Fun Restaurant for 50th Birthday - party of 25

[sillysully]

Looking in Boston/Cambridge. Would like a place with live music and/or dancing. Prefer room to be somewhat sectioned off during meal - even if just a curtain. Thought of Beehive, but doesn't get great food reviews.... Other suggestions? Price range very flexible.

[sillysully]

Eastern Standard looks like a contender because of the patio. Thoughts?

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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

[5thAndNowhere]

Gaslight is great, big space, decent prices, no music or dancing that I know of. But Wallys is close by. I imagine that some of the 25 would drop off? More than 10 at Wallys would be tight. Great music tho. Has a patio too, depending on time of year?

[Splendid Spatula]

I gave my husband's 50th b-day party for a group about that size at Upstairs on the Square. We had the Jewel Box, which is a section of the upstairs dining room, closed off from the main room. Very lovely. No music, although if you did it on one of the nights that they have the orchestra in downstairs, that might work for you. The room was perfect, meal delicious, all in all it was a great event.

[sillysully]

Personally, I would love Upstairs but don't think hubby would. Thanks for the suggestion, tho!

[scotty27]

How about Darryl's in the South End?

[sillysully]

Darryl's looks fun! Will check into it. Thanks!

[sillysully]

How about Beehive, Church or West Side Lounge? Any feedback on food and ambiance for a group? Thanks!

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West Side Lounge
1680 Mass Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

[5thAndNowhere]

Is it a man or a woman? What kind of music? The food at the Beehive isn't horrible. When it opened it just became so buzzy there were hordes of people (often metro west cougars) that made it impossible to enjoy. It’s a big space and could handle your 25 people esp since its so compartmentalized. And they have live music. Church could probably handle you too but its not that huge (tho not that busy either) -the food is passable but not memorable. The music at Church is very hit or miss and would highly depend on your taste. You could hit a fun funk band or be saddled with a death metal bill. That party would probably take up half to 3/4 of the space at West Side Lounge.

Cuchi Cuchi in Central Sq is very lively as is Tapeo on Newbury, its sister resto.
Citizen, La Verdad or Eastern Standard for dinner with dancing on Lansdowne?
Foundry on Elm (modern bistro)/Johnny D's combo in Davis Sq?
The Independent in Union Sq/Somerville has a fantastic new menu (old chef from Stoddards) and there are 3 music venues nearby (Precinct, Sally O Briens, Bull McCabe's)
Highland Kitchen is good and sometimes has music too (outside Davis, but harder to park).
Marliave with dancing to a cover band in Faneuil Hall.
Silvertone's -- close to Faneuil -- has a private room too.
Luckys Lounge has good food and bands several nights a week.

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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

West Side Lounge
1680 Mass Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

Cuchi Cuchi
795 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

La Verdad
1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215

Silvertone
69 Bromfield St, Boston, MA 02108

Marliave
10 Bosworth Street, Boston, MA 02108

Foundry on Elm
255 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144

[pemma]

I've only had brunch at the Beehive and thought the food was good.

[sillysully]

Thanks for all the input! Also now considering places with a patio since I'm looking at June - Dante and Gaslight were suggested. While neither have live music, since it will hopefully be nice we can walk elsewhere for dancing. Just not confident getting in someplace later with a crowd that large. Thoughts???

Definitely don't want heavy metal, but other than that, we're pretty flexible with music tastes.

[ebaba]

Downstairs at Beehive would be a great place if dancing were allowed! There's some weird license issue from what I understand -- it's only allowed behind the rope near the kitchen door, with space for about 15 people tops (who have to sidestep the servers every few minutes). The balcony upstairs can probably accommodate 25 and I know it can be roped off but not sure about dancing, so be sure to ask.