Looking for restaurants in LA area for wedding/lunch reception

[yogagurl]

My fiance and I are looking for a restaurant to host our wedding and reception during Aug./Sept. 2009. We will have approximately 80 guests and are not interested in the typical hotel wedding.

We are planning a lunch reception and are looking to spend approximately $10-$12k. Any restaurants known for great food and service would be ideal.

I am looking into the following restaurants:

The Wilshire
Michael's
Cicada
Cafe Pinot
Sunset Restaurant

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[casualcat]

The Sunset is defintely a great place to go to

[westsidegal]

i'd check out cafe del rey to see if they'd be open to devoting the whole restaurant to you.
very lovely view, lovely food, and good service.

[nosh]

Your first decision needs to be whether the ceremony and hotel and all are better placed downtown or in Santa Monica. Santa Monica is closer geographically to the airport, but surprisingly taxi rates and the Flyaway bus system are cheaper to downtown. I'd be very interested in comparing weekend rates for your guests at nearby hotels -- my guess would be that downtown hotels need weekend business while the best Santa Monica hotels charge premiums on weekends. My first inclination was definitely for Wilshire or Michael's or the suggestion for Cafe Del Rey, but those places are busiest on weekends anyway -- they don't need the booking. Downtown may be a great alternative.