Bachelorette Party Dinner in Gramercy Park Area

[FFP]

Hello, I'm the MOH for my best friend and am in charge of planning our night out in NYC.....BUT, I don't know ANYTHING about the city.....I've also gotten a LOT of bad advice from supposed "city people" So, I figured I'd come to the experts.....(that would be you :)

so, I've lined up a number of activities that I "hope" will work out, but I'm desperately in need of advice on dinner!!

Atmosphere: I'm looking for someplace that is fun, and funky, AND that has good food that can accommodate approx 20 girls (wearing blue wigs) in the Gramercy Park area (private room a bonus, but not required)....

Location.....we'll be taking pole dancing lessons at 114 E. 28th St and having drinks afterwards at Flute (40 E 20th St # 1).....we're ending at Hogs and Heifers (meatpacking district) but I need a dinner place (preferably within walking distance to Flute OR near Hogs and Heifers) I want to minimize the # of cab rides we'll need to take....

Price - I'm thinking middle of the road......I don't want super cheap, but I also don't want to send all the girls to the poor house before we even get the night started :)

THANKS SO MUCH!!

(I'm also open to comments on the stuff I already have planned) But I REALLY need dinner help ASAP!!

[FFP]

THANKS SOOOOO much you guys!! I really appreciate all the advice!! I'll post again after saturday to let you all know where we ended up and how it was!!!

[sam920]

Just want to reiterate that I think Buddakan is the *definitely* right choice in terms of food, atmosphere and even time as long as the group isn't too concerned about $$$. As kim e said, it's definitely in a different league than the other places you're considering. You'll be walking distance from Hogs & Heifers, and you wouldn't want to get there too early anyway. Honestly, I'm pretty surprised you were able to get a 9:30 reservation for 20 people on such short notice. Don't be worried - you lucked out!

[FFP]

Thanks for all your responses.....I have a couple of places lined up.....would love to stay near Flute (gramercy) for dinner, but doesn't look like it's going to happen.....

These are my current options:
-Metro Cafe 8:30pm
-Highline/Sea 8:30 pm
-ilili- 8:30 pm
Buddakan - maybe 9:30

Thoughts? Other suggestions? I'm leaning towards Buddakan, but BM's are concerned about how late dinner will be....

[lanadai]

There's also Fig & Olive I think in the meat packing area, I went there like 2/3 years ago and remember it being kinda sceney so you might want to check that out too.

[mbs]

Metro isn't too loud, but they have great food, large variety, wine flights and pretty good bar scene...not expensive at all....I always go on week nights with about 10 girls and we have a great time, never over 40 a person with lots of wine

[kim e]

Buddakan is in a completely different league from Highline/Sea, in terms of ambiance, service, quality of food, and especially price. I would do Buddakan. I went there for NYE and I thought it was great...it's not cheap, though. I think we spent $80 pp. 9:30 isn't really THAT much later than 8:30. Clubs don't get going until midnight anyway...I would think 8:30 would be too early if you're planning on going out afterward.

Fig & Olive is a good suggestion, too. The food at Buddakan is for sure better, but F&O will be cheaper and has a good ambiance for what you'd probably be looking for.

[vatl619]

was just at a nice girls birthday dinner at ilili on 5th ave and 27th or so.
they did a variation of the restaurant week menu for our group, the wine flowed, and it also came to around $70pp. we had a table for 10, but the place is big, i would be surprised if they couldnt accommodate a larger party too.

[FFP]

Well....orig. I had reservations at Lucky Chengs, found out it's awful....made other reservations....found out that place was awful.....and on it goes......so now I'm totally screwed and in a panic.....I want a fun/cool/yummy dinner for my bride, but I'm on my own, don't know the city...and trying very hard not to cry :(

[ESNY]

I'd take buddhakan at 930. That is not too late to eat, esp on a saturday night in NY. Food is good and isn't too far from Hogs and Heifers. You wouldn't want to go to a bar too early anyway... Plus with only 5 days to go, I'd doubt you'll be able to find a good restaurant that can fit 20 people at your ideal time.

If you wanted to stay near Flute, I think Planet Thailand might be an option, or even see if you can make reservations at Hill Country (assuming your bachelorette party is down with BBQ).

[malibu]

If I were you, I would re-arrange your timing and take the 630 or 930 Buddakan, because it's over the top, very Sex In the City and would be good for a bachelorette dinner. Otherwise your options become very mediocre.... like Havana Central or Rosa Mexicano, which are not impressive or great and might even be too late for those. Just try not to end up at SEA or Lucky Chengs.

[FFP]

Thanks gang....I really appreciate all your help!!!

