jennifer42's Profile
Bakery Recommendation - Downtown/Convention Center Area
Can anyone recommend a bakery somewhat near the Convention Center? I just found out that a coworker will be having their 40th birthday while we are there for a conference and would like to order a cake.
TIA
Upscale restaurant for a business dinner/meeting?
I need something off the beaten path, open on Sunday, and where four people can comfortably talk (not loud). My first choices were Local (closed on Sunday) and Lucia (already booked up, of course). We are already going to Abacus on this trip, so that's out too. And being not from Dallas, I've exhausted all options that I know of. Suggestions? No chains please, something local for sure.
ETA: We will be staying in Dallas, at the Hyatt Regency. Cabbing it is not a problem. Something too close to the hotel/conference would be.
Thanks in advance!
Help please - looking for a venue in Hollywood
So, how does one talk their boss into a flying midget bar? Especially if said boss is 30 years older? Drinks will be involved in the discussion, for sure...
Help please - looking for a venue in Hollywood
That's pretty cool, but unfortunately, my guests are easily distracted. We've found that no matter how great the venue, if it's not within walking distance of the hotel, you lose about 50% of your guests on the way there. Someone else offers to take them to dinner, they miss the shuttle, think they'll get the next one, get hungry, wander off, and never return. It would make my life so much simpler if it wasn't like herding cats, but it is. As long as it's within walking distance, they show up in droves and the party really gets going, but when they trickle in on a shuttle, it just doesn't happen. (But I might go check that one out myself while I'm in town.)
Help please - looking for a venue in Hollywood
I called them and apparently, they own a ton of venues right in the area that I wouldn't have necessarily thought of. Good call. Thanks!
Help please - looking for a venue in Hollywood
OMG Beacher's Madhouse - probably way way beyond my budget, probably unbookable... but would be the most epic event ever.
Help please - looking for a venue in Hollywood
Okay, I've contacted the Hollywood Roosevelt, Musso and Franks, and the Pig'n Whistle. Lucky Strike is out, since it's a chain. I also contacted the Rolling Stone.
Please keep the ideas coming if you think of anything else, I have a couple of weeks before I need to get a deposit in. Thanks!
Help please - looking for a venue in Hollywood
That's the thing... in MOST locations (even Washington, DC), that's a fairly high budget for a cocktail party. I know we might have to adjust it for the location on this one.
A hotel ballroom, no matter the location, isn't going to be ideal, but they do have some non-ballroom venues on that link that are worth checking out... thanks!
ISO Venue for Cocktail Party for 100 in Long Beach
Thanks for the suggestions. I was in the area over the holidays and picked Parker's Lighthouse for our venue. I'll follow up after the party with a review.
-----
Parker's Lighthouse
435 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802
Booking two events in Boston in June... ideas?
Following up way late - but we ended up going to Grill 23 for dinner and Towne for our cocktail party.
Both events went really well. Towne was definitely the standout of the two. Those Lobster Popover apps were very popular with the guests (and my boss). All of the food was fantastic and the service was excellent. I would definitely recommend this venue to others.
Looking for a venue...
I thought I'd follow up post-events and let you all know what we chose and how fantastic both venues were.
We did Calcasieu (above Cochon) for dinner. AMAZING. Not a speck of food returned to the kitchen on those plates, I swear I even caught guests licking theirs before sending them back.
Then we went to WINO a couple of days later for our cocktail party. This is the one that I keep hearing about from our guests. The staff was fantastic and the wines were amazing. Everyone had a great time.
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, they helped a lot!
Help please - looking for a venue in Hollywood
I need to book a venue for a cocktail party for 120 people within walking distance of the Renaissance Hollywood (Hollywood and Highland).
We have a decent budget ($100 pp, although the location is giving me heart palpatations and I'm already sure we'll have to increase it) and the venue can be classy or campy, as long as if it's camp, it's obvious. Basically, anything but boring middle-of-the-road.
Catch is that it HAS to be within walking distance and it cannot be a chain restaurant. Doesn't even have to be a restaurant, as long as the venue is interesting.
Help me LA Chowhounders, you're my only hope! ;)
Help me find a great venue
So far, I've contacted 560, Iron Cactus, the Joule, the Sixth Floor Museum (which someone else suggested, but seems kjinda creepy to me), and the Old Red Museum (which I'm also not a huge fan of from just scouting online).
