Last bday question, RL v Cafe Spiaggia v Coco Pazzo

Lunch ON the actual 50th with my oldest friend, she's paying. Any recs among RL v Cafe Spiaggia v Coco Pazzo? I've never been to any of them,though I was at Spiaggia for a wedding once.

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Group of 10-14, don't want to spend a ton of dough, don't need fancy but nice would be cool. Ages from late 40s to mid 70s, want the food to be great and the atmosphere to be fun. We have a reservation for Quartino, and my brother has someone owing him a favor so Paris Club seems to be the other option.

Other suggestions in similar price ranges? Downtown preferred. Accessible food for some picky eaters. Would like to be able to talk but not debate world peace so elegantly quiet is not on the tale. Nor in the budget.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I recommend Markethouse if you're willing to head east a few blocks to Streeterville. Prices are reasonable, the food is great, and the atmosphere will be nice for a party - moderately energetic.

I had my scary birthday at Girl and the Goat with a party of 6 - we had a fantastic time!

I actually really like Paris Club, but stick to the small plates.

Thanks all, I actually looked at MarketHouse but think the "favor" has been called in so it's Paris Club. Anyone been to the dance club after dinner?

Why was it scary?

Big number! LOL

Hopefully the restaurant won't be scary!

sujormik wrote:Thanks all, I actually looked at MarketHouse but think the "favor" has been called in so it's Paris Club. Anyone been to the dance club after dinner?

I wouldn't recommend Studio Paris at all for a late 40s crowd unless you were going to spend thousands on a table, and wouldn't recommend it for someone in their 70s at all.

claypoolfan wrote:

sujormik wrote:Thanks all, I actually looked at MarketHouse but think the "favor" has been called in so it's Paris Club. Anyone been to the dance club after dinner?

I wouldn't recommend Studio Paris at all for a late 40s crowd unless you were going to spend thousands on a table, and wouldn't recommend it for someone in their 70s at all.

Thanks for the heads up. Was hoping my brother's connection might help but I have no problem with passing! I'm gonna be too old to stay out that late anyway .

Re: the new question, RL might be a lot of fun. Dress to the nines and see who's there!

Of the three you asked about, I would go with Cafe Spiaggia, hands down. I've never had a bad meal there. Just Tuesday I had a great meal, where Chef Sarah made her way around the dining room, greeting many of her new TopChef fans.

The Zucca, winter squash salad, was probably my favorite dish of the night, but I doubt it will be on the menu much longer. The polpette were good, but I wouldn't order them again. My Moser Brother game hen on the other hand, was so simply prepared by excellent. I especially loved the lemony fregola and cauliflower it was served over. I ended my meal with the sugar bomb bomboloni doughnuts with raspberry compote.


Zucca / Cafe Spiaggia by TrackBelle, on Flickr


Polpette / Cafe Spiaggia by TrackBelle, on Flickr


Pollo / Cafe Spiaggia by TrackBelle, on Flickr


Bomboloni / Cafe Spiaggia by TrackBelle, on Flickr

I've only been to Coco Pazzo at night. The room has high ceilings and feels comfortable because the tables aren't too close together. Their winter menu--don't know when they change to spring--has some great appetizers, especially the polenta with wild boar. The passionfruit sorbet and the blueberry prosecco sorbet were delicious.

WOW! Those pictures sold me! Actually she booked CS yesterday. We'll only have about an hour and a half for lunch, has me worried I won't have enough time to try everything. Thanks for the suggestions!

You're welcome - I hope you enjoy Cafe Spiaggia! Definitely let us know how your meal was

Lunch at Cafe Spiaggia was DELISH! We shared some meatballs and cheeses to start and my host liked the meatballs so much she ordered more to eat as her main! I couldn't decide between the antelope bolognese and the olive oil-poached tuna, so they offered me half orders of each...that bolognese was especially memorable, the pasta really tasty and perfectly al dente. I thought the rigatoni with the tuna was actually too crunchy, could've used another half minute in the water for my taste. Dessert was a valrhona chocolate/pistachio custard tartlet with some gelato. The chocolate was great GREAT though the crust of the tart did nothing for me. That gelato though, man it was great. I could go for some of that right now!!

Thanks to all for weighing in on the great birthday dilemma!