Have You Been to a Wedding at?

I found this from an old 2004 Board and thought it would be cool to put an updated version out there as I'm sure places change owners, redecorate etc..

'I thought that I'd post this after I saw the JA's post. I think Honest Opinions are the best, at least in my judgement. I LOVE these boards because it gives me insights into making my wedding affair a better one in terms of planning, in considering things that I wasn't aware of or things I didn't know etc. I thought this would give us opinions so that we can realize what is really important to us and perhaps issues that we may want to stress with our catering facilities that are important to us that we probably didn't think we needed to bring up because we were thinking that it'd be done the best possible way. I think this will benefit all of the LIW Brides including myself. I was thinking we can all post opinions of catering facilities that either us or someone close to us have been to a wedding in the past 6 months. I think it is only fair that we expect the very best after we have spent so much



Please post your opinions in a honest, candid and classy way but also in a way that gives the facilities things to improve on if something was handled the wrong way or gives them Kudos for helping the bride make it a memorable affair. Perhaps some of these vendors will review from time to time these opinions and will try to make the very best changes to improve their business and keep their customers happy and satisifed.
Let's start a thread and keep it active and bump it so that other future LIW Brides can benefit as well.
Now I hope I don't get banned for starting somekind of rebellious opinions on these boards since I'm already addicted to the boards..... '


So Post Away LIW Brides and Grooms !!!

Went to a wedding at the Tribeca Rooftop 2 months ago that was PHENOMENAL! The food was great and the view was to die for!! Staff was great and always attentive to drinks we needed and to the bride and groom as well.....great place if you are looking for a chic NYC venue!

Also went to a wedding last year at Crest Hollow Country Club.....the food was OK in my opinion and if you like an outdoor CH, this is a great place! ALthough I must say it was chilly and a bit uncomfortable, that has nothing to do with the beautiful pool and gardens...the CH food in my opinion happened to be better than the RH.....Now, I don't know what kind of menu option they chose so please don't get angry! The gardens make for great pics and a nice atmosphere!

Never went to a wedding at my hall but my family and a bunch of friends have been......any input from anyone is appreciated!

Woodbury Country Club - I had a fantastic time at this wedding but it might be because it was my brother's! It was last November and everything was fantastic, The cocktail hour had great food, as did dinner and the VH had a beautiful spread. I didn't get a chance to go outside because it was already dark out and we were taking pics inside.

Russo's - good food. The decor is not my style but to each his own.

Rivera - My cousin had her wedding here, the food was good but i think she had too many people for this venue. There wasn't enough seats during CH, I got one and had a chance to really enjoy the great food. She had a really nice seafood display. Also the dinning room was tight, but like I said I think she maxed out the number of people. This is a very beautiful RH just not for a large wedding.

VIP - Great food, my family still talks about the food and my cousin's wedding was a few years ago.

Crescent Beach Club- I loved CH it was outside on the patio. The dinning room was really nice too. I don't really remember the food.

Jericho Terrace - great for pictures and a very grand ballroom. My family complained about the food a little. But honestly nothing bad stands out in my mind about the food so I think they might exaggerating.

Hilton (not sure the area of suffolk it was in) but I didn't enjoy this venue.

Lombardis on the Sound While I have personal opinions about the Lombardis and their practices, I loved my BIL's wedding at LotS. The food was abundant and delicious and the room and view are STUNNING! I thought it was fantastic!

Flowerfield I was so excited to go to a FF wedding!!! And it surpassed all my expectations. The CH was INSANE and I wanted to lay under the Martini Bar all day The grounds are breathtaking and the room was beautiful. I WISH I could have my wedding there, it was amazing!

Watermill Another beautiful RH. The ceremony was on premises, and unfortunately we heard a tad bit of street noise, but nothing bad. The CH was delicious, but seemed a tad unorganized since the outside ceremony led right into the CH, but no biggie. My steak at dinner wasn't too hot, but everything else I had was awesome!

Timber Point The view is beautiful! The CH was a little different, it was self-service and there wasn't a TON of food as I expected, but what they had was delicious (maybe the did the menu differently or took things out). My dinner was amazing and the room is beautiful, although it was difficult to see the entrances and parent dances with the way the dance floor is set up, but still great.

Giorgios OMG this place is breathatking!! The room, the decor, the view, everything was spot on! The CH was delicious and the meal was amazing as well. The cake was TO DIE FOR witrh a white chocolate coating in place of frosting! Impeccable! Although the only served wine (religious reasons) it was delicious Pindar wine

Grand Prospect Hall Now this RH is off the hook! It is ridiculously over the top in that gorgeous Victorian way! Just stunning. The CH was over the top (they spared NO expense) and so was the dinner and Viennese. Easily one of the most insane (in a good way) weddings I've ever been to!