I'm planning a trip in a couple of weeks to see how easy everything is to get to and to visit the venues in person, would love to get more suggestions to check out on my trip. Places that are a couple of stops and then a short walk from the light rail are perfect too. Everyone will have a metro pass that will be attending.
My boss mentioned Lonbardi's but it looks like the West End location has closed?
Help me find a great venue
I've never been to Dallas, but am planning a cocktail party for roughly 120 people. Preferred venue would be within walking distance of Union Station... and not too sketchy of a walk, either. If I'm totally off base on that, let me know, like I said, not very familiar with the area.
Doesn't have to be a restaurant or bar, if the venue is awesome and we can cater in. Price is not too big of an issue, nothing obscene, but we have a very decent budget.
In other cities we've had rooftop patios, wine bars, trendy bars, vodka bars, top restaurants, down to a local coffeehouse or an urban park. As long as our guests have a great time and the venue is something special, it works. This event will be in June, so if the weather cooperates outside venues are not off the table. The one thing that IS off the table is a hotel ballroom (too boring).
And, if you know of a great local band (or are in one), I'm looking for one of those too.
Thanks in advance for any help. - Jen
ISO Venue for Cocktail Party for 100 in Long Beach
The last time this Chowhound spent much time in the Long Beach area, I was 18. I'm thinking Super Mex in Belmont Shore, while they make a tasty taco, is not the ideal venue.
Places near the harbor are best, especially places that are not chain restaurants and that have some sort of "cool factor." I appreciate any advice on where to get my 100 guests roaring drunk.
Where else should I be going to eat?
Are reservations needed at Coppa? I see on thier site that they're now accepting reservations, but would that be a must if I'm trying to go on a Saturday night? Sorry for the dumb question, every area is different!
-----
Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Where else should I be going to eat?
I'm in Boston from Saturday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon (so that's 4 dinners, 3 lunches, and 4 breakfasts)... I'm going to dinner at Grill 23, Mistral, and Towne, for sure (these are non-negotiable, they're events that I must attend). I need a recommendation for one more dinner place and any fabulous lunch or breakfast places in the Copley Place area. Transit or walk accessible. I'll eat almost anything, as long as it's good!
For the dinner, I'm looking for something different and good and $$-$$$ is fine (but not $$$$ because I'll want some $$$ for shopping).
What would you want to not miss? I was kind of thinking of going to Tico but have seen really mixed reviews. A place where we could try a lot of small plates would be a great idea though.
-----
Grill 23 & Bar
161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
In the area for one night only...
Flying into Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow, staying in Miami Lakes. We only have time to spare for one place (dinner), open to anything within a half hour of either. Don't want a $$$$ restaurant, but $$$ is okay.
Cuban? Sushi? You tell me. Where should we go?
Looking for a venue...
I may have to murder you for posting the link to Calcasieu before I've had lunch. I want all of that, please, delivered to Phoenix immediately. :)
Booking two events in Boston in June... ideas?
In the Back Bay area, so far I've contacted the list below... looking for a nice high-end dinner for thirty and then a cocktail party for about 100. Anywhere that I'm overlooking? All venues have to be within walking distance of Copley Place.
Dinner:
Asana
L'Espalier
Clio
Grill 23
Cocktail Party:
Boston Public Library (thinking the courtyard might be nice in June?)
Top of the Hub
Chain restaurants are out, so is anything too touristy, budget is pretty accomodating. Other ideas for me to check out?
-----
L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199
Top of the Hub
800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199
Grill 23 & Bar
161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
Asana
776 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199
Looking for a venue...
Evening, business casual (we're there for a convention), budget is around $10K for the event. (But that includes entertainment, not just F&B)
Do you have a favorite I'm-alone-now-so-nobody-will-know favorite dish?
This wonderful, never-ending thread reminded me of my childhood love... full-fat cottage cheese mixed with full-fat sour cream. I think I'm going to pick some up on the way home.
Looking for a venue...
Not necessarily a restaurant, but need a great venue near (within a 10 minute walk or streetcar ride) the Convention Center for a cocktail party for 100 guests. Hoping someone local can help out with suggestions, since I'm having a hard time figuring out what's going to work using google alone. I plan to have a band, cocktails (of course), and hors d'oeuvres, so venue has to accomodate a band + 100 people.
Thanks for any suggestions!
What's the deal with Chill Winston?
