30th Birthday Dinner for 20 in the City

My wife and I are trying to get dinner reservations for 20 people on a Saturday night for her 30th Birthday. It's proving to be quite the task even with over a month lead time. I can't believe how many places won't take parties that large or would require a $100 per person minimum, yet they would have no problem taking 2 reservations for 10, 4 reservations for 5, etc.

Here are some places we had in mind, but they were unable to accommodate us:

- Market - Already Booked won't take another party of 20
- Carnivale - $2K Minimum
- Luxbar - $2K Minimum

Our only real criteria is:
- In Chicago
- $30-50 per person
- Looking for a dinner reservation, not a private party/minimum charge
- Not too interested in tapas

Any suggestions from the group?

Prairie Fire.

We had a great private party there in the spring. I don't have the numbers handy, but I don't think we paid more than $50/person. In any case, they were willing to work with us and design a menu to meet whatever price point we wanted. No minimum charge (but they might have a minimum on the weekends).

Most importantly, the food and service was exceptional, and it fit a wide range of palates.

Sun Wah?

Thanks for the suggestions! We'll take a look.

A reservation for 20 is different than 20 reservations for 1,10 reservations for 2, or whatever other combination it can be turned into. The stress on the kitchen can greaten, and if you beef up staff for that reservation, guess what will happen? 15 of those 20 will only want coffee. Darren72's suggestion is a great one for any restaurant. Work with the place to design a menu. Your food, service, and overall experience should be better unless you're thinking of going for a family style restaurant - like the Sun Wah rec. 20 different orders on one table is pretty tough to coordinate to get all of the different plates/courses out at the appropriate time. If you haven't suggested trying to create a planned menu or a family style meal at the places that have turned you away, or wanted a minimum, I would call them back, speak to management, and try that. It makes it much easier on the restaurant staff.

I second the Sun Wah. Below your price point, can easily accommodate the number of people that you have and can make showstoppers like roasted pig, peking duck etc. Check out the thread/posting on the board. Only issues (maybe they aren't issues for you) are that its loud and there isn't a private room.

Do you have an area in the city that you are looking at? Chinatown could be another option for you.

A reservation for 20 is different than 20 reservations for 1,10 reservations for 2, or whatever other combination it can be turned into. The stress on the kitchen can greaten, and if you beef up staff for that reservation, guess what will happen? 15 of those 20 will only want coffee.

Point taken. At $2,000 their concerns about a single table of 20 disappear though.

Do you have an area in the city that you are looking at? Chinatown could be another option for you.

No area in particular, but I don't think we're adventurous enough for Chinatown.

La Madia? Gilt Bar? Friendship Chinese? Any mexican place?