Inexpensive Saturday group lunch near Michigan & river?
Inexpensive Saturday group lunch near Michigan & river?
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Inexpensive Saturday group lunch near Michigan & river?
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Post #1 - September 28th, 2012, 2:01 pmHello all,
Ideas eagerly sought: a friend and I are organizing a group lunch for about 10 to 12 people as part of a conference. The lunch would be on a Saturday and the group would probably include students on a limited budget. My current idea for a lunch spot is Coco Pazzo Cafe, hoping to request our table be in the alcove area so that we can talk about work/conference stuff without bothering other folks too much. My friend and I are concerned, however, that the prices there might be a bit high for the students in the group.
My second thought, as a slightly less expensive spot, is Sayat Nova. No separate alcove there, as far as I remember, but hopefully not too crowded/crazy on Saturday at lunch time.
Any other spots in the area that I'm overlooking? We have a 90 minute lunch break, and we will be setting out from Michigan just north of the river.
thanks,
Amata
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Post #2 - September 28th, 2012, 2:21 pmHow about Star of Siam, 11 E Illinois? Pretty big room, reasonable prices especially for River North. Open 11AM on Saturday. Nothing earth-shatteringly awesome, but never had a bad meal there.
http://www.starofsiamchicago.com/What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
-- Lin Yutang
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Post #3 - September 28th, 2012, 2:48 pmThanks, Joel -- I had completely forgotten about Star of Siam. That may be just what we need!
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Post #4 - September 28th, 2012, 4:15 pmFox & Obel.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
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Post #5 - September 28th, 2012, 4:39 pmpairs4life wrote:Fox & Obel.
You mean the cafe, as opposed to the Market Bistro, right? Can they accommodate a big group?
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Post #6 - September 28th, 2012, 6:18 pmVolare is nice and large. Lunch is reasonable averaging between $10-15. Their grigliata mista is $13. and one of the best in the city."In pursuit of joys untasted"
from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata
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Post #7 - September 28th, 2012, 8:15 pmHeaven on Seven (on Wabash) is not usually over crowded on Saturdays, and they have a larger table for groups."The fork with two prongs is in use in northern Europe. In England, they’re armed with a steel trident, a fork with three prongs. In France we have a fork with four prongs; it’s the height of civilization." Eugene Briffault (1846)
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Post #8 - September 28th, 2012, 8:24 pmLa Madia - awesome food, alcove, low cost
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Post #9 - September 29th, 2012, 8:26 amI loved being reminded of Star of Siam. In my working life, back in a Golden Age When People Used Their Lunch Hours to Actually Have Lunch with Each Other, my compadres and I went there once a week. Glad it's still hanging in there.
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Post #10 - September 29th, 2012, 9:28 amRight - I love that block, it's got a non chain music store and book store (with used books), and a reasonable priced restaurant, just steps from Michigan avenue. Somewhere a landlord is waiting out a long term lease, I think.What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
-- Lin Yutang
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Post #11 - September 29th, 2012, 10:37 amThanks, all, for the good suggestions. Some of them I already had on the restaurant list I'll be giving to the conference-goers. I love the idea of taking them to the hidden away Heaven on Seven, but I think Star of Siam might win out just because it's a shorter walk.
thanks again!
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Post #12 - October 1st, 2012, 2:08 pmAmata, if it's not too late, Ginza.
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Post #13 - October 1st, 2012, 2:26 pmJeff, if I'm not mistaken, Ginza doesn't do lunch on Saturday. It would have been high on my list otherwise.
To everyone: our planned lunch is mutating beyond our control and last I heard this morning we had 24 people who wanted to take part. Yikes.
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Post #14 - October 1st, 2012, 2:47 pmRats. You are correct. I only eat lunch there, but never on weekends. I assumed they'd be open.
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Post #15 - October 1st, 2012, 6:52 pmAmata wrote:pairs4life wrote:Fox & Obel.
You mean the cafe, as opposed to the Market Bistro, right? Can they accommodate a big group?
Sorry I just saw this. I've seen other large groups of conference attendees there.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
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Post #16 - October 1st, 2012, 7:12 pmAmata wrote:Jeff, if I'm not mistaken, Ginza doesn't do lunch on Saturday. It would have been high on my list otherwise.
To everyone: our planned lunch is mutating beyond our control and last I heard this morning we had 24 people who wanted to take part. Yikes.
Star of Siam then - they have a private room, & will do a set menu for the group if you ask.
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Post #17 - October 28th, 2012, 4:26 pmFollow up report:
We ended up with a group of 30 yesterday for lunch in the downstairs portion of Star of Siam. I was very impressed with the manager's willingness to accommodate our huge group and to come up with a very reasonable per person price. It was a good thing we had the room to ourselves since we had to shout to carry on our discussions! I didn't have any input on the menu, but of the appetizers they provided I particularly liked the chicken satay and my favorite of the main dishes was also chicken based, chicken in a yellow curry. I think I know what to order if I go back...
thanks to all for the great suggestions! Our group of conference-goers all seemed quite happy with the choice.