Stumbled upon Chill Winston for lunch on Sunday and it seemed like a cool little venue, the food was good, and the fries were amazing. No really, they were amazingly good. But if we mentioned the dreaded words "Chill Winston" to any other server or local in Vancouver, we got the eyebrow-raised, "Oh really? You liked it?"
Is it just a case of a trying-too-hard-to-be-hip restaurant in a part of town with some GREAT restaurants or is there a story here that the non-locals are missing out on? The servers were friendly and the food was good for lunch when we went (and as I said.. the fries were amazing), so I'm wondering where all of the scorn is coming from.
Backstory?
-----
Chill Winston
3 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A1B2, CA
High-End Vancouver for large groups
Update:
We ended up at Joe Fortes with a party of 34 for our dinner. Not as high-end as we were initially planning, but service and food were excellent. The head waiter assigned to our group was exceptional.
For our cocktail party, we had a rooftop party catered by Copper Alley Events. Again, food and service were exceptional. Monica was a pleasure to work with. She came highly recommended in the area and was a great find.
-----
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
777 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC V6E3V5, CA
Why do restaurants do this when you're trying to book for large parties?
Well, if I didn't like their menu and they didn't have impressive reviews and a stellar wine list, I never contacted them in the first place! ;)
A restaurant experience is about more than just the food and it starts from the second they greet (or don't greet) you at the door, over the phone, or via email.
Why do restaurants do this when you're trying to book for large parties?
I totally get that not every restaurant can do large parties and that everyone deserves a day off, it's the flat no that I have a problem with. It creates ill will with a customer (me) who has the potential to refer your establishment to any number of people, both local and out-of-towners. I have honestly received responses via email that say "sorry we're closed on Sunday" and that's the entire message. Not signed, no thanks for asking, nothing. That's not the kind of place that I am going to refer to friends and colleagues.
I think that keeping an eye on the bottom line and focusing on your main customers is extremely important, but there's also that side where you don't know who is calling you. You don't know if they are attached to a local group, a magazine, or someone you might be interested in having visit your restaurant. A flat no shuts that door. The point I'm trying to get across is that anyone who contacts your restaurant should be treated just as well as your best paying customer. Hello, thank you, I'm sorry we can't work together, etc. etc. takes two seconds out of your day, but can help you get more business in the long run.
Why do restaurants do this when you're trying to book for large parties?
" A banquet can be a fabulous opportunity to showcase a restaurant's talents to a captive audience of potential repeat customers."
This. Exactly. We had a local event that we wanted to have with a recently opened downtown restaurant where our office is located. All with LOCAL staff and guests who worked within walking distance of the restaurant. They were the ones who gave me the "You can come in, but we can't guarantee the space or advance order a menu." response.
Guess what? They're not very busy a year later.
Why do restaurants do this when you're trying to book for large parties?
**Commiserate with me or share the view from the other side. I'm interested in what restaurant owners/staff have to say about this one!**
As a part-time event planner (I plan 8-10 large-scale dinners a year), my jaw drops every time a restaurant simply tells me "no." Especially in this economy.
Not that they don't have the space available or the capability to handle the event, but that they are "closed that day" (4-6 months out) or that they won't consider a buy-out (even if I ask them to name their price). Or best one yet, "You can come in, but we can't guarantee the space or advance order a menu." As if I am going to take 60 people to a restaurant just to see if they can fit us in! Sometimes I truly wonder who is answering the phone/email, is it Sara the disgruntled hostess or is it the maitre d' who has so little common sense?
What would the right answers be?
"We're not typically open on (day of week here), would you be willing to consider another day of the week?" - Don't make me work for it, offer me suggestions to spend money at your establishment. Worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't work out, but at least you tried.
"We can open the restaurant for a food and beverage minimum of $10,000, plus a gratuity of 15%. We will need an advance deposit of 50%." - Set your terms. There's a point where you WILL open, right? You don't know my budget, so hit me with your terms and let me decide. You might be really happy to find out what I can work with.
And if you really, truly will not open for a large event, don't just say "we're closed" or "no." Thank me for my interest, recommend another local restaurant that you know accommodates large groups, and/or give me some sort of explanation (religious reasons, a commitment to staff, AA meeting, whatever it is), this will go a LONG way to getting me to recommend your restaurant for an impromptu dinner (remember those 60 people I was bringing with me?) for another night or to try it myself when I'm in the area. A flat no gets you checked out of my list. For good.
Vent over. :)
