Just found out my nephew will be getting married next November in Brooklyn. We are from Atlanta and need some suggestions for a rehersal dinner. Would like to stay under $25 per person - is this impossible???
Thanks for your help.

I live in Brooklyn and maybe can help. What neighborhood are you looking in, if you know? Brooklyn is rather large, but there are restaurants everywhere and you can probably get a rate in the range you're looking for.

When you say $25 per person - does this include a drink? wine? tax and tip? Or is this just the entree?

I don't know what area of town it will be. I think price and atmosphere will be more important. I think there will be wine, but I assume they are not including it in the price of dinner since not everyone drinks wine - unbelievable, but true

Madler is right, Brooklyn is HUGE. It can literally take an hour to get from one end to the other. So knowing what area is very important. Will the guests get there by subway or car? Where are they staying? How many people, and will you need a private room?

Here's a search I did for "all Brooklyn" inexpensive to moderate price and "critics picks" on the New York Magazine website

http://newyorkmetro.com/search/resta...&rspec=-&prod=

The 2 that sound best to me are
Locanda Vini & Olii
Italian
Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate
A beautifully restored 130-year-old pharmacy is the charming backdrop for this terrific Tuscan restaurant.
129 Gates Ave.
Fort Greene
718-622-9202

Sotto Voce
Italian
Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate
Graceful Park Slope trattoria boasts bitter docs, better desserts and sacred culinary unions.
227 Seventh Ave.
Park Slope/Prospect Hts
718-369-9322

But that link will also give you the ability to do different searches. Another thought, Pete's Downtown sits right next to the River Cafe so awesome views of the NY skyline. It's Italian. I've never been to any of these.

If you need a private room, join the zagat guide online. zagat.com They have all sorts of listing

McLaurie-
Wow- I will have to try that place in Fort Greene (we have been looking at brownstones there & may live there someday). It sounds great.

I have been to Pete's Downtown, it's only 2 blocks from home. The setting is great, actually I think it would be an excellent spot for a group dinner as the guests can walk across the street to the ferry landing for photos...there's always someone getting their wedding photo taken at this scenic spot with Manhattan & the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. Foodwise, it is OK, not bad but not great. I remember my dinner for 2 was about $60. I think we had a drink each and maybe shared an appetizer.

I can see that I should have gotten more info before posting my question - I did not realize the logistics involved. I am waiting for the bride-to-be to give me specific locations and hope that you all will be available to help. Thanks for giving me good questions to follow up.

Well didn't want to appear rude about not following up with the Brooklyn wedding. My nephew's bride-to-be has decided that a Florida wedding in December is more to her liking so we will be traveling south - can't complain, and it will be a lot warmer Thanks for all your suggestions!

We just went to a rehearsal dinner in Bay Ridge, I think - at Lundy's. All they did was have hor deurves passed around and they had a vegetable and cheese tray. They did have an open bar, but I think that this could be $25 per person if you only do an hor deuve type of pass around. $25.00 is going to be pretty hard to find with a meal and alcohol. It was open bar at Lundys.

How about Marco Polo on Court Street? Maybe you might be able to get a 'group party' rate for $25 pp.

La Traviata on Montague Street is also very good and well below $25 pp.