Birthday dinner/dancing mini-crisis

I am helping to plan a big last-birthday-in-Chicago bash for my dear friend who is moving back to Costa Rica. It's a day long celebration that we were hoping to end with dinner and dancing at Nacional 27. However, they are booked except for the bar area, which is a smoking area. And they only do a prix fixe menu for parties over 8.

Any suggestions for other dinnner and dancing venues? Latin would be great, but not necessary. I checked out Rumba but read that the food is pricey and mediocre. Green Dolphin is a bit pricey for us as well. Or any thoughts on a dinner place with a dance place within a close walk?

We're most of us in our early 40's so we certainly don't need a youthful hipster scene (not that you can't be youthful and hip in your 40's...). Any suggestions would be most appreciated. This is for Saturday the 13th. Thank you, thank you

How many people and what price range?

There will be about 10 of us. I think we're aiming for about $50-70 per person give or take a few dollars

Once upon a time there would have been some good Cuban choices on Milwaukee Ave. in Logan Square. Tania's was fancier, there was a place further south that had better food and was less of a scene, read more room for dancing, including some incredible older couples.

Maybe one of the Cuban places up on Peterson?

I'm not that familiar with them, but somebody should be. And it would be nice to have dinner and dancing at the same place, that way people in their 40s can pace themselves

How about calling HotHouse to see what's on that night? They have Brazilian samba there fairly regularly. If there's something appealing there, maybe a fun place for dinner relatively nearby might be Opera.

HotHouse
31 E. Balbo Drive
312-362-9707

Opera
1301 S. Wabash Ave.
312-461-0161

I would recommend rumba on hubbard and orleans
it is a great latin themed restaurant and has a nice dance floor

Agnes

I would recommend rumba on hubbard and orleans
it is a great latin themed restaurant and has a nice dance floor

Can anyone recommend specific things to eat at Rumba? I know the place has received mixed reviews, but we're going foremost for the dancing this Friday.

Cafe 28

and

Katerina's