I've been to a lot of weddings - these are the most recent!

Flowerfield - This wedding was outstanding. The food was truly top-notch. I still dream about the shrimp and lobster crepe I had for my entree. The service was outstanding as well.

Russo's - the RH is not my style at all, but that being said, the service was like nothing I've experienced. The wait staff was the most attentive I've ever seen, you would leave to go to the dance floor and come back to your seat with fresh buckets of beers and wine replenished. Amazing. I would caution anyone doing a Friday night to check the timing. The CH started at 7:30, I believe, and we didn't get our entree until well after midnight. The VH didn't start until god knows when, and while it was amazing, I feel the guests didn't really appreciate it.

Carlyle on the Green - I was so looking forward to this wedding and was very disappointed. The CH was just ok, and the entrees were ICE cold. Even those sitting at the parents' table received cold food. I know its hard to deliver piping hot food to 300 people, but I found this unacceptable.

NHP Inn - again, not my style, but the food was delicious and the service was excellent.

I've only been to one wedding on Long Island


It was at Swan Club, and honestly from what I can remember everything was great! I was a BM so everything is really a blur...but it was a rainy day and they really took care of everything!!

Oheka- Great place for pictures and extremely friendly/helpful staff. Way too big for a wedding of only 100 people. I felt lost most of the time. Its better for the bigger wedding’s. Food was OK, nothing special (I am come from a family with Italian chef's) Missed most of the CH (I was in the bridal party) but what I did see looked amazing and they put out an amazing Viennese hour! They definitely get an A+ for presentation.

Leonard’s of Great neck- Been there twice- Missed the CH (I was in the bridal party) the food they brought to the bridal suite was really good, but they didn’t bring much that was served to the other guests-but the main dinner just average. Not that friendly of staff, and I felt they packed too many people into the room.

The place in Eisenhower Park- AMAZING food, grounds, presentation, room, staff the whole 9- loved it all. Didn’t go look at it only because I knew it was out of my price range.

Verdi’s Westbury- Was not a fan of where they put us for the CH- we were in the basement in a long narrow room with not enough seating for half the people. The main room was pretty but freezing! Presentation of food was nothing special but boy was it good. I felt very rushed there, I got up to dance and they took my salad- never got to eat it! The staff was not friendly at all either. Also- I felt the bathrooms were very dirty which turned me off.

Thats all I got!

Yes I almost forgot Russos on the Bay (5 times in the past year, 2 sweet16, 3 weddings)......the food is phenomenal!!! The CH is GREAT and the food is honestly one the of best I have had......the staff is great and the rooms, the ones I have been to, are nice and spacious.......the only thing I don't like about it is that at night, being that there are a few parties at once, the valet can be a bit of a pain, especially since it is on CBB. Other than that, it is a great place! OHHH and the Vienneese hr is TO DIE FOR

Jericho Terrace is another I have been to and forgot to mention!!! THe place is beautiful and it was on our list of RH also.....the ONLY thing I didn't like was that there were multiple weddings going on at once which caused a lot of confusion which room was our CH and RH....maybe they just had a busy night and not enough people directing where to go? THe food is great and the rooms are BEAUTIFUL! This was also another Rh we were considering....We were looking at the Dome room and the recently renovated Penthouse Room.....we were likely to have booked the Penthouse room due to the size of our party but we didn't in the end.....the hall itself is gorgeous and there are so many nice places to take pictures.....

Let me start by saying that ive never ever had food at a wedding or at any catering hall that imo, has been restaurant quality. its really too bad since all the money it costs but its just my experience and opinion on it

Crest Hollow: love the outside, had my hs prom here, and now my company always has events here. I love love the look of CH and the food has always been fine. i went to look here for our rh and i like that there were so many choices of rooms and each room had a view of the pool and gardens. I also love the grand enterance to CH!

Lombardis on the Sound: i wish i couldve seen this place for all that ive heard it is. My friend booked here specifically because shes from PA and her husband is from NY, she decided that since they were having the wedding in NY, she would pick a place on the water to show off what Long Island is all about (rather than having it at a place that couldve very well been in Philadelphia). Well unfortunately i dont think she took into account the sunset time and about 10 minutes after ch started, it was pitch dark out and you couldnt see the water, the beach or anything. On top of that it was really humid that night especially by the ocean and i didnt even want to step outside cuz of my hair, lol. The look of Lombardis from the enterance isnt my personal taste. I personally thought the ch room was a bit odd how it wrapped around to three sides. Food was pretty good and my fh raves about the steak at the reception to this day. He absolutely loved it!!! I thought they couldve dimmed the light though more during the reception but this is something that could be so easily fixed so really no big deal at all. Oh, I wished they wouldve had a valet- i guess its no big deal but i i guess i just expect this service when i attend a wedding

