2015 Private Dining Party

I am charged with finding a special foodie experience for a group of 12 folks for a summer weekend evening; it happens to be a bachelor party group but suggestions could be broader since I think it might be fun to update the current knowledge base vs. some older threads with price or geographic restrictions like (viewtopic.php?f=14&t=24802).

Where are the current places that have "kitchen tables," Stammtisch, tatami rooms, underbars, or nooks or small side rooms, with really great food, perhaps customizable by the chef to group tastes? I wouldn't rule out a space even if the private table/room only seated 8. An example might be Gaetano's (http://gaetanos.us/), where the Gae-tapas experience in the front room is reservable and customizable (though the last time we did that, the food was amazing, and the service was the Keystone Cops).

Also possible would be "permanent underground" dining experiences that come with a space, like Sinha (http://www.sinhaelegantcuisine.com/) or The Rice Table (http://thericetable.com/). BYOB or awesome cocktail program are equally fine.

What would be fun, private or semi-private, and really delicious at just about any pricepoint for a group of 8-14 these days? Gracias for the suggestions.

I hosted a bach. party at San Soo Gab San a few years ago that was a huge hit. Gogi has more intimate rooms and likely higher quality ingredients.

I'd consider GNR El Ideas.

El Ideas' buyout is something in the mid-20s (people) now so money would, truly, need to be no object to do a buyout for only 12 people--but, if that's doable, I like your style!!. Pretty sure there aren't any private or semi-private areas. It's definitely a great place for a party!!

Analogue has an elevated round booth, set off from the rest of the restaurant, that I think can seat 10, maybe more. Would definitely satisfy the other criteria. We organized a birthday party last fall with a set menu of favorites and a few chef suggestions and they were willing to do the fried chicken for us on a non-Tuesday! It was a blast.

I did a party for my bday at Gogi a few years ago and it was terrific--I highly recommend it.

I think GNR Veneno de Nayarit has a private room upstairs and the food is perfect for assembling a fun party menu.

The communal table at 42 Grams seats 10 (and that's all they seat at that time.)

I'll keep thinking...

Piccolo Sogno has private dining.

I want to be at a Veneno de Nayarit batchelor party. Otherwise, many "nice" places have private space that sounds appropriate: Piccolo Sogno (1&2), Blackbird, Sepia, MK, Nico, GT Fish, Nightwood, are all places where I have been for private dinner meetings in the past year and all were good. Sepia and MK have particularly nice private space, for what it's worth.

There's a list of Chicago's Best Private Dining Rooms in this week's issue of Crains. Maybe you can get some leads there.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/section/private-dining

Awesome, all. Thank you and I'll post where we end up, but keep 'em coming if you like.

You might try Ani http://www.anichicago.com/ on Lincoln just south of Belmont. Their back room is about the perfect size though I'm not sure they'd let it be reserved.

Not private, but Homestead on the Roof is adept at handling large parties. Assuming your party is on a night with pleasant weather, you might feel like you're in a semi-private roof if you're the only table inside.

Don't know if this would appeal to you, or fit your idea of fun, but the Cooking Skills Academy in Itasca does private parties that include Iron Chef competition or Chopped-type events, or just an evening of learning to cook a specific cuisine and then eating it. Not posh, but since you mentioned the word "fun," I thought it might be worth mentioning.

http://www.cookingskillsacademy.com/