rehersal dinner suggestion

I just went to book my rehersal dinner last night for 2/15/08 and after I already talked to someone about whether the date was available and it was they told me that they can't do the party because it is the day after valentines day and they may be busy. I don't understand why they wouldn't take the guaranteed money. We were having 30 people at 24.95 a person plus we were going to add a dessert for another $3 a person. It was supposed to be at the LI Grill in Lake Ronkonkoma which was about a 1/2 mile from my church. But now I am looking for other suggestions of restaurants in the area smithtown lake ronkonkoma, nesconset, bohemia, holbrook not mamma lombardi's too expensive, or surronding areas any suggestions many places I have encountered have a minimum # of people some as high as 30 or 40 and I have between 25 and 30 and some are kids. Help it is in a little over a month
THanks