143304 Thu Oct 31 23:50:31 -0800 2002 6 12 Boston Area 0 767052 I was wondering if someone could recommend a reasonably-priced restaurant for a 50 person rehearsal dinner. Either downtown or Cambridge area. Thanks! Thu Oct 31 23:50:31 -0800 2002 0 JP 1 767059 Have you thought about a chinese banquet in Chinatown? You can usually spend about $20 a head for truly excellent food. Your guests would have to like Chinese food of course. Peach Farm, Asia Gardens and Taiwan Cafe have been recommended here but they may be a bit small unless you take over the restaurants. Jumbo, Dynasty, Chau Chow City could accomodate but I think the food isn't as interesting. Also downtown, Little Maggiano's has family style Italian (tasty but not interesting) forff about the same and they could certainly accomodate 50 people. Fri Nov 01 08:50:13 -0800 2002 767052 0 gourmaniac 2 767100 I thought that the menu at Jumbo was actually quite interesting (at least the Chinese menu, which was quite diverse) and the dishes were well cooked the one time I tried it. I'd put it in the same range as Peach Farm, but for different dishes. Asian Garden is good but shows less refined cooking. Fri Nov 01 17:48:26 -0800 2002 767059 0 Limster 1 767084 I just went through this with a friend of mine who's getting married next week. We had a hard time finding places that either 1. had a large enough PDR (private dining room) or 2. could accommodate a group of that size in regular seatings or would consider closing the restaurant. Checking a copy of the most recent Zagats guide is good because the list restaurants with PDRs. I think the Chinese idea is a great one and many of those places can accommodate large groups with no problem. Fri Nov 01 15:45:56 -0800 2002 767052 0 MB 1 767094 well, gallia on washington st in the south end has that biggish dining room that they never open. i think i read that they can accommodate private parties and they haven't really been that full so maybe they can help? the food is pretty good, i had them make me a veggie plate, their call, and it was excellent! they took bits and pieces of thing from their main menu. Fri Nov 01 16:40:40 -0800 2002 767052 0 hez 1 767288 I had my rehersal dinner at Cibo in the North End. Decor was just OK, but it is a small place and we had the entire restaurant. (Although we could not keep it for the entire evening). The food was good and inexpensive. We checked out a lot of places in the North End. There are tons other small restaurants and many have private rooms. Its a small territory, just spend an afternoon walking around and checking out menus/rooms. Tue Nov 05 18:22:34 -0800 2002 767052 0 Jody 1 767298 I had my rehearsal dinner at Common Market in Quincy. Here's the deal for $18.95 per person you get an all you can eat buffet consisting of their stuffed scrod which by the way was fabulous, chicken marsela which was all chicken & mushroom no pasta it was great!! Rice florentine which was absolutely one of the best rice dishes I ever had and salad, coffee, rolls and the vegetable of the day which was fresh green beans. This $18.95 per person included tax gratuity and the room cost. It's not in the heart of Boston but it's in Quincy and let me tell you for 42 people and we added additioanl apps it came to under $900. It was such a great bargain and awesome food I am having my sister's bridal shower there for lunch which is the same buffet menu for $12.95 per person including everything!!! Wed Nov 06 07:53:24 -0800 2002 767052 0 gobble gobble