Waffle House Valentine's Day 2026: How to secure your white-tablecloth reservation

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NORCROSS, Ga. - Waffle House is the quintessential no-frills 24-hour Southern diner. It is the measure for severe weather and the savior of late-night food cravings. But it has a romantic side too.

Waffle House: Smothered in love

The backstory:

For 364 days of the year, it has a… reputation. But for one day out of the year, the soft yellow glow of the Waffle House sign is a beacon of love and the earth-tone laminate tabletops are replaced with white tablecloths and candlelight.

February 14, more commonly known as Valentine’s Day, is a day of love and romance. In 2008, the Johns Creek location elevated it to a cultural phenomenon. According to the Norcross-based company, a local manager noticed a surge of couples dining at the restaurant on Valentine’s Day and decided to take it to the next level.

Scattered Waffle House locations

Big picture view:

Within the last few years, the "evening affair" has expanded to about 200 locations across 22 of the 25 states in its restaurant chain’s footprint. In Georgia, locations from Acworth to Waynesboro have historically joined the festivities, offering a white-tablecloth experience for those who prefer hash browns over filet mignon. It transforms each diner into a "scattered, smothered, and covered" romantic destination.

Participating locations often feature dimmed lighting, special decorations, curated music, and "famous hospitality" that goes beyond the standard service.

Despite the upscale touches, the core of the menu remains the same. Patrons still order using the restaurant’s signature lingo, though the setting for those double-hash brown orders is significantly more intimate.

Covered for Valentine's Day

Local perspective:

Because it is the only night Waffle House operates on a reservation-only basis for select tables, slots tend to fill up weeks in advance. For many, the appeal lies in the irony of the "fancy" diner date, while for others, it is a sincere celebration of a Southern icon.

Here are the locations taking reservations in Georgia: