NYC shower location suggestions

[LoveTrains]

I am hosting a baby shower (along with some other friends) for a long time friend in NYC. We are looking for a restaurant in Manhattan where we can do a nice brunch for approximately 30 people, ideally starting around 10 or 11 am on a Sunday. Any suggestions?

v and @choco or any others?

[LoveTrains]

Well she lives in Queens (sunnyside). We were originally looking at Petite Abeille on 20th Street but they have been kind of flaky.

Other options we are investigating right now that she has said would be fine for her include Parc (near the high line?) and King's Carriage House on the upper east side.

[genet313]

My bridal shower was at Park Avenue [Autumn], at that time.  I mean, I'm completely biased, but the food was absolutely delicious.  We were able to use a smaller separate room they called "Townhouse" so it was totally private, which was nice.  I forget how many people came, but it could definitely hold 30.  

I know my aunt also looked into Sarabeth's, but it was a bit too small in the end. 

[LoveTrains]

Aug 8, 2014 14:12:49 GMT -5 genet313 said:

My bridal shower was at Park Avenue [Autumn], at that time.  I mean, I'm completely biased, but the food was absolutely delicious.  We were able to use a smaller separate room they called "Townhouse" so it was totally private, which was nice.  I forget how many people came, but it could definitely hold 30.  

I know my aunt also looked into Sarabeth's, but it was a bit too small in the end. 

This park Avenue? www.parkavenyc.com/  It says it is closed right now. 

[anaps28]

I had my baby shower at Duane Park when it was in TriBeCa, now it's moved to Bowery btw Bleeker and Houston. The food was delicious and the service was great.

[LoveTrains]

I inquired at Sarabeth's but it looks like its $50 per person. We are trying to keep food to $1,000 for 30 people. Please tell me that isn't an impossible task....

That steakhouse was good, I can look it up on opentable because I know I made a reservation.

[genet313]

Aug 8, 2014 14:17:17 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Aug 8, 2014 14:12:49 GMT -5 genet313 said:

My bridal shower was at Park Avenue [Autumn], at that time.  I mean, I'm completely biased, but the food was absolutely delicious.  We were able to use a smaller separate room they called "Townhouse" so it was totally private, which was nice.  I forget how many people came, but it could definitely hold 30.  

I know my aunt also looked into Sarabeth's, but it was a bit too small in the end. 

This park Avenue? www.parkavenyc.com/  It says it is closed right now. 

yes, damn!!  

maybe try landmarc, their brunch is good and they have big spaces.  i think jane (on houston, if i am remembering correctly) has a private room.

[LoveTrains]

No alcohol at Normas, right cheezer and @choco? That will be one way to keep it MM!!

[charlotteandwilbur]

Olives at the W Union Square has a good private room.

My baby shower was at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon.

[LoveTrains]

Oh and it was Parlour Steakhouse on the Upper East Side. They do have a private room. That boozy brunch was kind of amazing.

[LoveTrains]

Aug 8, 2014 15:09:46 GMT -5 charlotteandwilbur said:

Olives at the W Union Square has a good private room.

My baby shower was at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon.

Thank you for the suggestion. It looks like Lady Mendl's has a $3,000 minimum.  We are trying to keep food to $1,000.

[wanderlustfoodie]

Aug 8, 2014 15:09:46 GMT -5 charlotteandwilbur said:

Olives at the W Union Square has a good private room.

My baby shower was at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon.

My bridal shower was there, too.

Park Avenue is great. I hope it reopens soon.

I love dbgb for group brunches.

[genet313]

Aug 8, 2014 15:47:16 GMT -5 wanderlustfoodie said:

Aug 8, 2014 15:09:46 GMT -5 charlotteandwilbur said:

Olives at the W Union Square has a good private room.

My baby shower was at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon.

My bridal shower was there, too.

Park Avenue is great. I hope it reopens soon.

I love dbgb for group brunches.

yes, i forgot about DBGB.  they have a very reasonable 3-course brunch (it's like 20 something PP normally) and it's pretty good.  definitely look into that LoveTrains.

[LoveTrains]

I have been to DBGB before and I loved it! I will look into it. Thank you so much for all of the recs. I truly appreciate it.

[cheezer]

Aug 8, 2014 15:10:36 GMT -5 @choco said:

Aug 8, 2014 15:09:27 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

No alcohol at Normas, right cheezer and @choco? That will be one way to keep it MM!!

Right! It was bad for our purposes back then but that might not be so bad for a baby shower.

Baby showers need booze even more than a normal brunch IMO.

