Need your help choosing a wedding rehearsal dinner venue

Howdy gang!

Ol' Buddy needs your help. It would seem that I have a daughter (you all know her as abe_froeman) getting married toward the end of May, this year. All the wedding arrangements are under control, but we're up in the air as to where to hold the rehearsal dinner. abe did some research and sent me the links shown below. All of these places have been chosen because of their proximity to the wedding venue and the primary hotel where out of town guests will be staying.

So, I'm wondering if anyone out there in the wide, wide LTH universe has any experience with any of these places and can share same with me. The wedding itself is going to be a far less than formal affair (the reception is being held in a hundred year old barn at Prairie Crossing. Smoque is doing the catering). We're trying to keep the rehearsal dinner to the same casual level. The venue would need to accommodate approximately 80 people.

Anybody know anything about any of these joints?

Buddy

http://www.jesseoaks.com/webpageInfomation.htm (click on "Printable Party Information Sheet" for the menu)

http://www.billspizzapub.com/default.aspx

http://www.viccinos.com/catering.html(not sure if they have a private room or not)

http://www.salutosofgurnee.com/content.asp?ContentID=7

http://www.mickeyfinnsbrewery.com/banquetsform.asp

http://www.timothyotooles.com/Gurnee%20Subs%20and%20Pizzas.html

http://bellagiocafe.net/catering-private-parties.html

http://www.rjseatery.com/parties.html

Buddy, I so wish I could help, but I know nothing - but I wanted to chime in with my congratulations to you and Abe!

Thanks for the good wishes! It should be quite a night. A large segment of our Kansas City relatives will be coming in for the wedding. But no pressure on Barry and the Smoque crew...

Buddy

Hi,

I know of two on your list:

Viccino's Pizza has several locations with one near my home in Highland Park. It has evolved to my family's favored placed for pizza, though we rarely order pizza for home. My youngest sister loves Edwardo's spinach pizza. When she wanted to go for a second trip to Edwardo's located at Dundee & Milwaukee, I proposed trying Viccino's stuffed spinach instead. To our surprise, and my relief, she now prefers Viccino's very close to my house. However, I think Bill's might be your best bet.

Bill's Pizza is a long established pizza joint in Mundelein area with a solid reputation for tavern pizza. When I met Mike G at the Lake County Fair last year, he suggested going there. If I hadn't promised to be elsewhere, I would have gladly gone. I went to Bill's long before I knew anyone here. If you do a search on LTH, you will find a number of mentions. The major thread is Mike's from years ago, though there are mentions elsewhere.

Given your Burt's pedigree, I am certain you will like Bill's over Viccinos. I don't know anything about the others.

Congratulations on the big event!

Regards,

abe mentioned that Bill's Pizza had gotten positive reviews here at LTH. I'd still like to hear from anyone who has any experience with any of the other places listed, but at this point I'm inclined to lean toward Bill's. Looking at their website it is unclear as to whether they have a private room for large parties. Have you seen anything in your past visits to indicate one way or another whether that is the case?

Buddy

Congratulations!

I've been to Saluto's many times over the years. Their pizza is pretty good, probably the best item on the menu, though not my go to place for pizza. The other items are average at best. But some of their sauces such as the sauce on the chicken marsala was horrible.

Mickey Finn's is much better. They have a nice selection pub grub and entrees.

I've only been to Timothy O'Toole's once but was very happy with the food and the atmosphere.


LHS

We've been to Mickey Finns a couple of times for music and apps.
The music has been great.
They had one appetizer that was really good, kind of a corned beef and cabbage eggroll,
a little off the beaten path, and you wanted to keep on eating it, the sauerkraut or cabbage component was a nice tart balance to the fattier salty corned beef.
The other apps around the table were more standard, but all solid versions of themselves- nachos, etc.
The other plus a really solid selection of brews-
much more impressive than just bud light here....
One consideration depending on your group- where the music was -was up a big tall flight of stairs-
Don't know if that's where the "amber room is also- if mobility is an issue for anyone I'd check on elevator availability.

(also if you check their fine print on Fri and Sat nites it looks like they want you (or any minors) out by 9:30 PM....)

Hi,

I have never looked around Bill's for a private party room.

Regards,

I wanted to bring up another option since I have been here for a researsal dinner, it is not far from the vincinity of your other choices, and it keeps with the theme of your wedding:

Silo Pizza
625 Rockland Rd
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
(847) 234-6660
www.silopizza.com

They have a large upstairs area where you can have to yourselves. The food was good and they kept the beer flowing. Price was fairly reasonable too from what the couple told me, and I remember everyone having a good time.

The restaurant has also been mentioned here in the past:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5490

I'd recommend Bill's Pub North (up by College of Lake County on Washington, close to Prairie Crossing) over either Mickey Finn's or the original Bill's Pub. I say over the original Bill's because it's a bigger, brighter, more beautiful space - high ceilings, north woods lodge feel with big-scale trophies (buffalo head over bar, polar bear fur over big stone fireplace.) I think of the original Bill's as a darker, smaller place. Don't know how they handle private parties. If a private space is essential, I'd second the Silo recommendation - very good cheeeeesy pizza and cool old place. By comparison to them, Mickey Finn's is just a run-of-the-mill bar, to me.

I spoke with someone at Bill's yesterday and got some details on their private room. Unfortunately, it only holds 35-40 people (40 being a tight squeeze). We're expecting 50-60 guests for the rehearsal dinner, so the quest continues. Thanks to all for your input up to this point. I'll make Mickey Finn's and The Silo my next inquiries.

Thanks to all. Any more thoughts from anyone?

Buddy