Yo SF CHOWhounds! Where to eat great with a big group?

[bklyncupcake]

Hi All,

I'm coming in from New York and am organizing a dinner for a large group (40). I need a place that can accommodate the size but won't sacrifice on taste (it's for some serious foodies)...and I need it on a budget. Somewhere around $60/head for dinner, drinks. Was thinking delicious Mexican?

Any/all suggestions would be GREAT!

Thanks!

[drmimi]

so many choices-- you might want to search a few recent threads-- LOTS of recommendations on this board, a chowhounders paradise. You also might want to hone down to a neighborhood or particular community. Happy searching..

[bklyncupcake]

Trying to keep it in/around downtown SF, which is where we are staying. We'll have group transport, so can travel, but don't want to drive further than 15-20 minutes. Wish I new SF better! I'll look around the board, but any particular suggestions would be super helpful.

Thanks.

[drmimi]

If you want really good Mexican food-- the Mission is your choice, not downtown or in the TL (Tenderloin). It's the 40 people size party that has me a bit stumped.

[Giselle]

check out www.tresagaves.com click on private dining

[sbonagof]

Maya Restaurant may be what you're looking for. www.mayasf.com

It has decent, high-end Mexican food and your $60-per-head budget should be do-able. They have a private dining room that seats up to 90 people and they do special events for up to 220 people.

Something to keep in mind though is that almost any time a restaurant is serving a party of 40, either the food or the service (or both) will suffer somewhat. I know your friends are serious foodies, but hopefully their expectations will be in line with what is reasonable, given the size of the group.

[Robert Lauriston]

opentable's banquets list is a good reference for finding out which places can handle a party of 40:

http://www.opentable.com/info/banquet...

Colibri has gotten some favorable reports here.

The food at Tres Agaves can be pretty bad.

Maya's a branch of a New York restaurant, sad choice for visitors from New York.

[Concetta]

Mercedes Restaurant (aka Hair of the Dog), a Mexican restaurant in the Financial District, books their place at night for private parties. They do a decent job and most likely fits your budget requirements.

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Mercedes Restaurant
653 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[bklyncupcake]

Great! Thanks for all these suggestions...
I'll check them out.

And while yes, serious foodies they are, they are not unreasonable, so hopefully it won't be "off with her head" (to me) if the food isn't tippity top.

Thanks again.

[drmimi]

bklyncupcake, your group can always split up into smaller "search parties" and sample some of the goodies at the smaller restuarants via the search engine. Could even be a bit of a scavenger hunt/ contest to find a favorite.
Happy trails and best wishes for a great visit to one of the most beautiful cities in the world...