Chateau Briand: Just went to a wedding here. I thought the food was fine. The dessert they gave (not the cake) was excellent!! The outside was set up for a ceremony and it was stunning!!!! The people whose wedding we attended were supposed to have their ch outside but it had rained, really too bad, cuz its so gorgeous and modern outside. They had their ceremony there too. It was nice but the room was absolutely freezing cold. Also, there werent enough seats for everyone. A lot of people had to stand in the back of the room. They had it in the large room upstairs and it was really really nicely done. They said their matrie'd (sp?) was pretty good but also basically directly told them that he would be keeping more of the tip then he was supposed to...they said they didnt really care but i woulda been pissed if i heard this and thought it was very ballsy that he had no problem telling them. Overall, i had a great time as a guest here.

The Andrew Hotel- Great Neck: Went to an engagement party here. I thought the room was sooo nice! Food was very good and so was service if i remember correctly. the only weird part was that we had to walk through the connected restaurant. maybe we just went through the wrong place but i thought it couldve been better directions/service outside so this wouldnt have happened (if we were actually wrong). This could definately work for a smaller wedding (say up to 130-140 ppl i think), e-party, etc.

Russos: I can hardly remember much cuz i was 15 or 16 but i remember the ch in a long room on the water. The calamari was very good! lol, thats basically what i remember. When we first came in, it seemed a bit confusing as where to go but then again i was 16 like i said and maybe dont remember too well what was happening at that time. i cant really remember the main part of the event. sorry

Fresh Meadow Country Club: Great Neck: really old world charming beautiful place. I dont really remember the food that well but the place was so beautiful- i know i said that already.

Port Washington Yacht Club- nice place, imo could use some updating. very beautiful view from the reception room.

Floral Terrace: Love the ballroom, the ceiling was stunning and really unforgettable to me (this was a good 7 years ago) and i loved the circular shape and raised dance floor. Didnt love the enterance but then again my own rh doesnt have that much of an enterance either. The Ch, i remember had pretty good food. I think it was in a long room.

Beckwith Pointe: Westchester: This was a very nice wedding. The view was outstanding but there wasnt a very large space for people to go out. It was very very nice though. The ch was good and the room was okay but there wasnt enough seating for everyone. The reception room was very nice but there was an outside area which looked like it wouldve been great but it wasnt lit up or anything and no attention was given to it so only a few people went outside to smoke rather than really enjoying it like i wouldve wanted my guests too. The lobster was great but i think i remember that the steak was way undercooked for everyone at the table. Good service! The bridal suite was a bit small but it was cool cuz it lead onto the room where some of the bridal party was hanging out and smoking away fromt their families, lolz! Nice entry way to this rh too!

Carlysle on the Green
Just went to a wedding there 2 weeks ago and everything was phenominal. I thought the CH was unique -- creative options like mini gourmet pizzas-- and the outfoor location is breathtaking. The dinner and dessert was really, really good. People raved about it. I think the ballroom is one of the most beautiful around. And the bridal attendant was amazing!!

---

Posted by mrsdraskin2009

Grand Prospect Hall Now this RH is off the hook! It is ridiculously over the top in that gorgeous Victorian way! Just stunning. The CH was over the top (they spared NO expense) and so was the dinner and Viennese. Easily one of the most insane (in a good way) weddings I've ever been to!

---

Glad you liked it there, I'm so worried people will think it's cheesy with all the Victorian decor.

My family is off the boat Italian:

1st thing they talk about is the food; they remember only the CH and the Viennese hour, and then they talk about the favor! LOL
I heard wedding halls in NJ are always off the hook

La Fortuna- the food is amazing, I loved the CH, but if you aren’t Croatian I don’t think anyone would get married here. They have a shrine to Zagreb as you walk in

Russo on The Bay-I been so many times and everytime the food and service is amazing. What other reception halls does the owner go around and pour water in the glasses of guests? Am I sick of going to Russo on the bay kind of, but at least I know the food and service is never off

El Caribe- If you have the full nine yards the CH is hands down the best, even better than Russo. I love the large ballroom. Food is always great

Rivera- In Brooklyn I went so many years ago and I hope I never go back, food was really bad

VIP-amazing food and service, love love the large ballroom, I didn’t like the CH room.

Watermill-the Ch was ok, but the main dinner was really bad. I don’t like the main reception room is in the basement and I didn’t like the CH room

Jericho Terrance- I love the CH room and main ballroom, but that is about it. Didn’t like the food at all.

