Reviews of the RH's I saw ...updated as of 1/31/09

Original post by NYYankeeGirl72

Jan 24, 2009 10:22 PM

I know all of you are ready to read these reviews, sorry they are so long. I just want everyone to know that these are my opinions, as discussed with my MOH (who has tagged along). Once I get my final list of RH's, FH will go and visit with me so we can make our final decision. For those who have booked in the places below, please do not take any offense.

Some of you already know that I am having a small wedding (75 ppl); therefore, I have stayed away from the RH's that require larger minimums, so my list will be short and sweet.

To start things off I will list off the RH's in the order they have been seen and give my comments:

1. Mediterranean Manor - went to bridal expo back in 2008. Good food, CH room nice, reception room a bit closed in and crowded. Offers good package deal. I suggest for those who live out in Suffolk, if you are looking for a decent priced reception hall, and you don't have a large guest list, you may want to look there. I live in Nassau, so it is a bit far for me.

2. Fox Hollow - made appt to visit on a Sunday back in 2008 and BM was not there. I was told it was his day off. Got to see a little bit of how things ran. I know a lot of you have raved about their rooms, but I was actually glad to see how the place ran when it was busy with events. To be quite honest, it didn't impress me. There were guests from one wedding hanging out in the valet area, while a bride from another wedding was getting ready to make her grand entrance and she was waiting in the hallway. For a Sunday it was a bit too crazy for me. Not to mention that I was stood up.

3. Swan Club - my appt was last weekend. I had been here before so i knew how it looked. I was truly impressed with the menu. They offer a lot of food and choices. And not just regular stuff you see on menus. I like the fact they offer 4 entree selections, beef, chicken, fish and either duck or pasta dish. I like also they have a variety of fish offerings besides salmon. My brother recently went there for a X-mas party and he said the food was great. They offer a wedding cake in their price. They have their own pastry chef on the premises. They have a platinum Menu which includes sculptures, raw seafood bar, viennesse table, etc. You can also add pieces of the Platinum menu if you don't want the everything that is included. The prices were soooo reasonable. I got quotes from January to April for Friday, Saturday and Sundays. If Valentine's Day were not on the Sunday before President's Day, I would have booked it. Their Sunday prices are awesome!!!
To top things off, their BM Jordana was great to talk to, real sweet and really down to earth. Their gardens are beautiful, great place to take pictures in any type of weather. The rooms were big and had great view of the gardens below and the water. They offer color linens and they allow you to use candles as centerpieces. As of last weekend it was my favorite. I would be using this RH as the comparison point versus all other RH's.

4. Stewart Manor Country Club - last night I had my appt. It holds one wedding at a time. They provided a menu, but assured me that the menu is not limited to what is listed. You can ask for special requests and they even encourage if you have a family recipe that you want to be served, they will make it. Although the menu is not limited, it does not provide as much as what was listed in Swan Club's menu. One con for me was that the fish selection was Salmon only. Wedding cake is also included, but they use an outside bakery to make it. However, the building does provide a unique venue. It has an old world charm to it. There is no razzle dazzle here, but if you are looking for a unique place I would suggest it. Since you are the only ones using the facility at one time, you can make the place as homey as you would like. The BM gave me examples of placing family pictures around the mantels, tables etc. The reception room has wood floors, and wood beams above that have covered strings of light. The RH is in the middle of a regular neighborhood, so it has a huge grass lawn, but behind the building is just the parking lot and behind that is the Hempstead train line. So really not a lot of places to take pictures. As for pricing, they are close to what Swan Club quoted. In some time periods, SC is cheaper and in others SMCC is cheaper. I must mention that their BM James was very nice. He is the MD for all the events. He mentioned that the waitstaff are all assigned a table and they get not only the dinner order, but also the drink orders for your guests. He said they make it very personable. I am including this one in my final list.

