My fiancee and I would like to host a brunch for our out of town guests the day after our wedding. We are looking for someplace low key (and inexpensive) - a basic bagels and lox place. We will probably have about 25 people, Any thoughts? Thanks

Jackie, 25 people might be a bit tuff to find a place to seat everyone, but how about "America", the menu is huge and not expensive and on Sat and Sunday there is a magician walking around entertaining.

The place is huge and the food is good so you should not have a problem accomodating everyone.

Another idea would be to do it yourselves in a nice hotel room/suite and buy platters of lox/cream cheese bagels and all the fixings.

The best bagel place in town (in my opinion is Essabagel and there are 2 locations, 1st Ave and 21st St. and 3rd around 50th St.

Hope this helps a bit. Have a wonderful wedding.

tweedy

What area of NYC is most convenient for you?
I would urge you NOT to go the hotel route. Hotel food prices are out of sight!

The wedding will be at 60th and 5th and we are assuming that most of our friends will be staying nearby. Our flight is at 5:30 on Sunday, so we don't want to go too far downtown for brunch. I am wondering if I can just get some space in a hotel and just bring in from Sable's (76th and 2nd). Any thoughts?

As a rule, hotels will not allow you to bring in food from the outside, especially in a function room (i.e., a non-sleeping room). That's where they make their money! And, if you want to have in a regular room, I would think it would be kind of tough to sneak up food for 25!
The area where your wedding is taking place is tough for finding an inexpensive brunch place in the immediate vicinity. You're probably better off going further north on the Upper East Side. Unfortunately, I can't help with any suggestions. Perhaps, some Fodor posters can recommend an inexpensive place in the 70s, 80s or 90s for 25.

Jackie a friend of mine just did the hotel thing, and threw a birthday bash for friends at a major hotel on 7th Ave. She put the food in shopping bags and brought it up to the room, no problem. She had a junior suite and just got paper plates, and had some nice platters (paper and plastic) and just left the leftovers behind.

I think it might be more fun for your friends too to be together in a smaller setting just before you leave on your honeymoon. If you need someone to sing at the wedding let me know.

Congrats oh and where is the honeymoon destination?

Have a great trip.

tweedy

Thanks for all the info. We are going to Maui, Big Island and Kauai for 2 weeks!