LTH Home

Event in restaurant -- about 50 people in North suburbs

Event in restaurant -- about 50 people in North suburbs
  • Forum HomePost Reply BackTop
  • Event in restaurant -- about 50 people in North suburbs

    Post #1 - September 18th, 2018, 5:28 pm
    Post #1 - September 18th, 2018, 5:28 pm Post #1 - September 18th, 2018, 5:28 pm
    Dad having a big birthday coming up.
    We need a big room with some good food.
    North suburbs.
    They are threatening me with DePascara in Northbrook.
    About 50 people.
    Any suggestions?
  • Post #2 - September 18th, 2018, 7:23 pm
    Post #2 - September 18th, 2018, 7:23 pm Post #2 - September 18th, 2018, 7:23 pm
    Saranello’s in Wheeling
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #3 - September 18th, 2018, 7:43 pm
    Post #3 - September 18th, 2018, 7:43 pm Post #3 - September 18th, 2018, 7:43 pm
    GNR Prairie Grass has a back room that would work perfectly.
    Steve Z.

    “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
    ― Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Post #4 - September 19th, 2018, 12:59 pm
    Post #4 - September 19th, 2018, 12:59 pm Post #4 - September 19th, 2018, 12:59 pm
    Any particular type of cuisine? Froggy's basement would probably be big enough, and Miramar has a big room. both Continental cuisine and in Highwood and I have had excellent group meals at both. Disotto, also in Highwood and owned by the Francesca's group, has a large room in the basement. Good food, better than the regular Francescas imo. If there are a lot of beer drinkers in the group, Half Day Brewery in Lincolnshire has private rooms. Their beer is ok, but they also have a lot of other beers on tap. Food is nothing fancy but decent.

    -Will
  • Post #5 - September 19th, 2018, 2:53 pm
    Post #5 - September 19th, 2018, 2:53 pm Post #5 - September 19th, 2018, 2:53 pm
    It isn't well advertised but Open Table has a very nice search for party rooms feature:

    https://www.opentable.com/private-dining/?m=3&ref=6742

    If you click on the pictures it opens a window that shows the various room sizes they have available as well as sample menus.
  • Post #6 - September 19th, 2018, 3:32 pm
    Post #6 - September 19th, 2018, 3:32 pm Post #6 - September 19th, 2018, 3:32 pm
    chicagojim wrote:It isn't well advertised but Open Table has a very nice search for party rooms feature:

    https://www.opentable.com/private-dining/?m=3&ref=6742

    If you click on the pictures it opens a window that shows the various room sizes they have available as well as sample menus.

    Maybe this party room list is better in the city, but Highland Park is absent and then only one location each for Lake Forest and Highwood.
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #7 - September 19th, 2018, 5:27 pm
    Post #7 - September 19th, 2018, 5:27 pm Post #7 - September 19th, 2018, 5:27 pm
    I like Di Pescara!!!
  • Post #8 - September 19th, 2018, 8:15 pm
    Post #8 - September 19th, 2018, 8:15 pm Post #8 - September 19th, 2018, 8:15 pm
    Thanks for your help! I am sending these offerings to the main deciders. I love the idea of Froggy's basement -- Froggy's has nostalgiac value to me. BTW, is Mangiano's considered a level above DiPescara?
  • Post #9 - September 22nd, 2018, 8:25 am
    Post #9 - September 22nd, 2018, 8:25 am Post #9 - September 22nd, 2018, 8:25 am
    Danijake wrote:I like Di Pescara!!!

    So do I! I was going to post the same thing. It's a good choice.

    HPGlutster2 wrote:BTW, is Mangiano's considered a level above DiPescara?

    Three of the restaurants under discussion - Di Pescara, Maggiano's, and Saranello's - are, or were, part of the Lettuce Entertain You family. (Maggiano's started as a Lettuce restaurant, and although the chain was sold to Brinker International, the Chicagoland locations continue their association with Lettuce through marketing, promotions (gift cards), etc.) I like Di Pescara and Maggiano's, and both offer excellent quality as well as consistency. I think Di Pescara is a better choice for seafood, Maggiano's for Italian, although both do both well. I wouldn't say either is a level above the other. I haven't been to Saranello's.