Akbars- one of the worse affairs I have ever been to. The staff didn’t even clear the table and dirty dishes were all over the tables.

Verdi of Westbury- The food is always good, but I don’t like the inside of the hall

The Plaza Hotel- Wow I don’t think I will ever go to a wedding as classy or amazing as this one.

Glen Island- I like that it is private section in the park. I like that two parties go in separate entrances. The service was good but food wasn’t great
I went to price the hall and I couldn’t believe how expensive it is. I mean that is INSANE, what they want for a Saturday night, and I don’t know why!


I always heard great things about Fox Hollow, Caryle on the Green, Carlton, Villa Lombardi and Chateau Briand never been

Fox Hollow: Insane cocktail hour, I remember getting the entree at dinner and not being able to even touch it. The bridal suite was also pretty spacious. This was in the largest room, not sure of the name.

Captain Bills: Food was ok, didn't love that the cocktail hour overlooked the parking lot.

Atlantica: I didn't go to my cousins wedding here, but my entire family still raves about the amazing food, the breath taking views (winter time) and how impeccable everything was.

Grand Prospect Hall- Holy Cow! First really nice wedding I ever went to was there. The food, so much food. The ceremony room is Beeeyootiful. You really don't notice much of the main ballroom decor because of the sheer size of the place. It's huge with balcony levels and such. I would have booked if most of FH's guests weren't out of towners who'd be driving. The parking there is not the best. If you arrive late, its a good chance that the valet parking lot will get full. but this was quite a few years ago, so this might have changed.

Glen Island Harbour Club- Beatiful place. Couldn't even tell you if there was another wedding there, so I guess they did an excellent job keeping the parties apart. CH room was just a tad bit small. I had to stand to eat my food, since i gave my seat to my FMIL. But the food was very good. The ceremony room has beautiful windows at the front and a gorgeous rounded skylight underneath which the couple stand during the ceremony. Really nice.

Fountainhead - Beautiful Place, no outdoors, but I loved the marble floors. Honestly don't remember the food.

Mayfair Farms, NJ - Beautiful Setting, INSANE FOOD. especially during the cocktail hour.

The Palace at Somerset - Oh man, when you drive up at night, this place is lit up with spotlights and its set far back from the main road so you get a good long look at this beautiful large white structure with lights surrounded by green grass. We got excited in the car just looking at it. CH was great. food was good. The room was gorgeous.

---

Posted by lolalovesacroat

My family is off the boat Italian:

1st thing they talk about is the food; they remember only the CH and the Viennese hour, and then they talk about the favor! LOL
I heard wedding halls in NJ are always off the hook

La Fortuna- the food is amazing, I loved the CH, but if you aren’t Croatian I don’t think anyone would get married here. They have a shrine to Zagreb as you walk in

Russo on The Bay-I been so many times and everytime the food and service is amazing. What other reception halls does the owner go around and pour water in the glasses of guests? Am I sick of going to Russo on the bay kind of, but at least I know the food and service is never off

El Caribe- If you have the full nine yards the CH is hands down the best, even better than Russo. I love the large ballroom. Food is always great

Rivera- In Brooklyn I went so many years ago and I hope I never go back, food was really bad

VIP-amazing food and service, love love the large ballroom, I didn’t like the CH room.

Watermill-the Ch was ok, but the main dinner was really bad. I don’t like the main reception room is in the basement and I didn’t like the CH room

Jericho Terrance- I love the CH room and main ballroom, but that is about it. Didn’t like the food at all.

Akbars- one of the worse affairs I have ever been to. The staff didn’t even clear the table and dirty dishes were all over the tables.

Verdi of Westbury- The food is always good, but I don’t like the inside of the hall

The Plaza Hotel- Wow I don’t think I will ever go to a wedding as classy or amazing as this one.

Glen Island- I like that it is private section in the park. I like that two parties go in separate entrances. The service was good but food wasn’t great
I went to price the hall and I couldn’t believe how expensive it is. I mean that is INSANE, what they want for a Saturday night, and I don’t know why!


I always heard great things about Fox Hollow, Caryle on the Green, Carlton, Villa Lombardi and Chateau Briand never been

---

I was just wondering if you were at Jericho Terrace recently?

I haven't been to too many weddings in my adult life, just 4, and one of which was in a rented hall with food catered in from a restaurant so I won't include it.

New Hyde Park Inn
I was 7 or 8 years old when I went to my nana's cousin's wedding there, so I don't remember much. I do remember that it was in a downstairs room, and that it was way before the current renovations. I think I had prime rib, and as a 7 or 8 year old, I ate my meal and didn't whine about it, so in that respect, it was good...it's hard to please a child's palette! Not much else I can remember about it though.

