Seeking moderate priced Ethnic Prix Fixe/Buffet options

Feel free to post venues not fitting my needs, but fitting the title of this topic (e.g. pizza, hot dogs, whatever). Probably should start a separate thread for $100 or more per person fine dining. If there is another post this could have been appended to, my apologies, I could not find it.

--Preferably no more than $40-50 per person including tax and tip, $100 hard limit
--Parking and/or public transportation a plus
--Vegan and other dietary options theoretically a plus (they haven't been coming)

I lead a monthly ethnic dining group (except occasionally when somebody else does a month or two), for family style dinners to share a variety of foods.

The rules of the game include that I must publish the per person price months in advance. OK, so if its a very inexpensive place, I can just say $40 per person, and make it less on the day of the event (though above $30 I think it will reduce the number coming or at least increase people waiting till the last minute), but if it will take close that much to get a good variety and fill people up (or supply take home containers, considered a plus), it takes a lot of planning, made worse by last minute RSVPs, cancellations and even no-shows. For instance, with 12 people 2 of these 10 dishes, with 13 add one more of these two dishes, with 14, add 1 more of two others, etc. Yes, I need to order multiple of most, otherwise the last several people the dish is passed to won't get any.

So, obviously any kind of Prix fixe makes my work a whole lot easier. If the number that shows up changes by 2 or 3, it makes no difference.

This has been 6 PM Sunday in the past, but another person is doing Sunday afternoon (2 PM), so maybe that could be an option.

For now, though, first choice is something available at 6 PM on Sunday.

Especially looking for:
--An Indian buffet available in the evening on Sunday. I think the predecessor to Heyderbarad house did, and maybe a few other smaller ones in Schaumburg, but no more?
--Any other Korean BBQ that has unlimited appetizers and other items included in the basic price (people wanting to limit meat intake can fill up on those items).

Places I have gone to successfully:

--Jin 28 in Arlington heights for Sushi. Advantages: served not buffet (some diners have limited mobility), good selection sides included (salads, appetizers, soups), sushi made to order, and includes traditional basic as well as modern style creative combinations. Several people that "don't eat raw fish" had a few vegetarian and cooked /pickled seafood sushi, then lots of other items including fried octopus appetizer

--BBQ Garden, Niles for Korean BBQ: Choice of 3 price levels for meat selection, "hot/salad bar" includes appetizers, soups, salads, bonchon and basic sushi.

--Royal Buffet, Hoffman Estates, Korean/oriental: Probably biggest total selection I've seen anywhere, with lots of seafood, grill where you select items and they are custom stir fried for you, extensive desserts, dim sum. Disadvantages: mostly fried food, sushi is inferior.

--Red Apple, Chicago almost Lincolnwood, eastern European: No highlights or issues

--Ginza Buffet, Niles: (I've been but not taken group): wide selection of Japanese foods about as good as possible for a buffet including sushi (limited to fairly traditional), Disadvantages: No reservations, no seating till entire group is there, mostly limited to booths for 4 or 6 with a few for 8 to maybe 10 (which is difficult for having to get up to go to buffet, anyway... And a large group may not even be in adjacent booths..

Herb Thai in uptown does prix fixe, and is open Sunday evenings.
5424 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60640

Rickshaw Republic offers a Rijsttafel (Indonesian/Dutch 'rice table' meal) menu for 37 dollars that is quite unique for Chicago, and is served family style.

15 courses:

Krupuk tapioca crackers
Sambal Oma all natural chili sauce
Acar pickled cucumber
Bala Bala vegetarian fritter
Nasi Putih steamed rice
Serundeng coconut flakes
Urap grated coconut salad
Buncis spiced green beans
Acar Kuning yellow curry pickles
Bakwan Jagung corn fritter
Krupuk Udang shrimp crackers
Nasi Kuning yellow coconut rice
Sate Ayam grilled chicken breast skewer
Gulai Ayam braised chicken breast curry
Rendang Sapi caramelized beef curry

Rickshaw Republic
2312 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

bweiny wrote:Herb Thai in uptown does prix fixe, and is open Sunday evenings.
5424 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60640

Looks like a place I'd go to, but may not work for my group, at $55 to $73 per person with tax and tip Do you know if they's serve it family style to a group? Biggest issue would be serving the soup in large bowls and giving each diner a small bowl to try both kinds with.

