Help in Van- need to feed 20 people cheap and cheerful

[heatherspratt]

I'm organizing a reception for 20 VIP volunteers in Vancouver on the 27th. The volunteers are used to fancy spots, but we are a charity with a limited budget. Any recommendations for somewhere with a private room/area downtown? It's just a cocktail reception, not dinner.

And where should I go for oysters and wine after? Thanks!

[lunchslut]

Autumn Brook Gallery on West 4th does relatively cheap catering. They are not downtown but at $20/person for an hors d'oeuvres reception their price is hard to beat at any downtown restaurant or hotel. As it is a gallery location it looks like you were chic instead of cheap.

http://autumnbrook.ca/catering.htm

Eh! is a smaller restaurant downtown attached to a downtown ESL school. Not a chowhound destination but the chef is enthusiastic and creative and does beautiful looking food. They are quite flexible and would probably work a long way with you to get something that works for your group. The space is new and modern so it can carry off an elegeant stand up reception.

http://www.ehrestaurant.com/

[fmed]

That's a tough one. Try Chambar/Medina for the reception (I doubt that they will be "cheap" though). Oysters and wine - Joe Fortes and Rodney's come to mind.

[fmed]

Another potentially inexpensive option: I just found out that VCC's Culinary program rents out their facilities - 604 443 - 8634.

[heatherspratt]

Thanks - I've already put a call in!