We're planning a trip/reunion for about 20 people in Manhattan on a Saturday in December. We're trying to decide on a place to have dinner.

Our requirements (besides numbers) are moderate price, something not too exotic that can satisfy everyone's tastes, and a location approximately somewhere between Rockefeller Center and the theater district. We'd probably want to eat late afternoon (4-5 p.m.) to avoid the Sat. night dinner rush.

We're considering a place like Becco, which has an atrium back room (that, I think, they've recently expanded) and which has some moderately priced Italian food on the menu. But we're open to other suggestions.

Ideas? Thanks.

You may need to rethink your time frame. Very few restauratnts - as opposed to cafes, sandwhich shops etc - will be open for dinner before 5pm. If that's a fixed requirement I think you should refocus your question - asking about places that serve all day (vs lunch and dinner) - that;s going to be much harder to find than a place to serve 20.

You probably won't have a problem finding a place for that many, that early on a Saturday in December. With the crowds coming in to see the Radio City Christmas show, the department store windows, and the Tree, plenty of places will be open for business.

One caution, many NYC restaurants now require a credit card deposit for large groups.

Becco might not be a bad option. The fact that you've been there should give you comfort knowing that you aren't going in "untested"

dinner at 4 or 5pm on a Saturday is not easy, you'd maybe want to try a place that serves all day.
I know some, but not in the area you mention. Becco does serve Sat lunch, so may accommodate you for a very late lunch or very early dinner. Ditto Joe Allen, or Orso, on the same block. Book weeks in advance.

Slightly north of your preferred location, Trattoria Dell'Arte has some nice private dining rooms that will accomodate 20. Their pizzas and antipastos are great. Redeye Grill right nearby also does private parties. Maison on B'way & 53 is open 24/7 if you don't need a private room. Chez Josephine is listed in Zagat as having a private room. Would be a fun venue. The Rock Center Cafe is also listed.

mclaurie, last time I ate lunch at Rock Center Cafe, it was very very expensive. Lunch for two with no wine, split app., two entrees with tip was $100.

Totally agree with your other two suggestions. Is Shelley's open for lunch?

Carmine's is also a choice.

Funny, I thought of Shelly's but Zagat lists the price at $49 which I thought was too high and Rock Cafe is listed at $42 (vs Becco at $39)so I thought that was ok. I trust you more than Zagat though

I can never bring myself to suggest Carmine's unless with kids.

I suspect that many of the suggestions are getting to be "too much" for what I think k_999_9 is asking. I'm guessing they aren't looking for an organized "party" with a set menu or any special touches. I got the feeling they just want a place where all 20 of them can sit together and order off a menu. Am I right?

I think there are a lot of possibilities even for that time frame, and many will either reserve them a special section if not an actual private room. I'd check Angus MacIndoe, with a varied menu and normally serving straight through the afternoon. I'd bet at that time they'd seat you all together on the second or third floor by yourselves.
There's a nice, inexpensive Trattoria with an upstairs -- rather charming -- on 8th Avenue between 45th and 46th called Trattoria Danielli. It is very nice, super friendly, and would take good care of you for even less than Becco.

Really casual and fun while inexpensive? There's a Heartland Brewery near Rock Center at 51st near 6th Avenue. They will also set you up in the back area by yourselves with a call ahead. Varied menu -- think TGI Friday's sort of atmosphere but with really good food of a similar nature (love their buffalo burgers). They offer appetizers to full meals.

A really different and very inexpensive option? Ollie's Noodle House on 44th just off Times Square. They can set you all up in one area, and you can get lots of great dishes to share. Ruby Foo's is kind of fun too, but at least double to triple the price of Ollies.

Forgive me if I'm "underestimating" what you're looking for. But I suspect that when someone is saying a meal is going to be about $30 to $40 a person, that really means closer to double that with a couple of drinks, tax and tip. The places I'm talking about are more like half of that. (Well, Angus MacIndoe is the exception, but still considerably less than Rock Center Cafe, Dell 'Arte, or RedEye Grill)

Thanks for all the input.

I think Patrick has nailed what we're looking for (you perceptive rascal). Basically, just a place that can accommodate all of us where we're not spread out. The challenge here, I think, is finidng a place -- price, food, etc. -- that suits everyone.

This is a pretty good start, though.

Yep, you're not alone in the quest of finding a place for 20 people to get together. And when you do it with "cheap theatre friends" which I have -- I've gotten used to looking for the real budget places that will still provide fun. I can't stand the whining "but you said it wouldn't be expensive" from the person who has just finished four cocktails and a major dessert in addition to the meal.

And hey, I forget the really good food and fun atmosphere at Virgil's Real Bar-B-Q! They have a surprisingly varied menu as well.

The Zagat prices are supposedly "the price of dinner including one drink and tip."

As Patrick points out, drinks are always what escalate a bill. What about Churrascaria Plataforma on w 49th? Salad bar, skewered meat. Zagat says "filled with big groups..."

http://churrascariaplataforma.com/index_midtown.html

You might look at places that have pre theater dinners or consider doing this as a late lunch (churrascaria's lunch price is a lot less.)

I second the Churrascaria Plataforma suggestion. We have been there for birthday parties, family events, and work events and the restaurant works like a charm every time. It is a large location and the set up works well for large parties. The menu is prixe fix so you can avoid the "but I only had an appetizer issues." It might be an issue if you have lots of vegetarians in your group, though they have an enormous salad bar for those who don't want to eat meat. And the caiprhinas are AMAZING!