LAItalian11's Profile
Restaurant Recommendations for My Mom's Funeral Reception Needed
Thank you all for your suggestions and condolences.
I did not decide until Tuesday of this week for Thursday, yesterday. I called Shanghai Red's in Marina del Rey and they offered their normal daily all you can eat lunch (that is on until 3 pm weekdays) including bread, coffee and tea served at the table w/ a dedicated server for $18.95 (regular $23.95) plus 20% tip and tax. They gave us the large private room overlooking the Marina that could have accomodated 100 on the left side of the restaurant for no charge. There were only 18 of us total at the restaurant as some could not make it after the funeral mass.
Staff was excellent especially our server Pedro. Everyone was very nice. Food was very good, especially the desserts, for a buffet. When I came in to sign the contract on Tuesday afternoon, Hengameh, the director of catering, asked me if I'd like to eat so I got a chance to sample the buffet while she was typing up the contract and tell everyone how it was before Thursday. That was a very nice touch especially considering the state of my mind when I was at the restaurant. I wasn't even thinking of eating. I can't say enough good things as to how friendly the staff was and how well this worked out for my sister and I plus our guests and other family. I also use iDine (former Rewards Network) and got the 15% discount on both the deposit ($300) already and I expect the final check (which was about $145 more). Valet parking was a flat $4.50 or you could park in the Fisherman's Village lot and receive a 2-hour validation ($1 per 20 minutes over 2 hours). They have a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby with some glowing bulbs I'd like to find as I've never seen anything like them.
Restaurant Recommendations for My Mom's Funeral Reception Needed
My 92 1/2 year old mom, who fell and hit her head, died after 2 weeks at UCLA hospital in the ICU last Thursday night and we were just able to get the date of the funeral scheduled today, next Thursday, December 3. A tough time for my family and especially for me since she was living with me. I miss her so much.
She's going to be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City (near the former Fox Hills mall). I'm asking for recommendations for a group of about 25-30 or so for a restaurant after the burial (about 1-2 pm). Keeping costs down is a concern after just laying out nearly $8000 for the funeral but I am looking for a place with good food and a nice atmosphere for family and friends to share memories of her (maybe a private room?). She was quite unpretentious and liked Mexican, American and Italian food so likely those would our choices. Probably somewhere on the Westside from El Segundo north to Westwood and Culver City west to the Marina.
I've never had to plan something like this before so any advice is welcome. Thanks.
Birthday Dinner Suggestion Needed for group of gay guys
We ended up at Marix Tex Mex on January 12. It was a cold, windy night. We waited about an hour in the bar which was fine since not everyone showed up right away. Drinks were good and STRONG and the self-serve chips and salsa was good. They placed us in a table next to the summer doors. For those of us on the side of the summer doors, the draft from outside was cold. I left my leather jacket on during the entire dinner. Food prices were very reasonable. Some liked the food, others that it was only fair. First cup of coffee was served good and hot EXCEPT refills. IT was served cold (in a carafe) multiple times. Each time we had to ask for a new cup. Service was pretty good especially considering how busy it was. It certainly was friendly except one friend complained one valet was rude. I was lucky to find a space on the street (that's very difficult). The parking garage just one block away was great for everyone else.
These suggestions are great as my birthday is coming up March 3.
Birthday Dinner Suggestion Needed for group of gay guys
Need a suggestion for a birthday for Next Friday (the 12th). Looking for something in the area from, basically, Echo Park to Silverlake to Hollywood or West Hollywood. It's for a group of about 12 unpretentious gay men, mostly Latino and blue collar, celebrating a 47th birthday. Something not too expensive. I have two suggestions so far, Cha Cha Cha in WeHo or The Flying Leap in Silverlake. It doesn't have to be a gay place but at least friendly to us (and with a full bar...they love to drink). We did Edendale Grill a couple of years ago for the same birthday person but one of my friends said it's just a little too pricey for this group. Another friend suggested Casita del Campo on Hyperion but I am sorry that is the worst Mexican food on the face of the earth. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
$10 and edible in Century City (Sunnin)
I know this is a small chain but I really like Johnnie's next to Clementine. I order the Chicken Parmesan roman-style sandwich. It's served on pizza bread. The chicken breast is HUGE for $7.95 (same size chicken breast as the dinner size plate except you get a cold mixed pasta green salad instead of hot pasta but for $5 less). It takes me a day or two to eat the leftovers. They have little pizza herb dough puffs w/ hot tomato sauce they give as a free appetizer. They're decent and unlimited. And now that the blvd. is almost finished, it's nice to sit outside on the expanded sidewalk AWAY from the new Santa Monica Blvd.
