souvenir shop and buy sports paraphernalia. This is customer service at its best. Seau’s prices range between $5 and $12. Seau’s is located at 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1376, San Diego (Mission Valley area). The phone number is (619) 291-0241.

If all else fails on Valentine’s Day, one can always eat. San Diego offers a whole lot more than the restaurants given here, but this is a guide to a possible great Valentine’s date. If the date doesn’t work out, at least there was the great food and, if you’re over 21, the great drinks!