Hi. My fiance and I just back from a wedding-planning trip to MYC. We were only in the city for one day. We loved the Gramercy Tavern, but a $2,000 minimum for 12 people is a bit above our price range.

Other restaurants - Ocean Grill, Barca 8 were nice but too casual.

Can anyone suggest a place similar to GT but a little less expensive?

You need to buy a subscription to the Zagat guide online or buy a book. It lists all the restaurants and will also have a list of places with private dining rooms (is that what you want?) Gotham Bar and Grill and Union Square Cafe are considered in the same league sort of as Gramercy but neither have private rooms.

You might have a look at Bayards downtown. Beautiful historic building, lots of different dining rooms, very good food (ex Lutece chef).

www.bayards.com

anyone heard of per se?

Per Se is a very widely known and written about Thomas Keller restaurant. Google either Keller's or the restaurant's name and you will find mountains of information.

If you found Gramercy Tavern cost
prohibitive, Per Se will be more so,

Look @ this website:
www.marchirestaurant.com
Northern Italian cuisine in 2-connected
townhouses on E 31 St w/garden
area. I have found them quite amenable for both personal &
business functions.

Ifyou thought Grammercy Tavern is out of your price range forget Per Se.
McLaurie is right about using Zagat and/or another directory to find someplace that can accomodate a group.

Perhaps The Harrison in Tribeca? Certainly not cheap, but probably less expensive than GT, and I think they have a simlilar welcoming vibe.

the harrison looks nice, but their private dining minimum is $1,500 plus 8.

harrison looks nice but their dining room minimum, with tax, gratuity, and booking cost is up there with gramercy tavern.