Anteprima

If people are not showing up or making last minute cancellations, why not have them make a monetary deposit or pay-in-advance with their reservation. When they have skin the game, they are less likely to not show up.

diversedancer wrote:

bweiny wrote:Herb Thai

Looks like a place I'd go to, but may not work for my group, at $55 to $73 per person with tax and tip Do you know if they's serve it family style to a group? Biggest issue would be serving the soup in large bowls and giving each diner a small bowl to try both kinds with.

To my knowledge they have the $55, and a less expensive 3 course option. As for serving the soup, I can't say I totally understand the concern, but you won't be the first group of X amount of people they've served. The manner should not cause problems since the restaurant is in the business of serving their food without causing problems.

Cathy2 wrote:If people are not showing up or making last minute cancellations, why not have them make a monetary deposit or pay-in-advance with their reservation. When they have skin the game, they are less likely to not show up.

Its a lot more work to collect and record the money.

And most will just not bother and not come. These aren't dedicated foodies like you and me, they come largely for the socialization. The same umbrella group may have other events the same day that are cheaper and don't require ANY sign up at all, just show up...or at least nobody cares if they are a no-show or late (like meeting at a bar or public concert) or didn't RSVP.

Reasons I lead this groups:

--contribution back to the larger group for my past benefits from it
--my friends are from yet other activities and even less interested in ethnic foods
--it is subsidized up to 50%, thought all that work is placed upon me as leader

WhyBeeSea wrote:Anteprima

Just to provide more information about Anteprima (which is terrific)... Sundays through Thursdays you can get almost any three courses on the menu for $32. I say "almost" because they usually have a couple of dishes for which there are upcharges ($5 IIRC). They also provide the flexibility for some who want app-entree-dessert and others who want app-halfpasta-entree, as either qualifies for the $32 price. The food is Italian, of course. The main dining room is bistro-ish, i.e. seating is somewhat cramped and the room is rather loud. When the weather is nice, they have an outdoor patio in the rear that is better on both counts. It's in Andersonville. The #22 Clark bus stops in front, and it's a ten-minute walk from the Berwyn stop on the CTA Red Line. Street parking is easier (and free) on Ashland, one block west.

bweiny wrote:

diversedancer wrote:

bweiny wrote:Herb Thai

Looks like a place I'd go to, but may not work for my group, at $55 to $73 per person with tax and tip Do you know if they's serve it family style to a group? Biggest issue would be serving the soup in large bowls and giving each diner a small bowl to try both kinds with.

To my knowledge they have the $55, and a less expensive 3 course option. As for serving the soup, I can't say I totally understand the concern, but you won't be the first group of X amount of people they've served. The manner should not cause problems since the restaurant is in the business of serving their food without causing problems.

Maybe the price has gone up? The website I saw said prix fixe was $40 (3 course) or $55 (5 course). Sales tax is 10.25% and they specify elsewhere 20% added on groups of 4 or more. OK, that's $52.25 or $71.64. I had noticed the sales tax in Chicago was over 10% and guessed at 11%, just now looked it up and found 10.25%. I did the math in my head before and rounded up or erred slightly. I tend to be cautious, because if I collect $x amount when they arrive, and it ends up being $x+1 per person, all the extra comes out of MY Pocket. That is a rule imposed by the parent organization. My original post indicated a preference for $40-50 per person including tax and tip. And as I also said (in separate paces), 'this looks like a place I'd like to go', and 'go ahead and post suggestions even if not just for me, others might like the information too' (not that detailed, but I thought I implied that. If that wasn't clear, my apologies.

Also meaning, I definitely appreciate your post, even if it is not currently on the A-list for the group I lead. There is some possibility the price range could go up in the future.

nsxtasy wrote:... The main dining room is bistro-ish, i.e. seating is somewhat cramped and the room is rather loud. When the weather is nice, they have an outdoor patio in the rear that is better on both counts. It's in Andersonville. The #22 Clark bus stops in front, and it's a ten-minute walk from the Berwyn stop on the CTA Red Line. Street parking is easier (and free) on Ashland, one block west.

Thank you so much for that information. I should have asked for it in the first place... the noise level and roominess, at least, I can figure out transportation myself, but no complaints to have help.

I have received complaints about noise level in the past, and some of the diners are...well, ample.. so cramped seating can be an issue. These are not foodie gourmets, much of what they come for is the socialization.

Does it need to be a buffet, or would family style do.

I've had good luck over the years by calling places to ask "I've got a group wanting to eat at your place on [date]. I've got a budget of $45 per person, all in. Could you put something together, maybe family style? They're almost always willing to work with me, especially if it's on a mid-week night. They're glad to have the business, most often we wind up with more food that if we'd ordered off the menu.