5. Sans Souci - had an appt today. Got there and the first thing I noticed was the view of the water. I totally thought of photo ops. Met with Anastasio. He asked me if I had ever been there and I said no. he was surprised, because most people who go there have been there before. It is known by word of mouth and to me that says a lot. Compared to the BM's at SC and SMCC (who I talked with for a long time), Anastasios was nice, but not as personable. He took phone calls during our meeting, which allowed me to walk around and really get a good look at the place. It has french windows all along the front of the hall, which overlooks the water. Awesome view!! Sans Souci has three menus, which includes a lot of stuff. You can have options like 6 passed hors d'oeuvres and two chef stations or have 10 hors d'oeuvres and no chef stations. Great selection of food and entrees. Wedding cake is included in the price. They have their own pastry chef. Also included in their price is centerpieces!!! They have an assortment of flowers. All you need is to select the colors. I thought this was great considering I don't want to spend a fortune on flowers. I saw some of their centerpiece samples while I was there and I have to say they looked good considering they are part of the package. They also had candelabras, for those who aren't into floral centerpieces. One great thing was the minimum. I only have to guarantee a minimum of 60, which I almost . This definitely gives me some leeway. With a lower minimum I could get the higher priced menu. So that definitely was a plus. Prices were similar to SC. The only thing is that the price seems to be for both day or evening, which is sweet. SC does have a price difference between day and evening. This definitely at the top with SC.

6. Milleridge Inn - Carriage House - had appt today. MOH and I headed to the Milleridge Inn. I was told to meet the BM at the Cottage House. I had seen pics of the Cottage House and thought I was seeing that hall. The Cottage House is beautiful from the pics I have seen. After discussing the menus and pricing with the BM, she told us we would go see the room. But first she would need her coat. I thought maybe the entrance to the hall was outside or something. Next thing I notice we follow her as she begins to cross the huge parking lot moving away from the Cottage House. For those of you who don't know, the Milleridge Inn is a stand alone building, behind it a parking lot , and the Cottage House is beyond the parking lot on a small hill alone. The Carriage House is on the opposite side of the huge parking lot from the Cottage House as a stand alone building. The room looked okay. However, I was informed that the CH would be held in the same room as dinner. During CH the table would have no plates. Only when dinner was served, the plates would be placed on the tables. I was also told that the Cottage kitchen cooks the meal and then the meal is delivered, I guess across the parking lot , to the Carriage House kitchen. That totally turned me off. The bridal suite and bathrooms were in the basement. Another sore point. There was one handicap restroom on the main floor, but it was in the main reception room. At the time I didn't think of it, but it just crossed my mind that what happens in the middle of dinner someone uses that bathroom and stinks it up...UGH!! That would be bad. As for pricing they were giving discounts on their silver and bronze menu for weddings during the months of Jan through April. I don't think the discounts can woo me to even book this place. I just wish they would have showed me the Cottage House, or at least tell me about it and what is required to book there. But they didn't.

I had also wanted to see Coral House. I had gotten a quote, but they require a minimum of 100. Now that I have found places that will do 60 - 75 minimum, I am not sure I want to waste time going there if I can't make the 100 minimum.

I think the last place I am going to visit is Westbury Manor. I may make an appt for this upcoming weekend. I will keep you posted on how that visit turns out.

Hope I didn't bore anyone. And for those still looking and are planning a small wedding, I hope this information can be helpful.

***I have two more reviews see my latest post...

NYYankeeGirl72 Posted: Jan 31, 2009 03:14 PM

Re: Reviews of the RH's I saw ...updated as of 1/31/09

#7. Westbury Manor - had appt this morning.

For all you Westbury Manor brides out there, I have to say that I was truly blown away. First, at the entrance my MOH and I got to see the peacocks just hanging out. So beautiful. Originally, I was waiting to meet with Harrison, but he was with other ppl. While waiting for another BM, we were asked if we wanted something to drink. Both my MOH and ordered coffee and two seconds later BM met us. I said to myself oh well there goes our coffee (will come back to this later).

