TINY Rehearsal Dinner (but where?!)

So, I'm having a really small rehearsal dinner, just parents and bridal party- 15-20 people. I need a place to do this. Believe me, if I could do it at a home and just do take out, I would, but no one in the party (or coming to the wedding, for that matter, if you don't count the vendors!) is from Long Island. So we need to figure out something for our tiny little party that is *inexpensive!* and simple, either in the Glen Cove area or the Westbury area (our hotel blocked rooms are in Westbury, wedding is at Swan Club). Dave and Buster's talked with me on the phone and their min. guest count is too high, so they seemed fun and inexpensive, but it won't work all the same...

Any other ideas? I heard Ayhan's has a private room (EDIT: I found out they have a min. of 30, so this won't work)

It doesn't even really need to be a private room, just a prepaid, reserved space for our small party. I just don't know what to do! Hmmm.

Help?

Honestly drive around town and walk into any nice restuarant and get quotes...

I did my SIL baby shower in Maspeth .. and the restuarant was nice and the food was DELICIOUS!!!

What about something like Beni Hana's? That might be fun?

there is a place across the street from Roosevelt Field, West End Cafe, that FH and I used to go to. They have nice tables and I've seen large parties there before.

There are tons of restaurants in the Westbury area. Right in the same Mall where Dave & Buster's is, you have PF Chang's, Cheesecake Factory. Around the corner behind Dave and Buster's near the Lowes Raceway movie theatres you have Cozymel's, Macaroni Grill, Chili's.
There is also Don Juan's.

Right on Old Country Road, you have Vincent's Clam Bar which is right across the street from Roosevelt Field Mall. In addition to BeniHana, there is Shiro's which is a more upscale Japanese habachi place. You also have Houlihan's, TGIF's on Merrick Ave.

Now those are the regular restaurants....if you want to do something a bit more upscale in Garden City Park on Jericho Turnpike and Herricks Road, there is Jonathan's. Really good food and I think they have a private room and have catering menu for special occasions that include even cake. Worth looking into.

Now there is a restaurant that is a mom and pop restaurant that is located on Hempstead Turnpike which makes really good Italian food. I have seen rehearsal dinners there. It is called Borrelli's. It is right on the corner of Hempstead Tpke and Merrick Ave.

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Posted by JenBill61210

maybe runyon's on hempstead tpke, in east meadow?

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I agree- runyons is awesome!

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Posted by Emily0423

Honestly drive around town and walk into any nice restuarant and get quotes...

I did my SIL baby shower in Maspeth .. and the restuarant was nice and the food was DELICIOUS!!!

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Yeah... I can't drive around, actually. I live in Manhattan, and am utterly carless. That makes this all really hard- otherwise I would just walk into restaurants and look around to see how big the space is.

Maybe I'll make a daytrip to Westbury on the LIRR and just walk around with a map aimlessly. Hah.

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Posted by NYYankeeGirl72

Now those are the regular restaurants....if you want to do something a bit more upscale in Garden City Park on Jericho Turnpike and Herricks Road, there is Jonathan's. Really good food and I think they have a private room and have catering menu for special occasions that include even cake. Worth looking into.

Now there is a restaurant that is a mom and pop restaurant that is located on Hempstead Turnpike which makes really good Italian food. I have seen rehearsal dinners there. It is called Borrelli's. It is right on the corner of Hempstead Tpke and Merrick Ave.

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Yeah, we're thinking more *not upscale* and also NOT only Italian, as most of our menu the next day is Italian, and so we wanted more ethnic and/or straight up American fare. We want to keep it as chill as possible.

Also, with all of the regular restaurants, do places let you RSVP a party of 20 and prepay our dinners, and have them brought out on the tables for us? If we had everyone order whatever they want it could get a bit out of control, and confuse everyone as to who is paying and what is going on- I just have no idea- I've never organized a dinner party this size at a restaurant.

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Posted by SummerBride10

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Posted by JenBill61210

maybe runyon's on hempstead tpke, in east meadow?

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I agree- runyons is awesome!

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I have to second that...I forgot about them!!!

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Posted by melodicharmony

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Posted by NYYankeeGirl72

Now those are the regular restaurants....if you want to do something a bit more upscale in Garden City Park on Jericho Turnpike and Herricks Road, there is Jonathan's. Really good food and I think they have a private room and have catering menu for special occasions that include even cake. Worth looking into.

Now there is a restaurant that is a mom and pop restaurant that is located on Hempstead Turnpike which makes really good Italian food. I have seen rehearsal dinners there. It is called Borrelli's. It is right on the corner of Hempstead Tpke and Merrick Ave.

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Yeah, we're thinking more *not upscale* and also NOT only Italian, as most of our menu the next day is Italian, and so we wanted more ethnic and/or straight up American fare. We want to keep it as chill as possible.

Also, with all of the regular restaurants, do places let you RSVP a party of 20 and prepay our dinners, and have them brought out on the tables for us? If we had everyone order whatever they want it could get a bit out of control, and confuse everyone as to who is paying and what is going on- I just have no idea- I've never organized a dinner party this size at a restaurant.

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I used to work for Cozymel's and they used to have a catering menu for groups. So you may want to ask them about it.

Okay there is another place which is east of Westbury. It is in Levittown on Hempstead Tpke right next to Tri-County. I had my brother and SIL's baby shower there.

It is Hunan Dynasty. Excellent Chinese food and they also serve Japanese dishes. We had about 20-25 ppl. They have a catering menu which you select from. It was about 14.95 per pp and there is one for about 16.95 pp. You get to pre-select the apps, the entrees, etc. Soda I believe is included. And includes ice cream, and good ice cream too. We also got the Champagne Punch Bowl which was $60. The Punch Bowl was so delicious!! I definitely recommend that.
The only thing not included is the occasion cake.

We live in West Hempstead and drive all the way to Levittown to eat there. They don't have a private room, but they do have a section of the restaurant that is a little elevated.

HTH


P.S. Oh another thing about Hunan Dynasty....they serve family style and will bring out more food if more is needed, which is great.

Totally recommend Cozymel's...it's cheap, decent quality-I'm Mexican and VERY picky about my Mexican food and fun without being tacky.

They have pitchers of sangria for like $12?!

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Posted by eternitybride

Believe it or not, Charlie Browns in Garden City (not sure if thats outside the area you want) has a private room that holds up to 30 people, and their menu ranges from 19.99 to 22.99 per person (alcohol or soda is extra)

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Oh my goodness I am all over this idea, a steakhouse would be perfect- thank you!!!

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Posted by melodicharmony

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Posted by eternitybride

Believe it or not, Charlie Browns in Garden City (not sure if thats outside the area you want) has a private room that holds up to 30 people, and their menu ranges from 19.99 to 22.99 per person (alcohol or soda is extra)

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Oh my goodness I am all over this idea, a steakhouse would be perfect- thank you!!!

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Thats where we had our Engagement party and my graduation party. Everyone enjoyed it. The price includes Tea, Coffee, water, Salad bar or cesear salad, a choice of 3 entrees, and a dessert.