Where to hold a private party?

[ariwriter.livejournal.com]

Can anyone suggest a restaurant/bar in the general area that could host a small cocktail party of 20-30 people on a Saturday night? Guests would buy their own drinks, but I would ideally purchase (through the restaurant) about $100 in simple appetizers. A private room isn't necessary. I can deal with Redline's prices in Harvard Square, but am looking for something more convenient to the Davis/Porter/Inman areas.

Would Orleans be able to handle this? Or PJ Ryan's, even?

Thanks!

Comments

Hmm. .

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

As someone who's previously done alot with group sales for restaurants and bars, $100 in appetizers and a cash bar is going to be kind of tricky to find a place for on a Saturday night. Even with very light snacks, most restaurants will start in the $10-15 per person range, especially without a hosted bar. Restaurants base their menus, etc on doing a certain number of covers (diners served) per night and an average cost per meal. $3-4 per person or so, even with drinks, probably won't get them to the point where you'll be a profitable group to take. They could get more for those tables, most likely, by opening them up to the public, especially on a Saturday night.

Call around, though. One of the smaller bars in the area might be thrilled to have the business.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I agree that $100 is rather light in terms of it being worth a restaurant's while, unless you can negotiate some minimum bar expenditure (if your guests don't purchase at least $$ amount, you pay the difference, or something like that.)

I'd guess you'd have a much better chance, with a budget like that, if you arrange it at a time when they'd otherwise be doing practically no business at all.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

Orleans has a good cocktail area (sofas and couches) for about a dozen people. But for what you are thinking about, I'd head to John Harvard's in Harvard Sq. (It's part of the Garage, across the street from the Au Bon Pain). 20-30 people can be easily accomodated and my college alumni group has meetings there just as you describe. We cover appetizers, people get drinks. People just crowd around the tables, so it's not all seated, but then again you _want_ to mingle, right?

[grapefruiteater.livejournal.com]

West Side Lounge on Mass Ave between Porter and Harvard is a great space for private parties of that size, and they have very good deals on food and drinks.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine that they'd give you reservations for 10-20 people on a Saturday night for $100 in food. They'd make that easily at a single table or a pair of bar stools, and the bar area isn't really good for mingling. Great food, though.

[grapefruiteater.livejournal.com]

No, I doubt they'd do that for a Saturday night, but my old office used to have a yearly holiday party on a weekday late afternoon, and they were more than willing to give us the back of the restaurant. They do offer great deals on food and drinks for parties, so for a weekday event, I'd definitely check it out.

[ron_newman]

Back room at the Burren?

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

Prices start at several times that, I believe.

[dirty-devlin.livejournal.com]

I was looking around recently for a place to host a private party and called Orleans. They were helpful, but like other folks said, you'll probably have a problem getting apps for $100 there. I'd give 'em a call though just to ask what they can do.

Good luck!

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Based on our experience of trying to find a place to host a rehearsal dinner for 30 people on a Saturday night a month ago? You're probably hosed. $100 isn't nearly enough money to make it worth any restaurant's while to tie up that much space for several hours on a prime business night unless you're all going to drink like fish, and maybe not even then. Good luck!

[ariwriter.livejournal.com]

Thanks all. I decided to skip the restaurant idea, and go with Flat Top Johnny's.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

yeah, also the Independent in Union might have room for that many folks in the bar.