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| Gourmandatory
Meal: For �ber-foodies, Daniel is required
eating. |
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Many couples invite their out-of-town guests to the rehearsal dinner
(R) the night before the wedding; traditionally, the newlyweds—or
their parents—also host a brunch (B) the morning after. The
following restaurants have private or semi-private spaces that are
suitable for large groups. Prices are per person and don’t include
alcohol unless specified.
Amuse
(R) (B)
108-10 W. 18th St., nr. Sixth Ave.
212-929-9755
amusenyc.com
Four private dining rooms are available for lunch and dinner in this sleek spot, which is located in an elegant turn-of-the-century townhouse. The third floor seats 190 for dinner (325 for cocktails) and includes a lovely faux fireplace to help set the mood. Dinners start at $90 per person, and selections include a roasted-shiitake-mushroom soup, peppered Long Island duck breast, and a delicious caramelized-brown-sugar toffee cake for dessert.
Avra
(R) (B)
141 E. 48th St., nr. Lexington Ave.
212-759-8550
avrany.com
This festive Greek restaurant is known for fresh Mediterranean fish. The rustic private room, decorated with vases, racks of wine, and stone-washed walls, holds 50 to 80 for dinner, with dishes like charcoal-grilled octopus, salads, and loup de mer ($45 on weekdays; $85 on weekends). Even brunchtime eggs Benedict gets a Greek twist—pita instead of an English muffin. Baldoria
(R)
249 W. 49th St., nr. Eighth Ave.
212-582-0460
baldoriamo.com
It’s nearly impossible to score a table at Rao's, but it’s a cinch to take your friends to its well-regarded offshoot, Baldoria. The second-floor private room seats 80 to 100; bring 130 to 170, and they’ll lend you the entire restaurant. Three menus ($55, $65, and $85 per person) feature great Italian food, served family-style. A buffet dinner starts at $45 per person for up to 80 people.
Barbetta
(R)
321 W. 46th St., nr. Eighth Ave.
212-246-9171
barbettarestaurant.com
This landmark Italian restaurant, which celebrates its 100th birthday in 2006, spans the length of four 1874 townhouses and has an impressive garden that will hold 80 guests for a seated dinner. The largest private room seats 135 and showcases antiques dating from 1775. The menus—each priced upon request—may include agnolotti, Maine diver scallops with potato crust, and monte bianco for dessert. Bayard's
(R) (B)
1 Hanover Sq., nr. Stone St.
212-514-9454
bayards.com
Chef Eberhard Müller began at Le Bernardin, took over Lutèce, and now oversees this freestanding Wall Street mansion. Model ships and maritime oil paintings decorate eight private rooms, which host anywhere from 6 to 300 for cocktails (200 for dinner). Dinner is $65 to $155 per person. Menu standouts: lobster salad, filet of beef, and a chocolate-dome dessert.
Beacon
Restaurant (R) (B)
25 W. 56th St., nr. Fifth Ave.
212-332-0501
beaconnyc.com
At Beacon, where everything is cooked on an open wood fire, chef Waldy Malouf serves up dishes like roasted trout and oysters, Delmonico steak, and brandy-laced roasted-lobster soup. Three-course meals start at $65 a person. The second-floor glass-enclosed room seats up to 100. The
Biltmore Room (R)
290 Eighth Ave., nr. 24th St.
212-807-0111
thebiltmoreroom.com
The floor-to-ceiling Italian marble, brass finishes, and ornate chandeliers in the dining room are originally from the 1930s white-glove heyday of the old Biltmore Hotel. Reserve the entire room for up to 82 people, starting at $16,000. The evening will start off with cocktail hour, followed by a formal seven-course dinner or buffet of specialities like the tataki of bluefin-tuna appetizer or the ancho-chile-and-sage-crusted seared breast of duck. Entertainment is also an option.
BLT
Fish (R)
21 W. 17th St., nr. Fifth Ave.
212-691-8888
bltfish.com
The maritime offshoot of Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Steak brings the same luxurious bistro feel to the former AZ space. The second-floor private dining room accommodates 100 for cocktails or 65 for dinner. Rent the third floor with its movable glass roof for under-the-stars dining. Preset menus start at $75 and include dishes like marinated acacia-honey Chilean black cod.
Blue Fin (R) (B)
1567 Broadway, at 47th St.
212-331-0328
brguestrestaurants.com
The sexy 24-seat Red Room is one of three options at Times Square’s hip seafooder from Stephen Hanson; the West Room (75–100) and the East Room (30–40) are available as well. Your guests will love the nonstop energy as well as the Chilean sea bass with roast red pepper and lemon potato ($35–$80 a head).
Blue Water Grill (R) (B)
31 Union Sq. W., at 16th St.
212-331-0328
brguestrestaurants.com
Plush velvet curtains warm up the vault room in this cavernous former bank, where up to 35 people can dine on modern classics like wasabi-crusted big-eye tuna or grilled American filet mignon ($65 a head; more for hors d’oeuvre, sushi, or raw bar). The jazz room holds 10 to 22. Bottino
(R)
246 Tenth Ave., nr. 24th St.
212-206-6766
bottinonyc.com
A private room opens onto a garden at this upscale Italian space popular with the neighboring Chelsea art crowd. Up to 50 guests can sip cocktails and snack on hors d’oeuvre in the garden before they sit down to a three-course dinner inside. A smaller garden space enclosed by glass and tents and warmed by heat lamps is available for up to 26 people. An all-inclusive dinner is $110 per person and includes three hours of open bar. There is a $25 prix fixe menu for lunch on Saturday.
Bouley
(R)
120 W. Broadway, at Duane St.
212-964-2525
bouleyrestaurants.com
Treat yourself to chef David Bouley’s French-inspired menu, which includes Maine day-boat lobster with mango and bok choy, or thai curry with port-and-paprika sauce. The two private dining rooms have a sensuous cream-and-pomegranate décor. The White Room seats 40 and the Red Room seats 70 (prices vary). Photographed by Kenneth Chen.
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