Rehersal Dinner Dilemma - HELP! (Long)

Okay .. here`s the situation ... I totally had my heart set on having our rehearsal dinner at the 56th Fighter Group in Farmingdale (it`s been our favorite place since we started dating). However, the rehearsal has been planned for a Friday evening, and the 56th Fighter Group openly admitted Fridays would be very crowded and the club would be noisy; parking would be tough as well, and we wouldn`t be able to have a private room since we`re only planning on about 17 people. I appreciated their honesty, but was really disappointed, especially after hearing their menu and prices! :( I`ve called several places and it just seems like no one has rooms for under 25. I asked the Irish Coffee Pub if they would be willing to take our party, and no matter what I`d pay them for the 25 person minimum ... and they said NO! When I insisted they would still be getting paid for the required 25, but only serving whoever showed up (which to me makes them total winners on the deal) the girl was still very hesitant, but said she`d call me back. Well, I haven`t received a call yet, so I`m taking it to mean they really don`t want the business. Captain Bill`s totally didn`t want to bother with me, at all. So, now I really don`t know what to do. A private room is really important to me, because I don`t want anyone to feel like they can`t get up and talk or make whatever speeches anyone might feel they need to make. The Duck Pond Inn told us they had one of two options, either a small room inside where there would be traffic going through to the outside deck, or being put out on the deck in our own space seperated from others out there. The impression that I was getting from the girl as she was telling me, just didn`t make me feel like either would be a pleasant experience. Plus, they don`t have much parking space at all. John Thomas Inn in Brightwaters was also no good for our size party on a Friday night. Where should I bend?? On not having a private room, or possibly moving the rehearsal to Thursday instead of the Friday. Does anyone know of any other places I should call? Preferred towns include anything in the area of Dix Hills, Deer Park, Bay Shore, Commack, Babylon, West Babylon, Farmingdale, Hauppauge, etc. I was trying to avoid the Bonwitt Inn, and haven`t even called them because my brother and sister-in-law had their rehearsal dinner there, and I didn`t want to seem like I`m copying them, since we are intruding on their 10 year anniversary, which is just a couple of days before our wedding.

Rehersal Dinner Dilemma - HELP! (Long)

If you really had you're heart set on that resturant, I would go with Thursday. Only because then it really gives another day and night to get those small things done, and maybe you and your FI might have some private time to yourselves before the Wedding!! Just a thought :)

Kel- see if you can move your rehearsal to Thursday...

That actually works out better if your getting married on a saturday. If your rehearsal is the night before the wdding, your going to be stressing out, and you should relax and take it easy the night before your wedding!

Rehersal Dinner Dilemma - HELP! (Long)

My shower was at the Irish Coffe Pub, and in order to decide if that was the 'right' place, my mom hosted a work function there for about 15 people. They didn't have a private room per se, but they did have a private 'area' away from the dining room that was just for them, with their own waitstaff and pre-chosen menu (beef, chicken, and 2 seafood choices, which was what she wanted at my shower, so it was like a taste-test). According to my mother it was private enough, without it being an actual room to themselves. If you're interested, I'll ask her who she dealt with. Otherwise, I've been to 3 rehearsal dinners at Papa Joe's on Commack Road in Deer Park, and all were excellent. Good luck in whatever you decide. : )

Oh Yeah!!

JennRenee - I totally forgot about Papa Joe`s! I`ve been trying to think of all the places in the area, and can`t believe I forgot that one ... though I`ve never actually been inside. I will definitely give them a call. Moving the rehearsal to Thursday just doesn`t seem like the right choice. In general, you`d want to make it late enough that everyone can get out of work and get there on time, but at the same time, people have to work the next day, so you don`t want to keep them out all night for dinner. Friday just seems like the best choice. Our search will continue, but I did get Laredo Grill in Melville to agree to giving us a private room ... but later into the evening. That might be the way to go. Thanks to everyone for the input.

Rehersal Dinner

how about: tutu pazzo - huntington country house - stony brook casa de mar -east northport trattoria grasso - cold spring harbor there has to be more! i'm trying to think of places on the water. there has to be someplace in the port jeff area!

Rehersal Dinner

How about Mario's In Port Jefferson, or it may be considered StonyBrook. I had my Shower there last week, and it was great. The food was excellent, and you can have your own private room.

Rehersal Dinner

What kind of food are you looking for?? The only reason I ask is because if you like Chinese food there is a wonderful restaurant in Babylon right on Main Street and they have a room in the back that is semi-private. They also have a sushi bar, if you are interested in that. We are planning on having our rehearsal dinner there. We all love Chinese food!! :) Good Luck

Port Jeff/Stony Brook 2 far..looking to stay near Babylon *NM*

Port Jeff/Stony Brook 2 far..looking to stay near Babylon *NM*

Gemelli Restaurant in Babylon **NM**

Port Jeff/Stony Brook 2 far..looking to stay near Babylon *NM*

Try the Country House in Port Jefferson. Silver Phesant (on 109) I know has a private room. I have known a few friends that have had affairs there. It is supposed to be very nice. You could also call hotels. Many of them can host a private reception for you.

Rehersal Dinner Dilemma - HELP! (Long)

Kel - We are going with Papa Joes. They fit our desire for a private room, buffet and was the most reasonably priced. We also considered Pete's Pasta House, Bella Napoli and Gimmelis which are all in Babylon. Good Luck

Rehersal Dinner

I don`t mean to sound unappreciative, but I noted in my original post the areas I was concentrating on for the rehearsal dinner, which included Dix Hills, Deer Park, Babylon, etc. After some posts for Port Jeff and Stony Brook, I commented that they were too far, and now I want to repeat ... those areas are too far. michele31, thank you for taking the time to respond to my inquiry, but I`ll repeat once again, Port Jeff is too far for us. Hopefully someone else will find that useful. To everyone else .. thanks for the suggestions. We will certainly be looking into them. I wasn`t aware that Gemelli`s was a restaurant ... I just thought they were a specialty food store, unless I`m thinking of the wrong place. :) Thanks again!!

Rehersal Dinner

Kel, Gemellis has an Italian speciality store and a relatively new restaurant a block or two east of the store on Montauk Hwy. We are having our rehearsal dinner @ the Irish Coffee Pub that may be another place to look @?. Hope this helps

Rehersal Dinner

Gemellis is kind of on the expensive side. We were going to look into having our rehersal dinner there but we are having too many people to be able to afford it. My parents went there for dinner and it cost them over $100 for dinner for the 2 of them and they arent big drinkers so I knew it wasnt a bar tab!! :) Maybe they have a deal for a catering type of event. Good Luck Lisa

Rehersal Dinner

Sorry for posting a location too far. What about La Grange (sp?). It is on on Montauk Hwy, a few minutes from Main Street Babylon (I think they consider it Islip). I know they have private rooms.