I have a good friend who is getting married in December. Everything is coming together for him except for finding a place for the rehearsal dinner. Because of Christmas parties, he just can't seem to find any place that isn't already booked. The bride is from Baytown, so the Church is on the East side. For that reason, he'd like the place to be no further West than the Galleria area (and probably no further north than the loop). Anyway, does anyone have any decent recommendations? We've hit Zagats and Texas Monthly for reviews and we've called many of the more well known, relatively classy joints. Are there any "diamonds in the rough" that aren't typically reviewed? Anything decent on the East side? Any places that have especially good banquet facilities? For your trouble, I offer you this: go to www.skeetersgrill.com and join their mailing list. Within an hour or so, you should get an e-mail coupon good for one free entree at Skeeters, Los Tios, or even a free large pizza at the Flying Pig. (at least this was working earlier today)
Pole, have you checked out Damians, on Smith Street downtown near Brennans? Killer food and great banquet facility upstairs. My folks had their 40th wedding anniversary party there for about 35 couples. You can't go wrong there. How many guests are we talking about?
Pole, Depends on your price limitations. One nice place that is nice but not extravagant is Churrascos, a South American style restaurant that virtually everyone enjoys. There is one that's centrally located, but I was thinking of the one that is at Gessner and Westheimer (10 mins west of the Galleria). It is a large facility and can usually accomodate things like rehearsal dinners. The food is great - south american style steaks and seafood, plantains, tres leches for desert. Most everyone that has been to a Churrascos restaurant enjoys it.
That was one of the questions I asked (how many people), but it was in an e-mail, and I haven't gotten his response yet. I'm guessing around two to three dozen. Damian's was the first place I recommended, but I'm not sure if he's called them yet. I also mentioned: Americas Backstreet Perry's Mockingbird Mark's Ruggles 5115 Rouge and several others I can't remember, but most of my recommendations came off of revues (not personal experience).
Another one you may want to check out is the Palm, at Westheimer and Greenridge in the Galleria. They have very good banquet facilites and very good food as well.
Pole, Do you realize that Toyota Center has a five star restaurant with exclusive bar facilities for Luxury Suites. I'm not kidding you; that is very impressive. I am certain that will not be booked, yet. Another downtown spot is the Lancaster Hotel. That's also really nice for the wedding party to get rooms...relatively cheap. In Montrose, there is a fairly new banquet facility behind La Colombe D'or. Not sure what the name is though. Very nice, with the added advantage of walking distance to La Colombe D'Or quaint and very unknown bar. Further, that is about as romantic as it gets for a honeymoon suite. You might actually be able to have the rehearsal dinner at the excellent La Colombe D'Or restaurant. For downtown, the diamond in the ruff is Treebeards. No Joke! Treebeards really likes to rent out the upstairs to weddings. You get a nice balcony in the heart of downtown, full bar right there to the side of the large open dining area and dancing room (but probably not for rehearsal dinner). The catering menu is as classy as you want it to be and goes well beyond their regular menu. check out www.treebeards.com for their catering menu. If it matters, they have exceptional vegetarian choices. and go here for pictures of the upstairs room in action. http://www.treebeards.com/caterng/caterpht/fsctphot.html also, I really like Sierra Grill, and have been to a rehearsal dinner there before. Sierra Grill is very, very good food.
just for clarification...according to Tim, the Toyota Center restaurant is supposed to be open even when there are no events.
correction on the Treebeards catering menu. It doesn't seem to be on the website. Just know that it is a classic menu for banquets, and not just cajun/creole. Another one I thought of that doesn't get much attention is La Tour D'Argent on Ella Blvd. However, they are right on the bayou with a beautiful view hidden in the woods, and I think they got flooded out. They might not have reopened. Same probably goes for that on-the-bayou restaurant behind Memorial Blvd's One's A Meal. It surely got flooded out. I forget the name of that place, but it is a wedding party favorite....with a nice outdoor area across the Bayou from River Oaks.
ok, sorry for the flood, but thought of another one. The Magnolia Ballroom in the old Franklin St brewery building above Power Tools. http://www.magnoliaballroom.com/
I had my post wedding thing at the Papasitos Mexican Cantina off of I-10 East feeder road . They did a good job handling our group of 30 something. GOOD LUCK!
For a rehearsal dinner, I would say something like Landry's Seafood in Kemah...Great banquet room on the second floor with excellent food, and closer to the East side...
Thanks for all of the help everyone. I hope you all get a good free pizza. My sister claims the pizza there is excellent.
There are two places in Midtown that i always have a good time at. Farrago's has THE BEST soup you will ever try. Their Chicken Curry soup is made with coconuts and lime is great stuff. Across the street is The Fish aka The Blowfish, it is a really good Sushi Bar with some other nice neo-asian dishes and a good sake selection. Both of these are located on Bagby and Gray.
A place near you that is perfect for hosting dinners, Brady's Landing, on the ship channel. Its on the water and they specialize in banquets and special occasions. I know the ship channel doesn't sound like a location for a five star restaraunt, but it is. Anyone remember The San Jacinto Inn. When did that close. That place was extremely nice.
I also want to second HeyPartner's Sierra Grill suggestion. It is very pricy but you can get some cool dishes in there such as the ostrich medallions and their various lobster dishes. And they turn it into a jazz club on wednesday after dinner. Great date place.
Very true. I've been there a number of times, and the food is excellent. In fact, I'll be having lunch there next Thursday.
