Sweets for Sweethearts at Axel's River Grille

Valentine's Day is not the time to let your eyes wander. So if you're dining at on Monday, we have a few dessert recommendations to keep you faithful to Axel's regular menu, despite the temptation of holiday specials.

Axel's Death by Chocolate ($6) is a petite chocolate cake, but don't let its size fool you into thinking it's dainty. This cake is dense and rich. If you're celebrating in a group, sharing Death by Chocolate will ensure no one gets a lethal dose.

The carrot cake ($8) is another doozy. The three-tiered slabs are crumblingly moist, so packed with carrot, coconut, nuts and raisins that you could convince yourself it's practically a fruits-and-veggies course.

The big cookie ($5.95) is a simple sell: who wouldn't love a soft, chewy jumbo chocolate chip cookie? Even better, it comes with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate and caramel sauces. A glass of milk is optional.

If you're set on sampling Axel's specials on Valentine's, go ahead and be unfaithful to the regular menu for one night. We won't tell. Axel's Valentine's offerings play with the classics of surf 'n' turf, right down to dessert.

For the featured dessert, the sea theme continues, but in name only: Axel's baked Alaska, Devil's food cake topped with coffee ice cream and amaretto meringue, for $6.95.

Other Valentine's Day Menu Specials

Axel's is offering five special entrees: Delmonico, a 26-oz rib eye steak ($46);a 10-oz lobster tail from Australia ($49); filet and lobster, an 8-oz filet of beef with a 10-oz lobster tail ($69); seafood-stuffed Canadian walleye ($27); or ravioli stuffed with shrimp and lobster ($25).Each comes with soup or salad and either wild rice or potatoes (baked, Alfredo, fries or mo taters). The special appetizers are a crab and shrimp cocktail ($16) and oysters, a half-dozen served raw on the half shell or baked ($13).