Mexican with a private room

I am arranging a dinner for about 20 people - it would be somewhat of a working dinner with some short presentations,and so we need a private room. Our guest of honor, is the author of several books on Mexico and one on Pancho Villa (although he himself is not Mexican). I thought a Mexican restaurant might be a good choice - but also feel a bit intimidated about choosing one that is not too anglo-ized. Would anyone have any suggestions for a Mexican restaurant with a cozy, comfortable private room with a more authentic menu, that is also not hugely expensive (we are a nonprofit organization)? We are hosting some donors, so it should be a nice environment. Thank you for any suggestions you might have. I love Mexican food and eat it frequently, but my knowledge and experience with indigenous cuisines is rather shallow.

Topolobampo has an excellent little room downstairs that would be perfect for a 20 person gathering...and the food would be up-scale authentic...but it would not be cheap. However, Bayless is such a big promoter of all things Mexican, that maybe he'd cut you a deal (depending upon the kind of non-profit you've got there).

Hammond

Taqueria La Oaxaquena might be a possibility -- here's the thread from the Great Neighborhood Restaurant forum:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3743

Taqueria La Oaxaquena on Diversey's back room is very, very plain. It is beyond the end of the corridor to the restrooms and so quite visible from that corridor. Fine for an LTH affair but also somewhat risky in view of what happened to a planned LTH dinner there.

As Vital Information reported at the time (Sep. 13, 20005) in Make Mine Oaxacan thread:

Bad news. I went by TLO tonight to give them the final number, and I found out, thru some mix-ups between them (husband and wife), that the party room has been booked to another (and larger) (and deposit paying) party. There was really nothing I could do about this week. They offered me other days, especially Fridays, but to be honest, I am a little less interested after today about having a dinner there. Sorry 'bout that. It could have been cool. Probably when I cool down, I'll perhaps try again. Again, sorry for all the people that have to make new plans for Saturday.

Otherwise it might fit Hellodali's criteria pretty well.

Is it the TLO on Diversey that you are all referring to? Or the one on Milwaukee? I've been meaning to pay a visit, and checking out the private room would be a good excuse. Though it might be tough to get people to go far west on Diversey.

Anything in Pilsen that might be a possibility?

Hellodali wrote:Is it the TLO on Diversey that you are all referring to? Or the one on Milwaukee? I've been meaning to pay a visit, and checking out the private room would be a good excuse. Though it might be tough to get people to go far west on Diversey.

Anything in Pilsen that might be a possibility?

The TLO on Diversey, as far as I know, does not have a private room.

Pilsen is full of very good places, but few that I know of have private rooms. Nuevo Leon, maybe? Not sure.

Hammond

TLO on Diversey is the one with the fairly sizable private room, which is larger than the main dining room up front. FWIW they also have a parking lot on the west side of the restaurant.

Nuevo Leon has a room a few steps up from the rest of the restaurant -- not really private, but I've seen it used for a big family party. I don't know if it would work for the presentations, etc.

There's Real de Catorce in Pilsen, which does have a back room, but the food there is so inconsistent I hesitate to recommend it.

Out of Pilsen -- I've never been to Rique's in Uptown, but have heard some good things about it. Does anyone know if it has a private room?

Rique's on Sheriden and Argyle has a private room in back. I have not been to a party in their backroom so I can not vouch for the atmosphere, but I have dined there many times and love the food. Could be an economical option for you... they are BYOB as well.

Rique's Regional Mexican Food
5004 N. Sheridan Rd.
773-728-6200

Nuevo Leon doesn't have any private rooms. You may be able to convince them to turn the backmost room private with some kind of curtain or something, but it'd hardly be a real private room.

You may also want to consider taking over a restaurant, especially if you're doing it on an off-night. I'd bet Casa de Samuel in LV would be willing to shut its doors for a private event and the right price.

The problem is that the decor at any of these places leaves a lot to be desired.

There are some other places in LV that might fit the bill, like Mi Tierra. I don't know if it has a private room or not, but if it does, it might be your best bet.

Mi Tierra is usually very noisy. But they're certainly used to hosting groups, and perhaps they have a quiet private room somewhere.

I'd suggest a phone call to La Quinta in Berwyn. I know they have a private upstairs room and the food is very good. But I think the upstairs is often occupied with DJs and dancers, so I don't know how available it really is. But definitely worth a call.

La Quinta de los Reyes
6431 W. Cermak Rd.
Berwyn, IL 60402
(708) 484-4689

I can't think of the name of it, but isn't there a place at Montrose and Harlem?
I think the food is good and they have a party room. Sorry I don't more info!
It is actually on Montrose just East of Harlem.

I just remembered that Decima Musa in Pilsen does have a room that can be made into a private room (in fact the first time I ate there was for a private function). But, both David Hammond and I have found the food there bland and unexciting, unfortunately (search for the thread, if you want).

