Rehearsal Dinner Update...

Thanks to everyone who`s been trying to help me find a suitable place. I just thought Gemellis was more like a place you would go if you were looking to buy exotic olive oils, various 'different' types of pastas ... things you would only find in a specialty store, but I get it now! LOL As for the Irish Coffee Pub .. I thought this would be a perfect place! However, they didn`t want us. I told the girl that no matter how few people showed up, we would pay for 25 people (their minimum for a private party on a Friday night). She didn`t seem like she was the one who made those types of decisions, but said they wouldn`t do it. When I pushed her on how they would be getting paid for 25 people no matter what happened, she said she would check on it and call me back. We never got a call back, so I guess I have my answer. I have to say, Papa Joe`s has an awesome menu at a tremenous price. But again, we`re running into the private room issue, being that our party will only be about 17 people and it`s a Friday night. We thought we had a place to fall back on in Laredo Grille in Melville, but it turns out one of the two rooms they had promised we could have is their smoking room. I don`t want to roll the dice with a 50-50 chance at getting a room that was just packed with smokers. They didn`t really seem confident they could promise us one room over the other, but they did say we would be able to have one of the two if we came late enough into the evening. The search continues...

My friend is running into the same problem

and she still hasn`t found a place. I think trying to find a restaurant with a private room is close to impossible, especially on a Friday night. The bottom line is that most places don`t want to risk turning away other business with a private party going on. It`s ridiculous, especially when you said you would pay the minumum guarantee anyway. Have you thought about places with semi-private areas? I attended a rehearsal dinner like that, and it really wasn`t so bad. We were away from the regular diners, so they weren`t on top of us the whole night!

Lucky Duck

I went to a rehearsal dinner at the Lucky Duck (I'm pretty sure that is the name). It is in Nassau COunty but I can't tell you where. You don't get a private room, but the area that they put you in is private. They also personalize the menus with your names on them. I was also at a bridal shower at Papa Joes and it was really good. That's too bad that they can't accomodate you. I'll keep thinking. What about Villa D'Avanzo's II in Amityville? I just had my engagement party there. They food is excellent and the prices are very reasonable.

Rehearsal Dinner Update...

I'm sorry this a such a pain in the neck for you! : ( I think it may be a bit far out of your distance range, but Aimee is right about the Lucky Duck. I went to a shower there in February. The food was phenomenal, and the party area was seperate from the restaurant patrons. Keep it in mind, just in case.

Rehersal Dinner

If you are only have 17 people for the dinner, why not have soemthing at your parents house, another family members house or a friends house. If you are looking for a private room, being at a house would give you the same kind of feeling. When my best friend got married last year she had the dinner at her house the night before, she had one of her cousin do the cooking (a professional chef) and everyone pitched in. It was very fun. If you don't want to do the cooking yourself or have someone do it for you, I'd suggest getting it catered. This idea would work well for you and your guests if you are having such a hard time finding a place. Good luck! Vic

Kel - what about hotels?

We had guests staying at the Inn at Great Neck, and they had several rooms available for private parties - unfortunately, they are a bit far from the area you are targeting. Have you checked to see if the Garden City Hotel has a private room available? I'm not too familiar with that part of LI, but there may be other places.