We met with BM Mel. Since I am having a smaller wedding, he showed me the Hill Room and the CH room, both on the second floor. The minimum for this room was 70 ppl. Although the Hill room is a bit smaller than other places I have seen, I loved the dark wood. The CH room was beautiful. Mel also showed me the room for a minimum of 100 ppl, on the 1st floor with its corresponding CH room, which is the atrium. I wish I was having more ppl. Both rooms were beautiful. After our tour of the rooms, we sat with Mel in his office. In his office, the whole coffee set up with cream, sugar and an array of cookies, was sitting on his desk. Very impressive.

So Mel discussed the menu and what a menu!!! He also added a couple of things that I thought were very nice. Wine bottles on the tables, a pasta course, and pastries added to the cordial bar. Since I don't have my date etched in stone yet, he quoted a nice price for March. If I had been unhappy with some of the other places I went to I would have booked on the spot. Unfortunately, FH has to come with me to make our final decision. So I am hoping that they don't book out March in the the next week. This is definitely in the running for my final list.

8. Sands at Lido beach - has appt around noon.

I met with BM Ian. This place does one wedding at a time. And I have to say the price is not bad. for a Saturday or Sunday. The only thing is that the room is made for a minimum of 100, but Ian said I could do it with 75, the only thing he would have a buffet dinner. But for all those out there who have 100-125 and want one wedding at a time with sit down dinner, you may want to check them out. Also, their menu is not a standard like other places do. He told us that menu and tastes change every year. He said a year ago it was all about Cajun food, now this year it is about fusion. So he said their menu keeps up with the times. They do French style service, which he says is the real thing instead of what others call white glove service. He also has captain service (3 captains) in addition to the hostesses and waiters making sure everything is ok. One great thing he said is that if by 3 months prior to your wedding date if there are no afternoon parties, you can start your reception earlier. You can CH indoors or at their outdoor patio in the back. They check the weather for that day to decide if CH will be held outdoors or indoors.

As for the main room it is big. Nice size dance floor with a stage to have the DJ at. They also have dance lights above the stage. There are two bridal suites both with their own bathrooms. The bathrooms were nice and very modern looking. As for valet, it isn't included. It is a good amount of $$, which I don't think is necessary since the parking lot is right in front of the entrance. Oh as for vendors, you pay $15 pp. That is a steal!!

He told us that he has a lot of repeat customers and that is due to the service and quality of food they provide. Tonight he was having a child's birthday party. The set up was very nice.

He said if have any questions about anything he is willing to help out. As an example, he said if you had a problem with floral arrangements, just tell me and I will go with you to help you get the most for your buck.
I definitely like Ian!! He said he was not going to give me a booklet or anything like other places give because their menu can change according to what we are interested in eating. He just gave me an estimate with the prices and dates I was looking for. Truly a very different way of handling things. If I had more of budget to get my guest up to 100, I would have likely put the Sands in my final list.

Tomorrow ladies...FINALLY FH is going with me to see the Coral House. We are meeting up with Linda and we are also get a tasting!! Yummy!! Can't wait!!

I will tell you all about it tomorrow!!!

debbie192 Posted: Feb 01, 2009 08:37 PM

Re: Reviews of the RH's I saw ...updated as of 1/31/09

I had my reception at SMCC. It was great and yes James does go out his way. The cake was great. We met the baker before we decided......the food that night was delicious....You wont go wrong

futureMrsJSL Posted: Feb 01, 2009 09:05 PM

Re: Reviews of the RH's I saw ...updated as of 1/31/09

Posted by NYYankeeGirl72

#7. Westbury Manor - had appt this morning.

For all you Westbury Manor brides out there, I have to say that I was truly blown away. First, at the entrance my MOH and I got to see the peacocks just hanging out. So beautiful. Originally, I was waiting to meet with Harrison, but he was with other ppl. While waiting for another BM, we were asked if we wanted something to drink. Both my MOH and ordered coffee and two seconds later BM met us. I said to myself oh well there goes our coffee (will come back to this later).

