40th birthday dinner for 15 in Berkeley/Oakland/Albany

[MarinaEats]

Looking for recommendations for a 40th birthday dinner in the East Bay. It will be about 15 people, so a truly private room is not necessary but we don't want to be in the middle of a crowded, noisy room either. Lots of discerning palates in the group. Something with a decent wine selection would be excellent. Thanks!

[Robert Lauriston]

À Côté would work. The back room (enclosed patio) is quiet and the wine list is amazing.

[MarinaEats]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will give it a try. Anyone here have an experience (good or bad) reserving their private room?

[JasmineG]

Depending on how formal you want it to be, Pizzaiolo would work as well -- they have a back room with a big table that works for 15, and is a great place to have this kind of dinner. It's a relatively casual place, though.

A Cote is a good choice as well; the back room isn't private, you'll be reserving the big middle table in the back room.

[milklady]

Pizzaiolo is exactly what I was going to suggest.

[MarinaEats]

I ended up going with Pizzaiolo and am very excited about it -- thanks for the responses.

[Robert Lauriston]

À Côté has a semi-private room on the side in the back. I'm not sure how many it seats.

[JasmineG]

I've sat in there, it's pretty small, I don't think it would hold 15. From what I remember there are either three or four tables in there, but I don't think it's big enough for one long table.

[Robert Lauriston]

If they had to use the big table in the main part of the back room it would still be fairly quiet.

[JasmineG]

Yeah, I've been at birthday dinners at that big table in the back, and it works well and is a lot of fun. It's not private, since there are other tables around, but it's a great space.