Local Couples Share Kisses, Food and Fun on Valentine's Day

You don’t always need soft music, fancy dishes and dim lighting to have some romance on Valentine’s Day. The couples who headed to and proved that on Tuesday night.

Qdoba Mexican Grill offered its BOGO (buy one get one) for a Kiss meal deal, granting couples who shared a kiss at the register a free entrée with the purchase of another. Some couples, including Jenn and Brian Casella of Carlstadt who came along with their son Joe to enjoy some Mexican food, only learned about the deal when they arrived. The couple was happy to share a kiss for the occasion.

Christopher Schwartz and Virginia Green came from Hudson County to enjoy a meal at Qdoba and take part in the deal. The couple, frequent patrons of Qdoba, said they preferred to not go to a restaurant on a popular night like Valentine’s Day when they can do that another time.

Tom and MaryAnn Battaglia were unaware of the kissing deal when they came in with their children Frank and Diana for dinner. The couple shared a smooch at the register with a smile. Herbert Azurdia and Cristiana Carlos came in to take part in the deal. Azurdia said they were enjoying a low-key Valentine’s Day evening.

Just down the road White Castle welcomed a full house of couples and friends enjoying the night out under a sea of shiny red balloons.  Couples waited to be seated by General Manager Junior Hunter, who once again traded in his blue uniform for a classy suit and festive heart-studded tie, playing host for the evening. Hunter said it’s the fifth year that the Hasbrouck Heights location has taken part in the company promotion.

Many couples from the nearby area said they are frequent participants in the Valentine's Day promotion. Some have been spending their Valentine’s Day at White Castle since the promotion first began.

Pat and Tom Barnett of Hasbrouck Heights were back for their second White Castle Valentine’s Day, bringing with them friends Linda and Mark Kastenbaum who were taking part for the first time.

For Patti and Mike Cerbo of Rochelle Park, the third time was the charm. They also brought along several friends to take part in the event with them.

Stefanie Kruse of Hackensack shared her third White Castle Valentine’s Day experience with her husband Ronald.  

Fred and Dale Verga came all the way from Lakewood to be at White Castle with their good friends Don and Anne LoFranco and Juanita and Tom Moriarty of Carlstadt. The Vergas moved from Carlstadt since last Valentine’s Day and drove 70 miles to be back again with their friends enjoying White Castle.

“It’s a tradition,” said Dale Verga. “And we’re in good company.”