We met with BM Mel. Since I am having a smaller wedding, he showed me the Hill Room and the CH room, both on the second floor. The minimum for this room was 70 ppl. Although the Hill room is a bit smaller than other places I have seen, I loved the dark wood. The CH room was beautiful. Mel also showed me the room for a minimum of 100 ppl, on the 1st floor with its corresponding CH room, which is the atrium. I wish I was having more ppl. Both rooms were beautiful. After our tour of the rooms, we sat with Mel in his office. In his office, the whole coffee set up with cream, sugar and an array of cookies, was sitting on his desk. Very impressive.

So Mel discussed the menu and what a menu!!! He also added a couple of things that I thought were very nice. Wine bottles on the tables, a pasta course, and pastries added to the cordial bar. Since I don't have my date etched in stone yet, he quoted a nice price for March. If I had been unhappy with some of the other places I went to I would have booked on the spot. Unfortunately, FH has to come with me to make our final decision. So I am hoping that they don't book out March in the the next week. This is definitely in the running for my final list.

8. Sands at Lido beach - has appt around noon.

I met with BM Ian. This place does one wedding at a time. And I have to say the price is not bad. for a Saturday or Sunday. The only thing is that the room is made for a minimum of 100, but Ian said I could do it with 75, the only thing he would have a buffet dinner. But for all those out there who have 100-125 and want one wedding at a time with sit down dinner, you may want to check them out. Also, their menu is not a standard like other places do. He told us that menu and tastes change every year. He said a year ago it was all about Cajun food, now this year it is about fusion. So he said their menu keeps up with the times. They do French style service, which he says is the real thing instead of what others call white glove service. He also has captain service (3 captains) in addition to the hostesses and waiters making sure everything is ok. One great thing he said is that if by 3 months prior to your wedding date if there are no afternoon parties, you can start your reception earlier. You can CH indoors or at their outdoor patio in the back. They check the weather for that day to decide if CH will be held outdoors or indoors.

As for the main room it is big. Nice size dance floor with a stage to have the DJ at. They also have dance lights above the stage. There are two bridal suites both with their own bathrooms. The bathrooms were nice and very modern looking. As for valet, it isn't included. It is a good amount of $$, which I don't think is necessary since the parking lot is right in front of the entrance. Oh as for vendors, you pay $15 pp. That is a steal!!

He told us that he has a lot of repeat customers and that is due to the service and quality of food they provide. Tonight he was having a child's birthday party. The set up was very nice.

He said if have any questions about anything he is willing to help out. As an example, he said if you had a problem with floral arrangements, just tell me and I will go with you to help you get the most for your buck.
I definitely like Ian!! He said he was not going to give me a booklet or anything like other places give because their menu can change according to what we are interested in eating. He just gave me an estimate with the prices and dates I was looking for. Truly a very different way of handling things. If I had more of budget to get my guest up to 100, I would have likely put the Sands in my final list.

Tomorrow ladies...FINALLY FH is going with me to see the Coral House. We are meeting up with Linda and we are also get a tasting!! Yummy!! Can't wait!!

I will tell you all about it tomorrow!!!

I'm a Coral House Bride and I love them! Linda is absolutely awesome and she really works with you to stay within a good budget. You'll fall in love with the food at the tasting! I'm in the Nantucket Deck but I think they have a smaller room. Good luck and let us know how it goes!!!!

NYYankeeGirl72 Posted: Feb 02, 2009 01:40 PM

Re: Reviews of the RH's I saw ...updated as of 1/31/09

Posted by futureMrsJSL

I'm a Coral House Bride and I love them! Linda is absolutely awesome and she really works with you to stay within a good budget. You'll fall in love with the food at the tasting! I'm in the Nantucket Deck but I think they have a smaller room. Good luck and let us know how it goes!!!!

Linda was real nice to us. We would end up with the Colonial Skylight, which after looking at it closely was not as nice as the WM or SC.

Although FH loved the price at first and said that this would be in our final list, after the food tasting we decided it was not to be. If you want details, please FM me.