Boston restaurant to buyout for a wedding

[mackenzie8701]

Looking for unique restaurants in Boston that have a buyout option or have room for ~125 guests. Anyone have any good ideas or been to any weddings in restaurants lately?

[adrienne69]

You're looking for a unique spot, right?
Check out the Epicenter/Artists for Humanity building on the corner of A Street & West 2nd in South Boston. Really nice views of the city & waterfront from the top floor where you could have your ceremony.
I work in the catering industry in Boston & have catered a bazillion Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday parties, etc. in this building.
Of course, then you would have to hire an off-premise caterer and possibly an event planner.
Not sure if you want to go this route.
Just thought I would give you an option that I haven't seen anyone mention.

[teezeetoo]

if you are looking for a view, a dancefloor, a place for reception, ceremony and dinner, check out Dante's in the Sonesta on the Charles, or the sonesta itself which caters lovely events in a nice setting at surprisingly reasonable prices.

[hotoynoodle]

the ica also fits this outline, and they do have an event planning staff as well as in-house catering.

[mats77]

What about West Bridge?

[purple bot]

It looks like the new Cinquecento in the old Rocca space has private rooms on the lower level. Not sure how many people they hold, but it might be worth looking into.

[libertywharf]

Not downtown but the Venezia does a good job. My dental hygienist was just raving about a new years eve wedding which she attended.
Free parking and you can arrange a tour of the winery next door.

[C. Hamster]

Chow at Venezia isn't super

I doubt that they'd let you rent the restaurant since they have a large function hall.

The restaurant does have a dance floor and a nice water view.

[libertywharf]

Of course it would have to be the function room at the Venezia. The person who went to the new years eve wedding raved about the food. I've been there several times and never had an issue. I have a few clients who when they come up from Florida, this is the first place they dine.

[C. Hamster]

I can't imagine anyone "raving" about the food at Venezia. But it's not horrible. Sorta pedestrian.

I live very close to it and have several friends who live within walking distance of the place so I actually go there a lot. They have dancing on Friday nights in the bar area which can be fun for old fogeys like me.

[phonelady]

While it is not a restaurant, I attended a wedding of the same size last fall at the Boston Exchange Conference Center - right in the Seaport District. The food was delicious but it was hurricane Sandy weekend, I am sure in good weather would be a great spot!

[Klunco]

While we didn't do a whole wedding, I did throw my brother an engagement party at L'Espalier and they were wonderful.

The setting, service, food, and drinks were truly top-notch as was expected but what was surprising was how reasonably priced they were. Granted reasonable is a relative term, but in comparison to most other places, they weren't that much more money for a substantially better experience. They were also incredibly accommodating in keeping the tab at a set figure and working within our budget.

Since then I've been to a couple of weddings that were pricier around the city and had pretty mediocre food and service and it's only further solidified my perception of L'Espalier.

All that is to say, call around and ask about prices, you may end up surprised at how close many places end up being.

[Crazy Egg]

This may sound crazy, but Opentable has an option for private dining/events now, so you can scroll through and check the restaurants out. Some of the restaurants listed have buyout options and the list also includes the capacity (either in individual rooms, if there is more than 1 room/space, and/or the whole restaurant). I had a brief glance and list includes L'Espalier, the Beehive, The Living Room as mentioned by other posters. There are a number more including: Gaslight, Harvest, Marliave, Upstairs on the Square. It may be worth checking out.

[Niblet]

Lala Rokh would be nice, although I don't know about the ceremony or dance space. I was curious about capacity so looked on their site; they accomodate up to 125 and have a private functions page: http://lalarokh.com/private-functions/

[KeyConcierge]

Red Lantern has a large private dining room for unique. The wine cellar at Mooo is impressive but unsure if it will fit 125 ppl.

[hungrybruno]

This may not be a popular answer, but I had my rehearsal dinner at The Living Room and it was a blast. Food was not great but solid (I think - I was a little distracted at the time), and we had about 30 people, but we only had half of the back room, and my old office of 100+ used to buy out the whole place for parties. And the price was pretty reasonable, too. It was recommended to me by a friend who had her wedding reception there.

[mats77]

A few years back I went to a wedding reception at the Living Room and we too had a great time. Drinks were good (okay spirits selection) and food was better than I expected.

[Karl]

I went to a wedding at Forum on Boylston St, it was really good. They had the cocktail reception downstairs and then the dinner upstairs.

