The trick is that it cannot be a hotel ballroom or at the convention center (rooftops are okay, but nothing at the Marriott or Loews), cannot be a chain restaurant, and must be within walking distance (around 1/2 mile max) from the Marriott.

Restaurant or bar buyouts tend to work well, but other interesting venues that I can bring in a caterer are also great. Really looking for a place that you would want to go to, even if you weren't just in the area for a convention.

Was interested in The Franklin, even though it's on the far side of my walking-distance limit, until I saw that they can only accommodate 60.

Locals, what would you suggest?

Thank you!

Thank you, I'll check it out.

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

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!

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...

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.)

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!

OMG Beacher's Madhouse - probably way way beyond my budget, probably unbookable... but would be the most epic event ever.

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!

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!

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.

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Parker's Lighthouse
435 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802

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.

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!

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! ;)

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?

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

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.

I plan to gain at least 80 pounds. :)

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!

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Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

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.

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Grill 23 & Bar
161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116

Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

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?

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. :)

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?

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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

Evening, business casual (we're there for a convention), budget is around $10K for the event. (But that includes entertainment, not just F&B)

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.

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!

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?

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Chill Winston
3 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A1B2, CA

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.

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Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
777 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC V6E3V5, CA

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.