Villa Lombardi's
Best wedding I ever went to! I had been there twice before for HS functions, so I knew it was gorgeous and had amazing food...this was the first wedding I went to though, and the food was awesome. It was a sunday afternoon wedding and the couple, one of FH's work colleagues, had their ceremony outside in the garden, which was really pretty. The full CH was sick, and the main dinner was amazing too. No complaints about the food, bar, service, anything. Only 'complaint' is that it borders on suffering from 'mini-drink' syndrome...average size glasses, not the tiniest I've seen at an RH, but definitely not the largest either...at least for martinis, rocks drinks were a decent size. This wedding was definitely was a contributing factor in booking our own wedding there.

Chateau Briand
This was my older sister's wedding. It wasn't bad...I wouldn't have picked it for myself though. I really liked the CH room, it had a vibe like an old lounge from the 30's or 40's....wood, booths instead of tables, huge bar in the center. The food was ok....wasn't served super hot, not much flavor, except for the passed chicken kebabs, which were so spicy, I started to choke. I really liked that they had a portrait studio inside where they set up a mini CH for the BP and immediate family, it was like a pre-party before CH. Bridal suite was TINY though. Thank god we had good attendants, because I found it was confusing to find your way between all the rooms and floors. The main dinner was ok...food wasn't bad, but nothing to rave about. I will rave about the bar, because I felt that their drinks were nice, full sized glasses, not the mini-martinis found in some other RHs

Atlantica
I need to make a conscious effort to check myself here. We just went last month to an extended family member of FH's wedding. Upon entering, there was a courtesy room set up for guests before CH was opened. It had a bar, and tables and chairs. What we did not know, until it was too late, was that it was cash bar. We were too embarrassed to say never mind and walk away, so we just paid for our drinks. I didn't like that, I don't think a courtesy hour at the RH should charge guests for anything...one thing if you have a pre-party set up at an independent hotel lobby bar, but not at the RH. CH was in like a covered tent structure on the beach...only way to gain entry was to walk through the reception room, which I felt took away from the 'grand entrance' feeling. Insufficient seating for the guest list...maybe 10 high tables with 3 chairs at each, allowing for 30 guests to sit, and 170 to fend for themselves. Very limited amount of CH dishes. Bar was nice, full sized drinks, so I can't complain much there. Back in for reception, dance floor was a little small, but we didn't dance. Menu was not good. We asked if there was a childrens menu, and opted for chicken fingers, as menu choices were only fish and game poultry. This was mainly the choice of the couple, I scouted out the menu selections after the fact, and there were more appropriate dishes to select from, so I cannot completely fault the RH for the inconsiderate choices of the couple. Many guests opted to not order an entree at all. It was upsetting to watch. Once again, the dinner bar was nice, because the drinks were full sized glasses. Unfortunately, due to my raging empty stomach, I felt the effects way too much. I cannot completely fault the RH for this particular instance, but due to size limitations and menu choices I would not recommend the RH to another couple in good faith. I felt, in my personal option, that it was style over substance. If that is the type of event you are comfortable with, then it would be a good choice.

Crest Hollow Country Club- Bonus
While I haven't been to an actual wedding here, I have been to two functions, one church and one association. The church function clearly pulled out all the stops with the higher level menu, and it was really nice. Salad with feta and cranberry, filet mignon, full viennese hour, nice CH, etc. I really enjoyed it. Association event was clearly a lower level menu, but also pretty good. More of a vegetable salad with portobellas and peppers, ice cream for dessert. But this is a RH that suffers from the 'mini drink' syndrome, and I think had the tiniest glasses of any I've been to. Not bad per se...just need to go up to the bar more often!

The Inn at New Hyde Park- The outside of this hall was not too spectacular, you might even pass by without noticing it.. however the inside is GORGEOUS! The CH room was unlike anything Id seen.. it had like brick walls and very dimmly lighted.. it had sort of a cozy little Italian restaurant feel and it was also HUGE. CH food was very good with a big selection; the stations were set up very nicely around the room. The main ballroom was the biggest party room Id ever been in and very nice.. my mother and I both said it reminded us of Beauty and the Beast! The food wasnt too great at dinner. The salad was not tasty and more for show, the appetizer was a TINY crab cake, though tasty, not filling at all. The main course was OK. There was no vienesse hour, which disappointed me. They did have cordials and espressos which was nice.

---

Posted by lolalovesacroat

yes I have

---

What didn't you like about the food? I hear a lot of mixed reviews about them.