Best Party Reservations

Deciding where to have dinner is hard enough, but finding the perfect restaurant for a large party or a special event is not an easy feat.  I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked me, “Where’s a good spot for a birthday dinner or engagement party?”   And really, how many times can you throw a bachelorette at Lucky Cheng’s, or fork over your paycheck with a table at an overpriced steakhouse?  So we’ve compiled a list of our favorites for all kinds of occasions.

Luau Locale
Hurricane Club
Address: 360 Park Ave South at E 26th St
Phone: (212) 951-7111
Website: www.thehurricaneclub.com
Some restaurants focus all their attention on the food, while others, like The Hurricane Club, are built with a party atmosphere in mind.  At most restaurants, large groups tend to be a tight squeeze, but here the banquettes are perfect for parties of 6 or more. The menu is chock-full of finger foods, pupu platters and large servings of roast suckling pork and baby back ribs.  So sample a few small plates, like duck buns and coconut-battered shrimp and peruse the cocktail menu.  There’s several party-size punch bowls, shots, frozen concoctions with cucumber and mint, or individual cocktails, all of which you can order by number.

Lani Kai
Address: 525 Broome St near Thompson St
Phone: (646) 596-8778
Website: www.lanikainy.com
Lani Kai (pictured above) is the newest addition to Julie Reiner’s growing cocktail empire.  Located in the bi-level space, formerly occupied by Tailor, this newcomer’s already seen more than its fair share of parties.  Everything about this lounge is festive, from the tropical wallpaper decor to the vibrant cocktails.  There’s plenty of big tables to accommodate large parties and a vast array of small plates, including duck pot stickers and crab wontons.  You can order any four for a customizable pupu platter.  Drinks from Reiner’s home-state of Hawaii are inspired and shareable, like the Hotel California, garnished with charred pineapple or the Gold Coast Punch, a fruit forward rum and champagne based concoction that’s 100 percent delicious.

Bubbly Boite
Beauty and Essex
Address: 146 Essex St between Stanton and Rivington Sts
Phone: (212) 614-0146
Website: www.beautyandessex.com
Chris Santos knows how to throw a party.  He first made an impression with The Stanton Social and just recently with his new stunner, Beauty and Essex.  What looks like a tricked-out pawn shop is a lounge-cum restaurant with an ambitious menu and several floors and nooks to celebrate, each with their own distinct vibe.  Our personal favorite is the Pearl Lounge, where we suggest you order “The Masterly Touch cocktail, a blend of grey goose, lemon-thyme nectar and campari pearls (genius!) along with a side of freshly baked mini-doughnuts.  Free champagne in the ladies room is a tad gimmicky, but we certainly won’t turn down a glass!

Bubble Lounge
Address: 228 W. Broadway at White St
Phone: (212) 431-3433
Website: www.bubblelounge.com
This temple of bubbly in Tribeca is the perfect place for a champagne-fueled party with a large guest list. The well-edited list of champagne includes both high and low end offerings by both the bottle and glass, so you don’t have to break the bank to celebrate here.  There’s party platters with crab cakes and elegant cheese puffs to absorb the effects of the alcohol and keep the party going well into the night.

Pizza Party
Otto Enoteca and Pizzeria
Address: 1 Fifth Ave at 8th St
Phone: (212) 995-9559
Website: www.ottopizzeria.com
Batali’s Greenwich Village pizzeria ranks high on the list of favorite, go-to spots for birthdays.  And for good reason.  For starters, Otto (pictured right) offers an impressive and affordable selection of wines.  And the boisterous, but casual atmosphere lends itself to celebrations.  The pizzas and antipasti are perfect for sharing, including a killer eggplant caponata and rigatoni with sausage and escarole. Oh, and olive oil gelato with a candle is better than garden variety birthday cake.

Roberta’s Pizza
Address: 261 Moore St near Bogart St, Brooklyn
Phone: (718) 417-1118
Website: www.robertaspizza.com
Brooklyn locals flock to Roberta’s not just for its excellent pizza, but the laidback vibe and attractive crowd (particularly the male sorts). Order a meat and a cheese plate to nibble on while you deliberate over crusty pies and family-style plates, like pappardelle with duck or short rib steak with pea leaves. And be sure to order the Good Girl–taleggio pie, topped with sausage, kale, and a good amount of garlic and chili flakes.

Ethnic Soiree
Sammy’s Roumanian
Address: 157 Chrystie St between Delancey and Rivington Sts
Phone: (212) 673-0330
This favorite has chutzpah and verve, making it a terrific venue for a family reunion or a kitschy night out. The more people you have in your party, the more fun it tends to be at this Lower East Side institution.  First things first, start with a  bottle or two of vodka, served on ice, and some of Sammy’s famous chopped liver.  Along the way, they’ll be dancing, too much food and an egg cream closer.  (Sounds like a great night to me.)

Nice Green Bo
Address: 66 Bayard St between Mott and Elizabeth Sts
Phone: (212) 625-2359
Still somewhat of a secret, this Chinatown sleeper is a great alternative to the usual party suspects. The kitchen at Nice Green Bo will carve up a Peking duck feast for a party of up to ten people.  Though they let you bring your own alcohol, their beer is super cheap (close to $3 per beer).  Start with the xiao long bao (soup dumplings)  and make your way to the crispy-skinned duck, which comes with a proper flurry of traditional accompaniments.  The perfect finish?  An ice cream cake from neighboring Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, of course.

Brunch Bash
Jane
Address: 100 W Houston St between Thompson St and Laguardia Pl
Phone: (212) 254-7000
Website: www.janerestaurant.com
The downstairs room at this very popular brunch spot is great for throwing a baby or bridal shower.  The space itself is roomy and the menu is filled with tasty, brunch classics.  including a knockout French Toast, made with brioche dipped in crème brulee batter.  The result is creamier and more custard-like than most versions. (We’re addicted.)  Guests will have trouble choosing between all of the versions eggs benedict, including a crab and crawfish cake variety.  Order a few rounds of mimosas and bellinis while you open gifts and pat yourself on the back for choosing just the right venue.

Tea Party
Alice’s Tea Cup
Address: 102 W 73rd St at Columbus Ave
Phone: (212) 799-3006
Website: www.alicesteacup.com
There are three locations of this tea parlor in Manhattan, but the Upper West Side location is the original and still our favorite. The elegant and feminine setting is perfect for a bridal shower or ladies-who-lunch-type gathering.  Pretend your in England and host a British afternoon tea with homemade scones and muffins, all accompanied by clotted cream, preserves, and lemon curd. There’s tiered trays of proper tea sandwiches, including the traditional cucumber and watercress sandwich and the more unique, lapsang souchong-smoked chicken breast with appl es and herbed goat cheese.

Franchia Teahouse
Address: 12 Park Ave between 34th and 35th Sts. (Brooklyn)
Phone: (212) 213-1001
Website: www.franchia.com
Asian tea and vegan fare anyone?   If you’re looking for somewhere unique to celebrate, this tranquil teahouse in Brooklyn is a terrific option.  The spacious and serene setting is ideal for large parties that want to escape the everyday madness of the city (or their husbands).  Furbished with delicate, porcelain teacups and glossy wood tables, this bi-level space feels worlds away, as if you’ve been transported to the countryside of Korea.   There’s a prix-fixe menu for large parties, which allows guests to choose from fusion dishes, like tofu with kabocha pumpkin and a vegetarian curry hot pot.

Photo Credit:  Kelly Campel  (Otto)