Look for a private and high-end "private room" in a restaurant downtown Toronto

[chutchut]

for a private and high-end business meeting of 6 people. Suggestions please.

[chutchut]

Thank you all! You all have been very resourceful and helpful!!! Most likely, we'll go with Splendido as most of you suggest. Thanks again!

[chutchut]

My manager said that he doesn't care which venue I choose as long as it's "truly private". I'll have to go to each of them and see how truly private each venue is, and then pick one. Among George, Far Niente, Bymark, Vertical, Mistura, Splendido (Cellar Room), which one would you consider "truly private"? Any other "truly private" venues?

[26Marushka]

The cellar room at splendido is a great private space however I believe it's connected to the wine cellar - when our family had a birthday there, it remained very private in any event.

What about Morton's at the Park Hyatt? I've had a couple of business dinners there, albeit some time ago, and the rooms on the upper level were very private and the service and food were always on point. Bonus, the team can venture up to the Park Hyatt roof lounge apres steak...and that is also a relatively quiet area...

[chutchut]

Partk Hyatt sounds pretty good too. Though I might not have enough time to check the venue out for this time. I'll check the venue out when I can. Thank you!

[JennaBean]

Splendido is very private and will offer IMO the best food and service of the group. I really like George as well but I don't think it is as private as Splendido.

[millygirl]

Mistura is an entirely enclosed separate room off to the side of the main dining room. I've seen many recognizable customers there and nobody bothers with them. FWIW, Mistura's patrons are pretty much too self absorbed to be bothered about anyone else LOL

[JennaBean]

I think the cellar is more private as you can't even really see who's in the room and the food at Mistura is good but not as great as Splendido IMO - totally personal opinion on the food but I think Splendido is really the best fine dining in the city at the moment.

[jlunar]

+1

[justxpete]

Splendido's private dining room has a proper door and no windows, and the washrooms are immediately adjacent, making it very private as a venue. I'm not sure what the wine cellar comment was in reference to in terms of privacy, but typically only the Sommeliers visit the cellar - also, if you're going to be attending the restaurant on a Sunday or Monday, then the restaurant will be closed otherwise - so you'll have the whole place to yourself anyway. Also, determine the amount of time you want to spend there, and I'm sure Victor would be more than happy to create a custom tasting menu to accommodate.

[26Marushka]

I meant exactly that. Sommelier does end up coming around a bit and that might not fit her definition of fully private. It's discreet but depends on how you define it.

[JennaBean]

If it is a Sun or Mon that won't be an issue - they are closed so there will be no need for that. Plus they will be some staff who have to see the guests - they do have to be served ;-)

[chutchut]

We've moved the meeting date. It won't happen on Sunday and Monday anymore.

[chutchut]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I'll propose the following to my manager:
*Book a boardroom at the office and have meal catered from O&B.
*Private room at George, Far Niente, Bymark, Vertical, Mistura, Jacobs & Co
*Private room (Cellar Room or the whoe main dining area) at Splendido if my manager wants to pay big amount for privacy.

Thank you again for your help! You guys rock!

[chutchut]

Correction: Catering from O&B wouldn't work as O&B only offers catering at the $400 minimum if the venue is within First Canadian Place and $4000 minimum if the venue is elsewhere.

[chutchut]

How about the wine cellar at Enoteca Sociale? Is it suitable?

[millygirl]

Mistura at AV and Dav has a very nice private room, perfect for your size. I'm certain they could put a very nice meal together for your group.

[chutchut]

I just called. The private room at Mistura could be an option too.

[peppermint pate]

Lovely space. Seats 12, I think, so not too big for your group. Not technically downtown but if you're okay with the west end location, it's great. But - it's in their wine cellar - which adds to the atmosphere but may not be suitable for you (and your very private goings on!) based on your note about Barberian's.

[chutchut]

I know what you mean. It does look dark and casual.

[JennaBean]

I think that would be a little too casual given what it seems you're looking for. Did you try the cellar at Splendido?

[chutchut]

Just called Splendido. On Sunday and Monday (when our meeting will likely happen), they charge $3000 minimum before tax and tip for whoever wants it - meaning that if my boss decides to go with Splendido on Sunday or Monday, we'll have whole restaurant for ourselves. However, it means that for our crowd (6 people), each will need to spend at least $500.

[millygirl]

Avoid Modus - food is terrible, and service not much better.

What about Mistura....did you see my post above?

[millygirl]

Mistura's room is off to the side but very private. They get a lot of high profile customers and are very comfortable putting on a high end business meal.
Service is top notch too. Nice crisp linens, professional staff, no tattoos LOL

[chutchut]

Sounds good. Thank you!

[chutchut]

Any more suggestions near Bay & King area?

[midtowngirl]

Near King & Bay - Modus, Reds, Bymark, Vertical all have private rooms.

[chutchut]

Bymark and Vertical have room available at the dates when we look for. However, if my boss decides to go with one of them, I'll still need to do a site inspection and check which one is more suitable.

As for Reds, I've been there once many years ago. I remember that their private rooms kind of lined up together. I don't consider it private enough.

I don't hear Modus much. Is the food there good?

[prima]

Some Chowhounds have had disappointing meals at Modus. I haven't tried it.

Jump's White Room seats 16 (available for lunches after 2:30 pm, and dinners after 5) - perhaps they'd also allow you to use it for a group of 6?

