I would say check it out yourself, each person's opinion is suited to themselves. I personally like the place, others do not. Only you can decide that, it can't hurt to check it out. Good luck!
I live in Howard Beach and have been to Russos too many times to even count and they are really wonderful there. I dont think that the decor is gaudy- I like it..and the food is really good. However when looking for halls I went there to price and what I didnt love about it was that they throw NOTHING into the package for you. Everything is separate and you cannot change the menu in any way. Everyone who books there gets the same Cocktail menu and dinner menu- they just change the menus with the season.
Posted by dec21bride
I just had my wedding at Russo's on 12/21 and let me tell you the service and food exceeded all expectations and any other hall service i have been too. I am italian and have been to many catering halls including jericho terrace, chateau briand, woodbury country club, land's end and villa lombardi's. It is only gaudy if you choose to overdo your wedding and make it that way by doing really rediculous things that you do not have to do like extravagant chair covers and the extra packages for napkins and table covers lights and go overboard with decorations. The simpler the better less is always more. They have three different rooms and only one room which is the renaissance is near gaudy because it has a lot of chandeliers. The other two rooms are beautiful!
Regarding price you have to walk in there and be flexible and realistic. I had mine in December and it was a winter theme on a Sunday from 5:30-10:30 and got a very good deal because I did not have a Viennese hour but i still had cake, gelato, ice cream, cookies, pastries, coffee, tea espresso and cappuccino and trust me that was more than enough. If you are flexible and tell them what you want and do not want and what you are really looking for Mr. Russo will work with you.
I have been to far too many weddings and yes it is nice to have a viennese hour but remember that adds about 20 per person to the price meanwhile more than half of the food goes to waste and nobody even can fit any more food into themselves by the end of the night after a cocktail hour, pasta, salad and main course. You and your guests can have a wonderful time and still keep a good budget and not waste all that money for 1 night of your life.
Bottom line Russo's was great and it really depends on your individual personality, budget and what you are looking for.
Posted by lizzie217
Posted by JenBill61210
Posted by Jna2010
As of right now, me and FH have it narrowed down to Russo's on the Bay and VIP Country Club. I like Russo's better and i told a few co-workers about it and they all told me it was like a wedding factory and gaudy decor... anyone have any opinions on this or have been told negative things about it? Please be honest, def wont take offense...... thanks in advance girls!
i come from an italian family so i've been to A LOT of events at Russos... the service and the food is excellent. i didn't book my wedding there because there have been so many family parties there so i wanted someplace different. I think its cool because they have 'grand entrances' in 2 of their rooms (glass elevator, stairs)
Posted by Jna2010
Posted by dec21bride
I just had my wedding at Russo's on 12/21 and let me tell you the service and food exceeded all expectations and any other hall service i have been too. I am italian and have been to many catering halls including jericho terrace, chateau briand, woodbury country club, land's end and villa lombardi's. It is only gaudy if you choose to overdo your wedding and make it that way by doing really rediculous things that you do not have to do like extravagant chair covers and the extra packages for napkins and table covers lights and go overboard with decorations. The simpler the better less is always more. They have three different rooms and only one room which is the renaissance is near gaudy because it has a lot of chandeliers. The other two rooms are beautiful!
Regarding price you have to walk in there and be flexible and realistic. I had mine in December and it was a winter theme on a Sunday from 5:30-10:30 and got a very good deal because I did not have a Viennese hour but i still had cake, gelato, ice cream, cookies, pastries, coffee, tea espresso and cappuccino and trust me that was more than enough. If you are flexible and tell them what you want and do not want and what you are really looking for Mr. Russo will work with you.
I have been to far too many weddings and yes it is nice to have a viennese hour but remember that adds about 20 per person to the price meanwhile more than half of the food goes to waste and nobody even can fit any more food into themselves by the end of the night after a cocktail hour, pasta, salad and main course. You and your guests can have a wonderful time and still keep a good budget and not waste all that money for 1 night of your life.
Bottom line Russo's was great and it really depends on your individual personality, budget and what you are looking for.
Congrats! We actually finally agreed on having it here, even though its a little more than what we wanted to spend but we both LOVE it!! I keep hearing such great things about it so i know we wont be disappointment with how our $ is being spent...
I cant wait to finally book, hopefully this week! anything you recommend we add on or dont do?
I've been hearing a lot about venitian hours not really being needed because of how full people are, but if you ever met my Italian family, that thought couldnt be further from your mind! Of course if there isnt one, its not necessarily missed, but it does make a HUDGE impression when its there! And I have yet to see someone with out a plate piled high with dessert, snow cone, popcorn and candy apple...plus going back for seconds... at an Italian wedding, the more food the better!!
I totally understand what you mean but at the same time you do not need all of that to have a great wonderful wedding. It depends on the individual i guess as well. Personally I just feel like if you are worried about looking to impress or show off in a sense by making such a hudge impression you are having the wedding for the wrong reason. Its one day 5 hours of your life if you look at in perspective it does not mean a thing in life.
well if you can get it at russo's for 5-8 per person that is a pretty good deal and ofcourse if you can afford the extra then its fine!
Posted by dec21bride
well if you can get it at russo's for 5-8 per person that is a pretty good deal and ofcourse if you can afford the extra then its fine!
