Please help -- rehearsal dinner ideas?

I wasn't going to have a rehearsal dinner because a lot of my BP lives in Florida and the only day the church had left was 2 weeks before the wedding. It didn't make sense so I was going to skip it. But then I started getting worried about being looking confused and unsure on my wedding day. I spoke to the church and they made an exception for me and squeezed me in the day before the wedding (so thankful for that).

Now I don't have a rehearsal dinner site. Know any good ones near Bay Shore?
****I was also thinking about renting out a small space in an American Legion or something and bringing in my own ethnic foods. Does that sound crazy to you, like it might be too much work?
We'll have like 30 people to feed.

TIA

I don't know the Bay Shore area at all so I can't help with restaurant ideas.

I had thought about renting a Knights of Columbus and bringing in food too, but I talked to my parents about that idea because they had just done it for my bro's grad party, and my mom said it's a lot of work. So she didn't recommend me doing that for the RD which would be for a smaller amount of people. So I just wanted to give a heads up that the American Legion idea is good in theory, but actually doing it might be more work than you planned for.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

That's what I figure -- more work. I won't be doing any of the cooking though -- his mom and my mom will. Actually I haven't asked them yet but I assume they will, lol.

What if I don't cook and delegate like crazy -- get my sister to pick up the groom's cake, etc
The idea of having our own food is very appealing to me.

Having it in an AMerican Legion might be a lot of work. In addition to the cooking there is the set up and clean up. You have to get your own linens, plates, etc.

Here are some restaurant ideas -- I don't know the area that well but here are some that I do know that aren't that far away.

Sonoma Grill (Sayville)
The Riverview (Oakdale)
Snapper Inn (Oakdale)

Ambrosia wants a 40 adult minimum for catering.

Molly Malone's seems a little more flexible -- does anyone know how much they go for PP?

I wouldn't have your family doing the cooking, but I think you can do well bringing in food if you have a place you like, and hire a waitress or something--that can work well.

Honestly though, that day before was SO stressful for me b/c we tried to pack in so much stuff and I really left it to DH and his family to plan and it was so scattered and NOT well planned...shocker. I was so incredibly stressed the entire day....meanwhile the wedding day was great and so not stressful haha....

Moral of that story is keep it simple for you and your close family--b/c if they have trouble you know you will step in and try to help!

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Posted by Snick n Nick

I wouldn't have your family doing the cooking, but I think you can do well bringing in food if you have a place you like, and hire a waitress or something--that can work well.

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I was thinking about having my family (and his) cook only because I wanted Puerto Rican and Argentinean food but I see your point. Why make them crazy if i don't have to but I had this whole fantasy where both cultures would be celebrated and shared through food.

I called the closest American Legion and the owner said they have their smaller room available for $250 plus $100 for set up, serving, and clean-up. I've been there before and the room has a baby grand piano and french doors.

what to do, what to do

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Posted by FutureMrsCarrieri

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Posted by Snick n Nick

I wouldn't have your family doing the cooking, but I think you can do well bringing in food if you have a place you like, and hire a waitress or something--that can work well.

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I was thinking about having my family (and his) cook only because I wanted Puerto Rican and Argentinean food but I see your point. Why make them crazy if i don't have to but I had this whole fantasy where both cultures would be celebrated and shared through food.

I called the closest American Legion and the owner said they have their smaller room available for $250 plus $100 for set up, serving, and clean-up. I've been there before and the room has a baby grand piano and french doors.

what to do, what to do

---

how about instead of having them cook all the food, get the food from somewhere else, a local restaurant or something. But have them make just 1 traditional dish each, this way it wont be alot of work either. Maybe for the appetizer you can do a combo of 1 puerto rican appetizer and one argentinean.

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by FutureMrsCarrieri

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Posted by Snick n Nick

I wouldn't have your family doing the cooking, but I think you can do well bringing in food if you have a place you like, and hire a waitress or something--that can work well.

---

I was thinking about having my family (and his) cook only because I wanted Puerto Rican and Argentinean food but I see your point. Why make them crazy if i don't have to but I had this whole fantasy where both cultures would be celebrated and shared through food.

I called the closest American Legion and the owner said they have their smaller room available for $250 plus $100 for set up, serving, and clean-up. I've been there before and the room has a baby grand piano and french doors.

what to do, what to do

---

how about instead of having them cook all the food, get the food from somewhere else, a local restaurant or something. But have them make just 1 traditional dish each, this way it wont be alot of work either. Maybe for the appetizer you can do a combo of 1 puerto rican appetizer and one argentinean.

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This is a good idea. Argentineans eat Matambre (veal roll thing) and russian potato salad or empanadas as an appetizer. They're also big on sangria. They also love Parillada (meat platter).
Just out of curiosity, are you Puerto Rican? How about pasteles for the PR with rice with gandules with some tostones? :)
My mouth is watering over here!

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Posted by FutureMrsCarrieri

Ambrosia wants a 40 adult minimum for catering.

Molly Malone's seems a little more flexible -- does anyone know how much they go for PP?

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Oh, sorry, hon, I didn't see the 30 person note. Mary MOB

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Posted by Saram

i know capt bills starts at about $38 a head but thats not with alcohol...molly molones is probably the same price

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I really like captain bills but $38 x 30 = $1,140 Then you have to add on alcohol, gratuity, tax, etc.
Ouch!

Am I being cheap or is that what people pay?

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Posted by donnasmom

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Posted by FutureMrsCarrieri

Ambrosia wants a 40 adult minimum for catering.

Molly Malone's seems a little more flexible -- does anyone know how much they go for PP?

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Oh, sorry, hon, I didn't see the 30 person note. Mary MOB

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That's ok -- I think I have sticker shock today Mary

:)

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Posted by FutureMrsCarrieri

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by FutureMrsCarrieri

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Posted by Snick n Nick

I wouldn't have your family doing the cooking, but I think you can do well bringing in food if you have a place you like, and hire a waitress or something--that can work well.

---

I was thinking about having my family (and his) cook only because I wanted Puerto Rican and Argentinean food but I see your point. Why make them crazy if i don't have to but I had this whole fantasy where both cultures would be celebrated and shared through food.

I called the closest American Legion and the owner said they have their smaller room available for $250 plus $100 for set up, serving, and clean-up. I've been there before and the room has a baby grand piano and french doors.

what to do, what to do

---

how about instead of having them cook all the food, get the food from somewhere else, a local restaurant or something. But have them make just 1 traditional dish each, this way it wont be alot of work either. Maybe for the appetizer you can do a combo of 1 puerto rican appetizer and one argentinean.

---

This is a good idea. Argentineans eat Matambre (veal roll thing) and russian potato salad or empanadas as an appetizer. They're also big on sangria. They also love Parillada (meat platter).
Just out of curiosity, are you Puerto Rican? How about pasteles for the PR with rice with gandules with some tostones? :)
My mouth is watering over here!

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yeah incorporating little things from both cultures would be an awesome idea insteading of having to do it ALL representing both cultures.

I am not puero rican but i know exactly what youre talking about, i eat alot of spanish food and ive actually made rice with gandules myself and who doesnt love tostones. My mouth is watering too hahaha. I say go with that idea and make a platter of argentian food and puerto rican just to represent your cultures a little bit at the RD