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Rehearsal dinner, downtown, NOT expensive, suggestions?

Rehearsal dinner, downtown, NOT expensive, suggestions?
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  • Rehearsal dinner, downtown, NOT expensive, suggestions?

    Post #1 - March 23rd, 2012, 8:33 pm
    Post #1 - March 23rd, 2012, 8:33 pm Post #1 - March 23rd, 2012, 8:33 pm
    My brother is getting married in October, his fiance's family is very graciously hosting the wedding soup to nuts. My mom is a widow on a fixed income, would like to do something casual but nice (maybe "fun" to open the door to something less expensive). Not sure yet how many people, likely to be near 50-75 I'd guess...lot of out of towners and big family on her side.

    Not even sure what "NOT expensive" is these days.
  • Post #2 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:06 pm
    Post #2 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:06 pm Post #2 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:06 pm
    We had ours at Tufano's, which is unfortunately not downtown but would accomodate your size and was not expensive compared to other places we were looking at that were actually downtown, like Maggianos and The Gage and... I can't remember where else now.
  • Post #3 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:16 pm
    Post #3 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:16 pm Post #3 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:16 pm
    I just learned the other day that Manny's hosts rehearsal dinners. From what I saw, pricing seems very reasonable. It would certainly be casual (possibly too casual?) and also seems like it would be a lot of fun.

    =R=

    Manny's
    1141 S. Jefferson St.
    Chicago, IL 60607
    312 939-2855
    By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada

    Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS

    There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM

    That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
  • Post #4 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:57 pm
    Post #4 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:57 pm Post #4 - March 23rd, 2012, 9:57 pm
    Greek Islands is a crowd pleaser, so to speak, for groups of that size.

    http://www.greekislands.net/parties-chicago
  • Post #5 - March 23rd, 2012, 10:11 pm
    Post #5 - March 23rd, 2012, 10:11 pm Post #5 - March 23rd, 2012, 10:11 pm
    Both ChiefO'Neill's and Sabitino's both have space for private parties and are quite affordable. I've used them both and been quite happy.
    For what we choose is what we are. He should not miss this second opportunity to re-create himself with food. Jim Crace "The Devil's Larder"
  • Post #6 - March 24th, 2012, 12:05 am
    Post #6 - March 24th, 2012, 12:05 am Post #6 - March 24th, 2012, 12:05 am
    Not sure if "downtown" means "downtown" or "city limits", but my sister had her rehearsal dinner at Lou Malnati's near Merchandise Mart, and it was a lot of fun. About the same size as yours, and it's especially nice since you'll have a lot of out-of-towners who can be introduced to some good deep-dish. It's also very easy to get to via public transit (steps away from the Merch. Mart brown line stop).

    Lou Malnati's
    439 North Wells Street
    Chicago, IL
    (312) 828-9800

    Love,
    John
    It isn't that I'm not full...
  • Post #7 - March 24th, 2012, 5:31 am
    Post #7 - March 24th, 2012, 5:31 am Post #7 - March 24th, 2012, 5:31 am
    Another GreekTown vote. Parking right across the street is either free or very cheap. Order family style and bottles of red/white wine on the table. I think the atmosphere is perfect for it!
  • Post #8 - March 24th, 2012, 5:53 am
    Post #8 - March 24th, 2012, 5:53 am Post #8 - March 24th, 2012, 5:53 am
    We did Quartino in 2007, as it was convenient to Holy Name... believe it or not, it was $25/pp for an antipasto, pizza and pasta spread, with 2 meat/seafood dishes, and 4 hours unlimited house wine and beer. My sister looked into it last year, and the same package was now in the $60s.

    She ended up at the Green Door... the reserved a private room for us, and folks just ordered whatever off the menu. Then, after dinner, they reserved a downstairs pub-style bar for everyone. I know her in-laws were on a VERY fixed budget, and this seemed to work for them. Plus, it was a ton of fun! Although a bar on a Friday night, kids (including my 6 month old) were totally welcome.
    Marno
  • Post #9 - March 24th, 2012, 8:04 am
    Post #9 - March 24th, 2012, 8:04 am Post #9 - March 24th, 2012, 8:04 am
    My wife and I had ours at D'Agostino's river west on Ogden/Milwaukee. They have a parking lot in the back. We had about 50 people and they accommodated us very nicely and the price was right.
  • Post #10 - March 24th, 2012, 10:49 am
    Post #10 - March 24th, 2012, 10:49 am Post #10 - March 24th, 2012, 10:49 am
    Our rehearsal dinner was last summer at the Gino's East on Superior. It's a fun Chicago thing for the out of towners and the rooms are pretty cool, with guests having written all over the walls. Everyone was really nice and helped the dinner go smoothly. I would definitely recommend it.
  • Post #11 - March 24th, 2012, 1:21 pm
    Post #11 - March 24th, 2012, 1:21 pm Post #11 - March 24th, 2012, 1:21 pm
    LauraS wrote:Our rehearsal dinner was last summer at the Gino's East on Superior. It's a fun Chicago thing for the out of towners and the rooms are pretty cool, with guests having written all over the walls. Everyone was really nice and helped the dinner go smoothly. I would definitely recommend it.



    I was just hoping LauraS would post on this because I recalled a similar thread about a year or 2 ago on this very topic & she was the OP.
    Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

    Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening
  • Post #12 - March 29th, 2012, 1:51 pm
    Post #12 - March 29th, 2012, 1:51 pm Post #12 - March 29th, 2012, 1:51 pm
    I'm getting married in a few months so I've been through the exact same search. We looked at Pequod's, Club Lucky, Quartino (already booked in January for late May), Petterinos, and settled on Goose Island for our rehearsal dinner. All can hold at least 50 people, our space at Goose Island can accomodate up to 80...and the beer will be good :)
  • Post #13 - March 29th, 2012, 2:36 pm
    Post #13 - March 29th, 2012, 2:36 pm Post #13 - March 29th, 2012, 2:36 pm
    Reza's on Ontario can accommodate large groups and has very affordable packages. Liquor packages are also affordable.

    http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/catering.html
  • Post #14 - March 29th, 2012, 3:53 pm
    Post #14 - March 29th, 2012, 3:53 pm Post #14 - March 29th, 2012, 3:53 pm
    spinynorman99 wrote:Reza's on Ontario can accommodate large groups and has very affordable packages. Liquor packages are also affordable.

    http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/catering.html


    My other brother has been touting Reza's, we're checking MANY of the suggestions made here, thank you SO much.

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