Place for a big family meal in/near the Slope?

[sunsetpark]

Hey,

I'm looking for a place for an early dinner for eight adults and two 3 year olds, not too expensive as my father is going to insist on paying for all of us. Was considering Franny's, but I'm afraid it will be too crowded at 5:30/6 pm on a Saturday to accommodate us. Any type of food is fine, just so long as it's edible. Usually when I go out to eat in the Slope it's just me and my husband and we only bother with the higher end places since we can cook simple fare better at home or find better ethnic food in other neighborhoods, so I'm stumped as to where to go in this instance. Walking distance to the north Slope a must.

Thanks so much!

[brooklynmasala]

Bar Toto is a good option, just make sure you make a reservation since the place is small. They have good pasta options, good sandwiches and a few entrees and everything is under $15.

[bluishgnome]

2nd St Cafe on 7th Ave & 2nd St. Good portion straight forward food. Nice for a group (from what I can remember.) You can draw on their paper tablecloth with crayons! And if it's good, they might hang it up on the wall!

[tigerwoman]

200 Fifth near the corner of Union would work well for your group. A nice diversity of menu items from kid friendly to sophisticated specials. Great preparation on fish specials. Good portions, reasonable prices, at that time you should have no problem with a large group. Try the mussel ragout topped with risotto cake, the portebello/goat cheeese & avocado salad, good caesar, great steaks, penne ala vodka with scallops and shrimp, any risotto they are running as a special, lots of beers on tap (over 40) but very family friendly. I really like their wings and burgers too. The chef is from Senegal and used to be the sous chef at the Grocery. He can be very creative. Only thing is make sure they don't go to heavy on the salt - every once in a while that seems to happen. Oh and they do really pristine clams on the half shell - also great clams oreganato (baked clams with garlic & butter laden crumbs - yummmm...)

Eat in the dining room not the bar room - although they have oversized big boothes that would probably fit your entire group.

[sadarami]

we've had very good luck at 12th Street Bar & Grill with my parents and our kids before, the food is always good and its actually relatively inexpensive if you stick with a burger or sandwich. At 5:30 they should be able to take a party of 10. I love watching my son chow down on the mussels there and the kids chicken fingers are better than you usually get.

[Larry Brooks]

Park Slope Ale House. Went there the other night early and a table for 12 was set aside. Call in advance. Pub grub, unpretentious, cheap. Good beers.

[elecsheep9]

How about Mulino Ristorante (formerly Trattoria Mulino). I've always found it to be a great, very reliable southern italian place. I love the chicken rolatina there. Its on 5th Avenue, on the same block as Southpaw.

Tonio's a good old school red sauce joint on 7th Ave. and 7th Street. But I haven't eaten there since I moved from 13 th street to the name streets back in 2002.

[Steve R]

Well, it depends on how "middle to low end" you can bear. A good place for an inexpensive family meal is Aunt Suzie if you're not too judgmental. I've taken older relatives there and they've liked it but its not Franny's or Tempo or Sette. Does Anthony's have a big enough space? Cocotte?

[sunsetpark]

Ah, Aunt Susie's...I very nearly added to my original post not to suggest it! I just can't take all that very mediocre food smothered in red sauce. Is that too judgmental?

[parkslopemama]

Wow, I rarely question Steve R.'s opinion, but I would not recommend Aunt Suzie's. How about La Villa??

[Steve R]

How can you not like a place that has a picture of a bird and a caption that says "Really cheep menu"?! As I said, my older relatives (and I'm mid-50s) liked it and I can guzzle cheep wine and find something. For example, I like the salad with lots of anchovies. (okay, so I'm hard pressed from that point on).

And you really should start questioning my opinion :-o