Biff's Grey Room seats 12, and Little Anthony's has a boardroom that seats 11.

By the way, chutchut, it's possible to search for private rooms, for groups under 20, in Toronto, on www.opentable.com

Try this link:

http://www.opentable.com/info/banquet...

[chutchut]

The link is very helpful. Thank you!

I wouldn't consider Jump as I think that people in the room could be seen from the main dining area when the course of meal be brought into the room.

I know Biff has a private room. However, I don't think that it's high-end enough. Canoe is high-end enough. However, it's not available at the dates that we're looking for. Also, their room would be too big for 6 people.

[prima]

If you've got a nice boardroom where you work, you could also consider having lunch catered in your boardroom by a place like Canoe. All the O & B restaurants will prepare their meals to-go, and I would think they also offer catering if you need the servers present, or want to serve a multi-course lunch in your boardroom.

[chutchut]

This is a very good idea. I'll mention this to my manager too.

BTW, I just thought that George could be an option too.

Has anyone tried the private room at Origin? There's no picture on its website and not sure what it looks like.

[prima]

Adega on Elm has a private room. Not sure how big it would be.

[cynalan]

Nota Bene has a room that will hold about 24. Used it a few years ago for an office Xmas dinner and found it to be quite good... away from the hustle and bustle of the MDR.

[chutchut]

I was told by Nota Bene today that their private room would be too big for our crowd (6 people).

[chutchut]

Thank you all for the info! I'll report back on our findings/decisions. In the meantime, welcome more recommendations please.

[Otonabee]

Vertical has a couple of private dining rooms - http://www.verticalrestaurant.ca/fnse...

[chutchut]

I'll go to Vertical to take a look and see how private the room is.

[justxpete]

Colbone Lane, Splendido, Jacobs & Co all have private dining rooms. Colborne Lane's chef table is pretty exclusive and intimate, while Splendido and Jacobs and Co are more open. You'll find the most interesting food at CL, the best food in the city @ Splendido, and Jacobs & Co is a great modern steakhouse - so it just depends on what you're looking for, and who your audience is.

[chutchut]

The Cellar Room at Splendido looks great: http://splendido.ca/photos/. I'll find out more on this one. Between the Cellar Room at Splendido and the Cellar Room at Splendido, which one would you consider both private and high-end?

The Kitchen Table at Colborne Lane wouldn't suit our event as this is considered not private enough: "the Kitchen Table is the ultimate experience for guests wishing to be a part of the kitchen theatre. Suitable for between four and six guests, the table offers an unobstructed view of the kitchen and interaction with the chefs during the meal."

There's not much private dining info provided in the Jacobs & Co website. I'll find out more later.

[franpelyk]

Have a look at the private dining room at Opus on Prince Arthur. It holds around 24 and if you wish, you can arrange a set menu for your dinner. I agree, Barbarians is a good choice asvwell, but do it in the wine cellar. Very private. Both have great food, but Opus will give you more variety.

[chutchut]

Opus' private room sits 22 people: http://www.opusrestaurant.com/Private.... Not sure whether this is too big for our group (6 people) and whether there's a minimum charge for using the room. Will find out more.

[chutchut]

I was told by Opus that their room would be too big for our crowd.

[TorontoJo]

Also take a look at the cellar room at Chiado.

[Yongeman]

+1 for Chiado's private upstairs room.

[TorontoJo]

I didn't know they had an upstairs room! I was actually referring to their wine cellar room, downstairs. Now the OP has options. :)

[Yongeman]

Oh, that's funny TorontoJo. Actually, I haven't been to Chiado's for several years (lost my good connections, unfortunately), so who knows if it's still in existence??

[chutchut]

I was told Chiado has a rountable priviate room upstairs that suits 8 people. The wine cellar is downstairs.

[chutchut]

The picture in http://www.chiadorestaurant.com/ (go to "Services" - "Private Functions" - "Wine Tastings") might be the picture of the the cellar room. It looks good. However, by the look of it, it sits at least 20 people. Not sure whether this is too big for our group (6 people only) and whether there's a minimum charge (for 20 people). I'll find out more.

[chutchut]

Chiado wine cellar room is too big for our crowd. Also, if they have bigger crowd, they'll put us upstairs. So we won't go with Chiado.

[AMarshall]

There are quite a few. The Turf Restaurant on Bay and Harbour Sixty have both come through for us in the past. Colleagues, whose tastes I trust, have suggested Barbarian's Celler. Depending how private you want, I have seen catered meetings being held in the alcoves around the lobby at 1 King West.

[eppicurious]

+1 for the private rooms at Barberians.

[chutchut]

I assume that the first photo here http://www.barberians.com/photos.php is the Cellar room that you recommend. It looks great. I'll do a site inspection on this. The Turf website shows that to access the private room of our size will have to go through lounge/bar area first, might not private enough. I couldn't tell how private the private room at Harbour Sixty is from the info on the website. Will find out more.

[chutchut]

Barbarian won't suit our group as I was told that the staff could go into the wine cellar from time to time to grab the wines.

[eppicurious]

What about the two rooms above the main restaurant? Those were the ones I was referring to, for a party of 6 people. The cellar holds many more, and while beautiful it's overkill for 6 guests.

[chutchut]

I was told by Barbarian rep that the cellar room actually has 2 parts - one at balcony level, which overlooks the other part of cellar room down below. She also told me that she doesn't think that their venue would be suitable for our event.