[lergnom]

Look up Longwood Events. They have 2 places that might work for you. One is The State Room on top of 60 State. The other is what they now call Alden Castle, which is 2 separate rooms - a ballroom and a "club" - in Longwood Towers (at the Longwood T stop in Brookline).

If you're doing a wedding, they will invite you to one of their showcases where you can try their food. We've done events at the "Alden Castle".

The name connects to Alden Park in Philadelphia, which is the other big development by this architect and developer. They date from the early part of the 20thC. Grace Kelly grew up at Alden Park. There is a 3rd, smaller development near Belle Isle in Detroit.

[hotoynoodle]

longwood events has a 3rd property in newport,r.i., not detroit.

[lergnom]

I assume you're joking. The description was of the properties that look like Alden Park / Longwood Towers not what Longwood Events owns. (BTW, I see the Aptekers are still running it. They began with a restaurant in Coolidge Corner called Veronique, moved it to Longwood Towers and then transitioned to events. I used to deal with Mrs. Apteker who is now, I believe, deceased.)

[C. Hamster]

OMG... Veronique... That brings up so many 1983 memories... I ate there 4 times a week (don't ask).

Deuxave
Brasserie Jo
Sel de la Terre
Mistral

[catsmeow]

When the Bay Tower Room was at the top of 60 State St, it was may favorite setting for a restaurant. That view just can't be beat.

[trufflehound]

It used to be Veronique. They also run Wychemere in Harwichport which used to be a restaurant. I went to a great wedding at the World Trade years ago when it was a restaurant.

[Gabatta]

I would consider the roof at the Taj. This space was formerly restaurant when the hotel was the Ritz. The setting is truly unique and spectacular, and food and drink has been top notch every event I have been to there.

http://www.tajhotels.com/Luxury/City-...

[bear]

My son went to a friend's wedding at the Beehive. No water view, but he said the food was good and they had a great time. I'm not sure if they have a dance floor, though, and I doubt it was cheap!

[hotoynoodle]

beehive does have a dancefloor and a stage, but i have been very underwhelmed by food, service and cocktails there. shame too because i think the space is super cool.

[bear]

Yeah, he said the food was generally good, but not memorable. The wedding couple was pretty happy overall, though, and the space is fun.

[mackenzie8701]

One of my good friends recently got married at the beehive. I thought it was amazing. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was amazing and the drinks were great. I thought it was a lovely place for a wedding

[purple bot]

What about Sam's on the waterfront? Not sure of their capacity, though.

[hotoynoodle]

sam's holds under 50 inside.

[Science Chick]

Les Zygomates could be an option, although I'm not sure what their capacity is. The have several rooms, which could accomodate having the ceremony and then switching over for cocktail hour, etc. You'd probably be hard pressed to have a real dance floor there. State Room is best for all that you are asking, including water view, capacity and dance floors.

[jajjguy]

+1

[mackenzie8701]

Such great ideas already!

I will ideally be having the ceremony and reception at the same place. I am looking for a place that has a nice atmosphere, with interesting decor (for pictures) or maybe a view of the water.

As far as food goes, I would want steak, fish, chicken, etc.. and a fabulous bar. I really want the food and drinks to be top notch.

I am not totally sold on a sit down dinner. So if a place has room for a dance floor, but not enough room for a full sit down dinner I wouldn't be against passed appetizers and a station or two set up for food.

Drink, Food quality, and dancing are my top priorities.

(I already tried to post a similar message but it didn't go through, so hopefully this one does.)

[hotoynoodle]

125 + a dance floor requires a pretty big space.but if that's not carved in stone, i'll add bistro du midi, scampo and davio's to this list. if you want more basic food but a lovely space, ruth's chris might work.

the state room, boston harbor hotel, the ritz and the four seasons all have spaces with spectacular views and dancing space but they will all charge you room rentals and for waitstaff on top of food and drink.

[C. Hamster]

Let's meet very soon do that I can be invited!

[Pia]

Maybe Morton's in the Seaport?

[meeps2002]

What about 28 Degrees? They too often are closed for private events.

[enhF94]

What Penny said, plus: I'm not sure the capacity, but a colleague had her rehearsal dinner at Oleana and was very happy.

[BostonZest]

Formal? informal? ethnic? Many places "close for a private party" so it would help to give us some guidance on your vision of the food and atmosphere.

For example, I saw a note on the Myers + Chang website that they would be closed all day on January 28th for a private event.

For some of my friends, that would be a fun place for a small wedding and the food would be wonderful but for a different couple I might recommend the Library Room at L'Espalier.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/