RYE NY - Meeting the parents + Wedding rehearsal dinner

[dayzzd]

Hi all,

We'll be getting married in Rye, NY in about a month, where I will be meeting his parents for the first time. Looking for recommendations for:
1) Weekday Lunch - Meet the parents (4 persons)
Ideally someplace semi-casual, not too noisy, and generally comfortable and relaxed
2) Friday Dinner - rehearsal dinner (40 persons)
Ideally someplace with not-too-pricey, decent food in a central part of town. (Tried Rye Bar & Grill but they seem to be full for large parties that evening already!)

I'm coming from out of town, so am quite unfamiliar with the place. Staying at Doral Arrowwood. Suggestions would be much appreciated!

[Marge]

I recommend Aquario in West Harrison (about a 10 minute drive from Arrowwood) if you like Portuguese food--food is very good, nice atmosphere, good service, good wine list, valet parking and reasonable prices. http://www.aquariony.com/index.html

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Aquario Restaurant
141 East Lake Street West, Harrison, NY

[ExtraCheese1]

Piero's is very good, preferably for a weekday lunch if you don't like crowds but want a classy environment. It's just a few minutes from Arrowwood. Arrosto, a block away, serves mostly bulk sizes (aka "family style") and is suited for a large group.

Ruby's in Rye: Could work for either event

[owlwoman]

Second vote for Aquario, would be great for either event. Arrowwood has nice restaurants too if you don't want to go too far. Tarry Lodge in Portchester for the lunch would be another suggestion, it's semi-casual and not that noisy at lunchtime (dinner's another story). If you like "asian/fusion" Waterfall in Rye is a nice place for lunch too.

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Aquario Restaurant
141 East Lake Street West, Harrison, NY

Tarry Lodge
18 Mill St, Port Chester, NY 10573

[cubanat]

Classy & Piero's should not be in the same phrase. Old school tired Italian is more like it and cramped to no end. It's Watermoon in Rye and its pretty blah. Arrowood's bar is ok but the food hotel-wide blows! tarry lodge is only good for pizza at the bar so does not suit OP's needs.

For lunch: Arrosto is decent. Nessa is good. In Rye La Panatiere does great lunches and I would say is classy & it also is very nice for rehearsal dinners upstairs in their private dining area. Other's for rehearsal dinner in the area would be Whitby Castle, Morgans, Molly Spillanes has a very nice private area with ok to decent food.

To widen your scope for lunch: town of Mamaroneck has tons of small resto's like: roasted peppers, piri-q, il castello that may not be super fancy but they are all tasty in their own rights. Port Chester proper also has more then tons of small places but not sure how ethnic you/they want...

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Whitby Castle
330 Boston Post Rd, Rye, NY

Molly Spillane's
211 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck, NY 10543

[debmom]

I like Piero's but I don't think it suits your needs. It's dark and cramped. Arrosto is new and lovely inside. I'm not a huge fan of the food, but it would work well for your needs, both lunch and dinner. You need the right atmosphere and service when meeting his parents and Arrosto should work well. La Panetiere is a little further away and French vs. Italian. Again, it would be a comfortable place for your events.

Cubanat--so far we agree-- now for where I don't agree- Molly Spillanes, unless you are looking for a burger place with a bar--I would not recommend this. And, the others in Mamaroneck simply aren't worth the drive, imo.

Skip Watermoon- it's awful-- if you want unique Chinese try China White-- it's right down the road from Arrowwood.

Enjoy, congratulations!

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La Panetiere
530 Milton Rd., Rye, NY 10580

Molly Spillane's
211 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck, NY 10543

[dayzzd]

Thanks all for the feedback!! Love the look of Arrosto so we might do the parents-meeting-the-parents there. Prior to that however is lunch where I meet the parents for the first time. They aren't keen on French food (they're from AZ) - is Aquario good for lunch? The website makes the restaurant look a little dark and drab inside.

Do you have any thoughts on Cafe Livorno or Aurora Restaurant?

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Aquario Restaurant
141 East Lake Street West, Harrison, NY

Cafe Livorno
92 Purchase St, Rye, NY 10580

[Dim Sum Diva]

What about Ruby's Oyster Bar on Purchase St. in Rye for lunch?
Might be fun to have the rehearsal dinner @ Lola's (mexican fusion) in Byram, right across the border from Port Chester, I think there is a back or outside area. They have a website.

[Dim Sum Diva]

One more thought on the rehearsal dinner-- Turkish Meze in Mamaroneck, they have a semi-private area.

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Turkish Meze
409 Mount Pleasant Ave, Mamaroneck, NY 10543

[cubanat]

lolita's you mean?

[Marge]

I've never been to Aquario for lunch, but they do serve it. I don't find it drab inside, and what I like (which might be nice for a first time meeting) is that the tables are well spaced. Whatever you choose, good luck and congratulations!

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Aquario Restaurant
141 East Lake Street West, Harrison, NY

[cubanat]

I thought the same thing about molly spillanes but they have a private area upstairs that was very nice and the food was decent. nothing crazy chowhound worthy but solid. garlicky caesar salad, chicken francaise, salmon, sliced hangar staeks--it was a "night-before dinner" served buffet style. I was shocked at how nice it was. not like the bar I had imagined.

[WhateverLolaWants]

Arrowwood is a short (less than 10 minutes) drive to White Plains, so you may want to consider that area as well. 42 (on top of the Ritz Carlton) would be a lovely spot for your lunch - it has great views down to NYC and a reasonable prix fixe lunch menu. They also have private rooms for group events. Other options include BLT Steak, Haiku (Asian fusion) and Mulino's (fancy, expensive Italian).

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BLT Steak
221 Main Street, White Plains, NY 10601

[MRS]

I'm going to suggest Ruby's in Rye for lunch/meeting or perhaps Tarry Lodge in Portchester. I do love China White on Anderson Hill Road for dinner, but I like the vibe in the one Greenwich a bit better. I have been to a number of fun, cool rehearsal dinners at Doral and then everyone moved over to The Pub for some fun and dancing and goofing around. It's not SO fancy, but a fun time if people are willing to have some fun. They put some lovely firepits out back and we sat in Adriondack chairs and caught up...so nice. I love the idea of you going to Lolitas in Byram, CT/ Portchester border for a really crazy rehearsal dinner night...
Whatever you choose, good luck and have fun!

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Tarry Lodge
18 Mill St, Port Chester, NY 10573