    It's also worth noting that Lettuce restaurants (including Maggiano's) do a terrific job of serving a large group, and even have their own website, lettuceparties.com, to help in planning such occasions (excluding Maggiano's, for which you'll find info on their own website). I've found that many restaurants that are wonderful places for dining in a party of two or four, aren't as good for a large private party. Experience is crucial when you want an entire room full of diners all served at exactly the same time with food that's hot out of the kitchen, and that's not the same skill as serving good food to one table at a time.
    Last edited by nsxtasy on September 22nd, 2018, 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
  • Post #10 - September 22nd, 2018, 10:45 am
    Post #10 - September 22nd, 2018, 10:45 am Post #10 - September 22nd, 2018, 10:45 am
    dipescara is definitely 1 of the 3 best restaurants in northbrook court
  • Post #11 - September 22nd, 2018, 10:55 am
    Post #11 - September 22nd, 2018, 10:55 am Post #11 - September 22nd, 2018, 10:55 am
    Clarence Beeks wrote:dipescara is definitely 1 of the 3 best restaurants in northbrook court
    What are the other two in your opinion?
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #12 - September 22nd, 2018, 11:06 am
    Post #12 - September 22nd, 2018, 11:06 am Post #12 - September 22nd, 2018, 11:06 am
    Cathy2 wrote:
    Clarence Beeks wrote:dipescara is definitely 1 of the 3 best restaurants in northbrook court
    What are the other two in your opinion?

    I think that was supposed to be a joke...
  • Post #13 - September 22nd, 2018, 1:22 pm
    Post #13 - September 22nd, 2018, 1:22 pm Post #13 - September 22nd, 2018, 1:22 pm
    nsxtasy wrote:
    Cathy2 wrote:
    Clarence Beeks wrote:dipescara is definitely 1 of the 3 best restaurants in northbrook court
    What are the other two in your opinion?

    I think that was supposed to be a joke...

    yeah, joking. it's a place my parents go to eat. it's fine but totally uninteresting but I guess that's food on the north shore in general.
  • Post #14 - September 22nd, 2018, 1:35 pm
    Post #14 - September 22nd, 2018, 1:35 pm Post #14 - September 22nd, 2018, 1:35 pm
    Clarence Beeks wrote:yeah, joking. it's a place my parents go to eat. it's fine but totally uninteresting but I guess that's food on the north shore in general.

    Keep in mind, you're not looking for a place with unusual food that might not appeal to a group of fifty people. You're looking for a place with consistently good food that will appeal to a large group and that's capable of serving fifty people at a time flawlessly. (Also, if Dad wants to go to Di Pescara for his birthday, why not go there? It's HIS birthday, not yours!)
  • Post #15 - September 22nd, 2018, 2:32 pm
    Post #15 - September 22nd, 2018, 2:32 pm Post #15 - September 22nd, 2018, 2:32 pm
    Cathy2 wrote:
    Clarence Beeks wrote:dipescara is definitely 1 of the 3 best restaurants in northbrook court
    What are the other two in your opinion?


    Consider that these are the 6 full service restaurants in Northbrook Court. Top three isn't saying much.

    California Pizza Kitchen Logo
    Claim Company
    Di Pescara
    P.F. Chang's China Bistro
    STIR CRAZY Cafe
    The Zodiac -Lunch Only
  • Post #16 - September 24th, 2018, 6:45 pm
    Post #16 - September 24th, 2018, 6:45 pm Post #16 - September 24th, 2018, 6:45 pm
    Di Pescara doesn't make the top 5 at Northbrook Court.
  • Post #17 - September 24th, 2018, 7:26 pm
    Post #17 - September 24th, 2018, 7:26 pm Post #17 - September 24th, 2018, 7:26 pm
    Di Pescara is by far the best restaurant in Northbrook Court, and the only one I would travel some distance for. Their miso-glazed chilean sea bass is awesome.
  • Post #18 - September 28th, 2018, 8:37 pm
    Post #18 - September 28th, 2018, 8:37 pm Post #18 - September 28th, 2018, 8:37 pm
    Casa de Isaac and Moishe
    Mexican Restaurant · Highland Park
    Have two party rooms seating 60 and 80, which can be combined.
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,

Contact

About

Team

Advertize

Close

Chat

Articles

Guide

Events

more