SUPER Small get together! Help

[BellaLeRok]

I've originally from NYC, I JUST moved to Orlando, FL and I'm flying back with my new BF (been to NY twice) and want to have a small get together.

First, I'm 22 and my friends age range from 17 - 24. It's a SUPER small group...will be probably 10 at the most, MAYBE a few more.

I'm really looking for something that isn't SNAZZY and elegant...and something that isn't going to overly kill me (budget wise). I'm unsure if I'll have everyone chip in or if I'll pay all together. I honestly would like to have a private/small area to ourselves.

Another important fact: I won't be able to book it until about a week or two BEFORE I would like it to occur.

Also, I want it to be a weekday AFTER Christmas but BEFORE New Years Eve, time frame: 6pm - 10pm.

I'm going CRAZY looking for a place, any help would be thankful.

Also, my boyfriend and I are vegetarians, but NONE of our friends are.

Sticky situation, eh?

[okaygo]

I went to a small wedding shower this past spring at Jules Bistro on St Marks Place. It was a young group, about 10 people or so. We had a special menu put together for the event (choice of 3 courses). Though there are no vegetarian entrees on their regular menu, they were very accommodating and included a vegetarian appetizer and vegetarian entree on our menu. It's a resonably priced place, I don't know how much it ended up costing though, because the woman who organized it paid.
Anyway, the food is decent, and the atmosphere is fun.

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Jules Bistro
65 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

[Pan]

Would you consider Chinese food? You could see if Cantoon Garden could reserve their upstairs room for you (I'm guessing not, but it doesn't hurt to ask). You could also try Congee Village, but they'll require a deposit for a private room and it'll probably be gone a week in advance. They have some very good vegetable dishes. Congee on Bowery between Hester and Grand is another possibility, but their private room is really only semi-private; you'll share it with some other parties at other tables.

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South China Garden
22 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013

Congee Village
100 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Congee
98 Bowery, New York, NY 10013

[JC2]

What about Aroma - they have a room in the basement and they do a lot of pasta so you could have vegetarian meal.

[foody1964]

Bella
I think Bar Basso on Eliabeth St. would be perfect!! They have one large table in the back in a private area past the kitchen.
Many veggie options. Menu has a wide range of selections that should keep you in your budget..

[cook dont run]

Have to chime in about Otto. It's a fun place for groups, though I have no clue whether you can request a private area.

I have the opposite problem--I eat meat and so does my boyfriend, but otherwise most my friends are vegetarians. But I'm all for going to veggie restaurants, since I cook veggie most the time and like it better when they're mains at restaurants instead of crappy sides.

Probably not good for your group of 10+ since it's a small place and you won't have a space to yourselves, but if you have time, try to get yourself to Westville East (there's also the original Westville in the West Village, but I've never been there). Their market plate is something like 4 small dishes for $13, where you get to choose from a list of 20 vegetables prepared different ways. It's so frickin' good. And fresh. And there are meat dishes too. And fun desserts. But those veggies are awesome.

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Westville East
173 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

Westville
210 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014

[MinhLikesFood]

I'll second the Otto recommendation, falls perfectly into your budget range and I think it would work well for your group. Though as CDR mentioned, i'm not sure if you can request a private area. I did a 10 top reservation recently and they pretty much just stuck us in the middle of the restaurant. Which was still fine, but does get loud. I'm sure you'd be able to request at least a corner area though.

[Lucia]

I'll 3d it.

[smokeandapancake]

ive been there, party of ten and they gave us a round table way on the back by the window..it was perfect actually

[smokeandapancake]

bar stuzzichini

[smokeandapancake]

Otto

[phoenikia]

I'd use www.opentable.com with your parameters- you can change the number of people, find a specific time, price, etc., and limit it by neighbourhood. One $ keeps the price of mains under $30, and you can cross-reference the specific prices by following the links to the various menus.

By doing a test search, you can figure out which places are open on which days, which places have availability, as well as which places take reservations for groups of 10 or 12. Plus, you can book it now, and change/cancel if anything changes.

http://www.opentable.com/start.aspx?m=8

[kathryn]

10-12 people is still considered a large group in NYC. Do you have a budget in mind? This will be more helpful for us to recommend somewhere that isn't super upscale but not a dive either.

Have you looked at the menus for Otto, Alta, Blue Ribbon Bakery, Tia Pol, Freemans, Kuma Inn?

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Kuma Inn
113 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Tia Pol
205 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Blue Ribbon Bakery
33 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

[BellaLeRok]

I'm *trying* not to go over 300 - 350. Like I said..nothing really formal..I guess sorta a fun place we can all sit and catch up.

I will look at all the places you mentioned.

[foodie4life]

Alta is a great suggestion as is Kuma Inn. The largest table at Tia Pol seats 6 so I would nix that from the list. Freemans is great though the price can creep up. I would also add Pipa, 'Inoteca and Macondo. I did a whole post on this subject specifically but I don't think I'm allowed to link to it, so those are some highlights.

http://www.StrumErika.com

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Kuma Inn
113 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Tia Pol
205 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Pipa
38 East 19th Street, New York, NY 10003

Macondo
157 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

[kathryn]

Tia Pol has a private room that holds up to 10 people.

http://tiapol.com/events-reservations...

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Tia Pol
205 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[foodie4life]

Ah, thanks for pointing that out. Did they expand in the past couple of years? When I was last there the largest table was for 6, though that was awhile ago.

[Bob Martinez]

I would be stunned if you could book the private room at Tia Pol for 10 people and get out for $350. I went with a group of about 12 and the damage was $150 a *person.*

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Tia Pol
205 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011