Upscale Options for a Large Group

I'm needing to find a moderately upscale location for a dinner with about 15 coworkers. In the past these annual events have been at Coco Pazzo which, coincidentally, used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the city. All of my experiences there over the last few years have been progressively less impressive though and I've decided to throw in the towel on the place.

That leaves me needing a new location for this function. It should be in the same price range as Coco Pazzo ($30-35 entree price range). I suggested North Pond (my current favorite) to the person who's asked me to find a new spot and it wasn't met with enthusiasm. Something about a contradiction of seasonal ingredients in the winter and not wanting a "rustic" vibe. Blackbird and Avec would both work but the space isn't conducive to a large group. Avenues is too expensive. Spiaggia is likely too expensive and possibly a bit too stuffy. Bonsoiree would be just about perfect in terms of food and price point, but even if they could accommodate that large a table, I'd be worried its off-the-beaten-path location might be a problem for some folks in the group. On the flipside, steakhouses are likely a bit too unadventurous.

Any suggestions?

If you want to stick with the upscale Italian theme, two ideas are Merlo and Cafe Spiaggia.

May Street Market?

Vivere on Monroe would be my suggestion. Italian, right price range, they can manage groups. I haven't eaten there in a while but I've had some memorable meals there in the past & the decor is always a plus.

The price point is a little under what you're looking for but Cyrano's on Wells might be a fun, more casual option & good for the unadventurous. They have a couple of private rooms, are used to dealing with groups (I've been there as a group of 10, they have some nice set menu options which work well with group logistics) & the chef is really good with menu requests (I've a friend with wheat intolerance & they've always been able to provide good options for him).

Last year I planned a work-related dinner for about 20 people. I worked with the catering arm of Opera (I think they also arrange events at other Kleiner restaurants). The catering group was very reliable and my evening went off without a hitch. They helped me pick a set menu, ensured that I had 3 dedicated servers and that any really strange (i.e. expensive) bar requests went through me.

In fact, I was so impressed with the organization and service that this year I am indeed planning another work-outing at a different Kleiner restaurant.

Ralph Wiggum wrote: Blackbird and Avec would both work but the space isn't conducive to a large group.

Doesn't Blackbird have a private room?

What about the front room of Spring- semi-private and seats a group nicely.

Amata wrote:

Ralph Wiggum wrote: Blackbird and Avec would both work but the space isn't conducive to a large group.

Doesn't Blackbird have a private room?

Yes. It's upstairs. I can't remember the capacity, however.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Amata wrote:

Ralph Wiggum wrote: Blackbird and Avec would both work but the space isn't conducive to a large group.

Doesn't Blackbird have a private room?

Yes. It's upstairs. I can't remember the capacity, however.

=R=

The capacity is quite large - I'm thinking about 40, though maybe less. They have a pretty stiff minimum charge, however, which depends on the night you are there. Call for details.

Gioco has a nice back room, and I second the motion that the Kleiner restaurants do good catering work.

Brasserie Jo has nice private rooms.

With a group of 16, a place with a private room is the way to go.

one sixtyblue is another place that has a private room - actually now they have two, one that seats up to 14, another up to 50. They also have their "wine room" which is fun (it's right off the main dining room, glassed in, and you've probably noticed it if you've ever dined there).

If you want to stick to Italian, Vivere, mentioned above, is a good recommendation. Another place to consider (in the same vein - Italian food in the Loop) is Trattoria No. 10, which also has private rooms.

nsxtasy wrote:With a group of 16, a place with a private room is the way to go.

I think this depends on the restaurant. As I mentioned above, some have minimums. Others have prices for a private room that are higher than the regular menu prices. Naturally, with a private room you get a lot of benefits (privacy, perhaps better service, etc.) but *in some cases* the private room costs more than simply reserving a large table.

Darren72 wrote:I think this depends on the restaurant. As I mentioned above, some have minimums. Others have prices for a private room that are higher than the regular menu prices. Naturally, with a private room you get a lot of benefits (privacy, perhaps better service, etc.) but *in some cases* the private room costs more than simply reserving a large table.

All very true; thanks for the clarification. (One other way they can differ is that they may serve the regular menu and prices, but have an additional room charge tacked onto the bill.)

I think a private room is the way to go as long as there are no significant extra charges incurred by doing so.

Since Ralph mentioned Bonsoiree as a possibility, I assume a private room is not paramount for this business dinner. Therefore, I would very enthusiastically recommend Sweets & Savories. I held a 15 person business meal there about 2 years ago, and chef David was incredible. He put together a special menu for us including a whole fois gras seared and served tableside, along with a beautiful, gigantic, hawaian red snapper cooked whole with lemon and herbs and, again, served tableside by David himself. The rest of our 5 courses were delicious too, and David made our group feel quite special.

Thanks for all of the suggestions folks. I'm going to pull together a list for the person organizing the event to choose from.