[212]

Aug 8, 2014 15:27:10 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oh and it was Parlour Steakhouse on the Upper East Side. They do have a private room. That boozy brunch was kind of amazing.

We used to be really friendly with the owners and the private room is really fun. But it's a schlep to the nosebleeds of the UES (90th street), so not sure if that matters.

I went to a really fun shower at the private space above Sprinkles in midtown. The space was great, not sure about their food policy. I've also been to a fun one at Alice's Teacup. Going to one at the Jane this weekend-- I'll report back.

[LoveTrains]

Aug 8, 2014 17:50:41 GMT -5 cheezer said:

Aug 8, 2014 15:10:36 GMT -5 @choco said:

Right! It was bad for our purposes back then but that might not be so bad for a baby shower.

Baby showers need booze even more than a normal brunch IMO.

Generally I would agree with you but shower has to be on Sunday and I want to do it at like 10 am which precludes alcohol due to draconian NYC laws.

[Deleted]

I went to a very nice brunch shower at Public last year. They have a really nice private room.

Alcohol is a necessity, btw.  I would be MAJORLY annoyed if I was invited to a shower and there was no alcohol.  That would be terrible to suffer through.

Does it HAVE to be at 10, by the way? That's a major pain in the ass for anyone coming from a distance (and hey -- even Manhattanites can be coming from a distance.  It would take me an hour to get to Parlor Steakhouse, for example), many restaurants won't open until later because they know that there's no point in being open for brunch before they can serve alcohol (well, and they know that New Yorkers simply don't seek brunch until later than that), and for your guests' enjoyment I'd wait to start until when alcohol can be served.  

[212]

v makes very valid points. Shower today was at 10:30 and it meant leaving my place at 9:45-- sort of an annoyance on a weekend. But the booze made up for it. If I showed up at that hour sans booze I'd be a pretty unhappy camper. But I hate showers in general, so there's that.

The restaurant Jane on Houston has a private downstairs and the food was really good. Worth looking at.

[LoveTrains]

Honestly I hear you guys and I'm beyond irritated we can't do the shower on a Saturday. But I have to come all the way back up here after the shower and I'm not a New Yorker. It is mind boggling to start a shower so late to me. Shower has to be on Sunday and we are on a budget so we wanted to do earlier. I'm also not prepared to spend over my budgeted amount. So that means doing it early to preclude alcohol or cut down on alcohol costs.

I personally hate brunch any later than 10 or 10:30. Anything after 11 am is lunch.

But whatever fact remains that budget for 30 people on f&b is $1000. So that's what I'm working with.

[LoveTrains]

Aug 9, 2014 12:14:04 GMT -5 212 said:

v makes very valid points. Shower today was at 10:30 and it meant leaving my place at 9:45-- sort of an annoyance on a weekend. But the booze made up for it. If I showed up at that hour sans booze I'd be a pretty unhappy camper. But I hate showers in general, so there's that.

The restaurant Jane on Houston has a private downstairs and the food was really good. Worth looking at.

Minimum at Jane is $1700 for Sundays. Thank you for the rec though. It looks good but I can't afford that. I love my friend and I want to give her an amazing shower but there is a reality of the budget.

[LoveTrains]

Thank you I looked at Jane but their minimum is above our budget.

[Deleted]

Aug 9, 2014 14:34:01 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Honestly I hear you guys and I'm beyond irritated we can't do the shower on a Saturday. But I have to come all the way back up here after the shower and I'm not a New Yorker. It is mind boggling to start a shower so late to me. Shower has to be on Sunday and we are on a budget so we wanted to do earlier. I'm also not prepared to spend over my budgeted amount. So that means doing it early to preclude alcohol or cut down on alcohol costs.

I personally hate brunch any later than 10 or 10:30. Anything after 11 am is lunch.

But whatever fact remains that budget for 30 people on f&b is $1000. So that's what I'm working with.

You have to remember that you're dealing with NY though, and in New York Sunday brunch is something that you eat at, like 1.  For that reason, a lot of restaurants simply won't be open at 10/10:30.  Also, sometimes to be a good hostess you have to put your guests' preferences/convenience in front of your own.  

I have no doubt that you can have a nice shower SOMEWHERE for that price.  I'd ask on chow hound.

[Deleted]

Aug 9, 2014 9:01:57 GMT -5 v said:

Alcohol is a necessity, btw.  I would be MAJORLY annoyed if I was invited to a shower and there was no alcohol.  That would be terrible to suffer through.
  

Amen sister.

[LoveTrains]

Thanks for your help ladies. I appreciate all your suggestions. Luckily you don't have to come to my Sunday at 10 am shower.