393424 Thu Apr 19 12:19:56 -0700 2007 4 9 New Orleans 0 2496534 I'm getting married in New Orleans in June. It will be very low-key, but approx. 60 people. Everyone's from out-of-town. We have no particular interest in fancy tablecloths or flower arrangements etc, simply in great nola food with friends and family. Would those you live there recommend I book a cheapy function hall (VFW?) and have it catered by a nice restaurant (Jacque-Imo's comes to mind..), or, in your opinion, should I look for a family-style restaurant with room for 60. Really curious about your opinions on this. Thu Apr 19 12:19:56 -0700 2007 78205 swortis 1 2496750 Many "nice" restaurants don't do off-site catering, but quite a few of the larger restaurants (not just "family-style" ones) in the city DO have private party spaces that can accomodate 60 guests, seated. In my experience, it is generally less expensive per-head to use a private dining space inside a restaurant than to hire a caterer/restaurant to do an off-site job in a rented hall (for the obvious reasons--the rented facility won't provide linens, tables, chairs, plates, cutlery, and the caterer/restaurant will charge you for all of this stuff). The restaurant is including all of these things in a fixed, per-head cost. And, the food is almost always way-way better inside the resto, rather than at a rented hall. Your budget is the only limiting factor...you can have an upstairs room at Galatoire's or Restaurant August on the high end, or a perfectly lovely stand-up cocktail reception upstairs at the Napoleon House for less than $40/person. Thu Apr 19 13:08:01 -0700 2007 2496534 12023 Hungry Celeste 2 2499256 Thanks for the reply. Certainly makes sense. Joey K's apparently has an upstairs reserved for such things. Have always loved that place. I've heard the quality at Napoleon House has gone down.. True? Fri Apr 20 08:55:44 -0700 2007 2496750 78205 swortis 3 2500769 I have not eaten at the Napoleon House post-K, but I always found them to have high standards pre-K, even when they could have gotten by with far less. The upstairs space is quite lovely, though I'm not sure on the prices I went to a rehearsal dinner about this size at the Palace Cafe on Canal St. several years ago that went quite well, although their space may not be as great for a reception, as they just give you part of the upstairs dining room. If you have some restaurant in mind, just call and ask if you can rent all or part of the restaurant for your reception. Fri Apr 20 15:20:23 -0700 2007 2499256 56329 jamy 1 2510157 My son got married here in March. We had a pre-wedding dinner for 150 at Mother's catering room, (next door to the Mother's entrance) The food was MUCH better there than at the wedding at Audubon Park (catered by the Audubon Tea Room). It was plentiful and tasty and there were lots of choices. The staff were great, and we had a terrific time. Tue Apr 24 09:35:24 -0700 2007 2496534 12972 mboard