As for taking over a non-busy restaurant, as gleam suggests, how about Las Islas Marias on N. Clark? The food there is great!

Amata wrote:I just remembered that Decima Musa in Pilsen does have a room that can be made into a private room (in fact the first time I ate there was for a private function). But, both David Hammond and I have found the food there bland and unexciting, unfortunately (search for the thread, if you want).

Decima Musa has a mammoth room in back, and the Zapatista vibe might befit the proposed event, but the food is quite unremarkable bordering on inedible.

The TLO on Diversey, as far as I know, does not have a private room.

It has a back room, quite large. I have seen it with my own eyes.

Mike G wrote:

The TLO on Diversey, as far as I know, does not have a private room.

It has a back room, quite large. I have seen it with my own eyes.

Duly noted. I was there a few weeks ago, and hung around drinking pulque and talking to the genial owner for half an hour or so, but was oblivious to the backroom's existence.

Hammond

JeanneBean wrote:I can't think of the name of it, but isn't there a place at Montrose and Harlem?
I think the food is good and they have a party room. Sorry I don't more info!
It is actually on Montrose just East of Harlem.

That must be Mateo's. It's been there forever. Somehow, despite it being minutes from my casa, I find myself there seldomly, without regret. I can't imagine where the private room would be. This is not a place to avoid with all caution, but for this fare in this hood (old-style Chicago Mexican food out of the barrio, pre-cilantro days) we prefer the Pepe's on the west side of Harlem between Monstrose and Lawrence. Laugh it up, hyena boy, but I've been going to this lady's Pepe's since she owned the one on Devon just east of McCormick decades ago where I may or may not have been brought multiple pitchers of beer before I knew how to shave. (No private dining room.)

TLO is worth the hike.

Mateo's
6817 West Montose
(708) 867-8955

Pepe's
4610 N Harlem
708-867-4072

-ramon

Most of what's been suggested thus far would fall short of what the OP's looking for, I think - with the exception of Topolobampo, but it will be more expensive. It's highly regarded, though - and maybe a place donor's and the author (whom I'm assuming to be Friedrich Katz) will appreciate. Bayless or his staff, given the knowledge of the nature of the group, might work with you to create something affordable.

Rique's is a place that offers original and good food, but I think the back room is probably a bit too Spartan to be considered by most as comfortable for this event. It's a restaurant deserving of wider exposure, though.

TLO on Diversey is probably a bit far to go, and the environment isn't all that exciting either, IMO - although the food is not bad. I don't see it as a proper environment for this occasion. Now, if you could rent the entire Milwaukee Ave. restaurant space - which I think offers a better ambiance - and the owner creates a special menu for you, that could be both affordable and interesting for your group. 20 people would fit nicely, with enough room to stand for presentations, etc. I don't know if you could get the restaurant to close just for your group - that'll most likely depend upon the day of the week/time of day.

The Lalo's location at 500 N. LaSalle St. is a nice space, with good private room set-up. The chef there can probably create a special menu for your group, given its size. It's easy to get to, there's valet parking, and street and street-lot parking nearby.

Nuevo Leon's been visited by just about anyone with an interest in Mexican food, so I think a different venue might be more appropriate.

Have you thought of the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum as a venue, with food to be catered/brought in? I believe similar events have been held there in the past, and the staff there might work with you on the catering and free or reasonable rental of space. There's an interesting new exhibit for the next several months - featuring the not often talked about presence of Africans/African Slaves in Mexico. The MFACM is highly regarded, and might be a good/impressive spot.

What about Picante Grill? It's on Halsted, just north of 18th. I believe one of the owners came from Frontera Grill. It's not exactly cheap, but it's not nearly as expensive as Topolobampo. They have a website, so you can check it out. There's a second floor that doesn't ever seem to be too crowded and might be able to be reserved for a function. There's also a small parking lot behind the restaurant. I think it might do the trick. Also, the flan de queso at Kristopher's Cafe, across the street is usually excellent.

Anyway, that's my two centavos.

Heidi

HeidiHo wrote:What about Picante Grill? I believe one of the owners came from Frontera Grill.

I'm not sure if Saul Roman is from the Topolobampo/Frontera Finishing School, but MANY other Chicago Nuevo Mex chefs are: Chuck Pine of Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe, Priscila Satkoff of Salpicon, Gino Bahena of...a lot of places. It's almost like you can't cook high-end Mex in this town unless you've received wisdom from Rick Bayless...and there's a reason for that: he's a god.

Hammond

How about Amelia's?

Thank you all for your help and your thoughtful ideas. But sadly I've been advised that we need to keep the dinner in or close to the Loop. So it probably won't be Mexican after all. Sigh.

Bill, our guest is actually not Friedrich Katz. It's Earl Shorris who wrote The Life and Times of Mexico. But he is really here in his capacity as founder of the Clemente Course in the Humanities. If you are curious, I would highly recommend Shorris' book Riches for the Poor. (now I'm veering into Non-Food Chat territory....)