jmp

Trying to plan a surprise 30th birthday party for my brother.

1. we will be about 13 people
2. someplace fun /funky -- not stuffy

HELP!

thanks

len

The place at times sq that spins around is kind of cool and fun, but the food isnt great, it might be better for drinks.

mclaurie

Chez Josephine 414 W 42, French, funky, friendly, private room (but sitting where you can hear the piano msuic may be more fun).

Le Colonial east 57th vietnamese, fun.

Bayards at Hanover Square downtown is great for private parties but may be too
serious for you.

jmp

thanks -

Yes, bayards may be too formal.

Maybe someplace Italian? My brother has been to soo many restaurants that I can't come up with anything new. He likes music, theater.

Just some place that will make his birthday unusual and memorable.

thanks again

Elainee

Puglia in Little Italy...very funky, music, singing, lots of red sauce, cheap, fun. Family style with long tables. Definately not stuffy.

sgbslo

I also think Chez Josephine would be a good choice. Also Blue Water Grill in the Union Square area might be fun. It has a jazz club downstairs.
I've done private parties at Firebird (Russian in theatre district-a little formal) and Trattoria Doppa Theatro and both were successful. Red Eye Grill near Carnegie Hall was another place I had a successful group gathering.

Statia

How about Carmine's Italian where everything is served family style? The atmosphere is also upbeat there.

Rhea

Marchi's
251 East 31st
212-679-2494
7-or 8 courses -served family style - no menu. pris fixe. Old world Italian in a townhouse betwn 2-3rd w/a few rooms & courtyard in warm weather.
Good venue for 11-14 people.

Ryan

Chicama on E. 18th, just off 5th, is a very funky, very happening pan-Latino restaurant. The food is very good and, more importantly, so are the cocktails.

nealm

I second the vote for puglia. Totally non pretentious and fun. Be warned, this is not gourment Italian. But after a few bottles of the unlabled cheap red wine, who cares?

tommy

I was recently at a party for about the same amount of people at Marion's. The food was good, but I was most impressed with the excellent service, which is usually not the case with such a large group. The cuisine is continental, the menu is extremely reasonable, and the atmosphere definitely meets the criteria of funky and not stuffy. The best part is the martini menu - at least twenty varieties. We had fun sampling all the different types.

www.marionsnyc.com

Doug

For something unusual (at least to me it was), I'd recommend Churrascaria Plataforma. My wife had her 30th there.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/review...ndalone_review

jennieh212

How about Chez Es Saada in the E. Village? I think it's on 1st street. Funky space, great drinks, and French/Moroccan cuisine. Or Flor de Sol in Tribeca--great tapas and a lot of fun.

mclaurie

For Italian, Trattoria Dell'Arte near Carnegie Hall is good & fun & they have private rooms.
For something "kitschy" Babalu on west 44th-Latin (think Ricky Ricardo)

jmp

Someone just suggested having a cooking party (is that too girly?) at the Institute of Culinary Education?

JVS

The Russian Vodka Room (approx E 50's)
Funky and, naturally, good drinks. Besides, there is a good chance your bro will not already be bored with Russian fare (caviar, hundreds of infused vodkas, eggplant caviar, grav-lox, and more potato dishes than you can count)

JAS

A few suggestions:
El Quijote (Spanish, fun, good paella and sangria)
Flor De Sol (similar to El Quijote)
Divine Bar (great drinks, tapas etc)

1963

jmp - cooking isn't too 'girlie' and with the right group would be a blast!! one place that I love - is Asia de Cuba - on Madison (b/t 38th and 39th) - you have to ask for the "communal" table for a group that size - food excellent! great people watching and very SITC! If you're into that!

Darvy_Kuntz

Churrascaria Plataforma. Great for groups. Fantastic, unique food. (Brazilian) Nice atmosphere. Near lots of fun spots.

JungleCat

Interestingly, I planned my wife's bday party this past weekend with similar criteria (large group, funky place). We went to a restaurant in NJ first but afterwards, we went for dessert at this place:

http://www.kavehaz.com

It would have been good for dinner also. It's an art gallery with a live jazz band and an interesting menu. One of our guests who arrived late, ordered dinner and loved it.