Help! Birthday celebration with 10-15 friends in May

[laurentobias]

I'm trying to plan a birthday dinner for my 30th for a Saturday night in May. If all goes well, many of the guests won't know each other. I'd like a casual location with reasonable food and wine. The budgets of the group range widely. I had been thinking of a family style place like Carmine's or Sambuca because I know they won't mind if we lounge around for awhile. Also thought about Cite's wine dinner. Does anyone know if that is going on before Memorial Day?

I've looked through a lot of the posts on this, and the top choices seem to be 'inoteca, Stanton Social and the Batali restaurants. Question is: will these places let us linger for most of the night? We'd probably arrive around 8pm.

[CTCajun]

It depends what the budget is, I have had birthday parties at Eleven Madison Park that were great, but I am not sure if that is within the budget or not. I know if you get a latish reservation they would probably not plan on doing a seating after you so you could hang out for awhile

[elecsheep9]

The Cite Wine Dinner is offered year round. I just went to it last last Friday.

[RGR]

Acc. to info on Cite's website, the wine dinner is offered from Memorial Day through Thanksgiving Day.

http://www.citerestaurant.com/

Of the Batali restaurants, Otto is probably your best bet for a reasonably-priced party. Whether they would let you linger most of the evening is something you should ask them directly.

http://www.ottopizzeria.com/group_din...

[laurentobias]

Hope you don't get my reservation... then again, if no one ever responds, I have few ideas. Have any you're willing to share?

[marlosse]

I am completely riding your coattails on this post!! I, too, am looking for a dinner spot for my 30th in May, most guests won't know each other, casual spot, group dining, before Memorial Day. Maybe I'll see you there!