.....I've got reservations at Metro Cafe for 8:30 (but doesn't look very bachelorett-y)......I've also got reservations at Highline (turning to SEA on thurs) at 8:30, but am afraid of crappy food.....

Buddakan best choice?

[nep2une]

hi! just realized that Sapa NYC is now closed. so sad. last year i also went to a friend's bachelorette dinner at buddekan - GREAT CHOICE. highly recommend. great ambience, large, good food. make a reservation there if you can. if i recall, total for each person was around $65 for dinner.

[nep2une]

hi! i planned my friend's bachelorette party last year and looked at many of those restaurants above. we finally settled on Sapa NYC. the place is beautiful, the food was delicious, perfect location for you. i think dinner (including drinks) came to around $70 per person. hope this helps, i know how it feels!!!

[FFP]

I think they may have gone out of business, b/c their number doesn't work.

[malibu]

Just thought of another one near Gram. check out Dos Caminos... mexican. Good for parties and they do events.

[FFP]

dos caminos or dos molinos?

[malibu]

dos caminos

http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/res...

[FFP]

Spice Market = no reservations avail.

[lanadai]

bhuddakan?

[FFP]

They have 6:30 and 9:30 avail.....am looking for 8:00 or 8:30......

[ESNY]

you want a reservation for 20 people for 5 days from now and you are being picky about timing? jeez, be lucky they can even seat you.

[malibu]

Woah I didn't realize she was looking for 5 days from now. None of these are probably going to happen.

[FFP]

Thanks for the reccs!! Keep 'em coming!! :)

MBS- how's food/atmosphere at Metro?

sam920 - Highline looks very fun.....how's the food?

[FFP]

Just called Highline, they're changing to "Sea" on thursday.....any thoughts/comments on that? How's Sea? Should I stay away from a restaurant in it's 1st week of new ownership/management?

[malibu]

If it's an offshoot of the thai SEA (like the one in Williamsburg), do not go there. Cheesy, techno-infused, cheap thai food. Awful.

[FFP]

They said they're related to the one in Brooklyn.....this is the website they gave me to look up.....http://www.seathainyc.com/.....they said to click on the "brooklyn" link to see menus for groups

[malibu]

Yup, that's the one I'm taking about. I live down the street from it. It's not my thing. Maybe it would be yours? Huge industrial dining room that seems more like a club than a place for eating food. They play a loop of cheesy outdated techno music at high volume through out dinner. The food is pretty cheap, and although it's not horrible, it's not very good oh and it's thai food FYI. The scene seems to be lots of out-of-towners, not a lot of locals, dressed to the nines and rolling up in SUVS. Very gimmicky and cheesy. Totally not my scene, but that's the SEA in Brooklyn. Maybe it could give you an idea of what you are looking at.

[sam920]

You should try Highline in the Meatpacking District. Fun atmosphere for a bachelorette party. They even have a lounge downstairs if you wanted to grab a few post-dinner drinks before walking over to Hogs and Heifers...

[princeofpork]

Try Pipa right in that area. You will fit in fine and the food is good for large groups

[FFP]

They're all booked up for that night....looked really cool though!

[FFP]

Any suggestions in the Flatiron/Gramercy Park area?

I also need these reccs ASAP, as the dinner is set for THIS saturday. HELP!!!!!

[mbs]

Metro Cafe and Wine bar

[FFP]

Thanks for the recommendations!

Pan, I had seen some negative reviews on Pastis, unfounded? Unfortunately I've gotten some bad food (and activities) advice from my bridesmaids and always had good luck on CH.

bigjeff, I'm looking for something a little more swanky than a burger place, but not pretentious as we're all going to be wearing blue wigs :)

[Pan]

To be fair, I've been to Pastis only once, a several months ago. So I can't say that it's not possible to order disappointing food there, or assure you beyond the shadow of doubt that they couldn't have deteriorated in the interim.

[Pan]

Well, I went to Pastis as part of a party of two after midnight tonight. Their onion soup was just as good as before, and the chicken liver and foie gras mousse, which came with vinegary slightly caramelized red onions and frisee salad, was delicious. I also got a very nice cocktail with Calvados and elderberry liqueur, and he got an excellent Absinthe. I think this is a real quality place, and you're unlikely to go wrong by choosing it.

[bigjeff]

is pop burger too informal? somewhere between 14th and 20s should be possible on the west-ish side . . . thinking thinking . . .

[malibu]

I would def try Pastis if you can get a res. at the big table. Other choices could be Spice Market or Son Cubano.

[Pan]

Pastis strikes me as a great idea. Very good food and fine cocktails.

FFP, what kind of bad advice have you gotten? Any of it food-oriented?