<p>As the parents of the groom, we will be hosting the rehearsal dinner (actually an out-of-towners dinner). We will be inviting around 35 people, although the actual number attending may be smaller. </p>
<p>We’ve never been to Syracuse and are unfamiliar with restaurants, other than what we can read online. We’d like a restaurant that has a private room, or at least can place us in a separate area of the restaurant. We don’t want something too fancy or stuffy (don’t want someplace suits and ties would be appropriate) - that’s just not us or the bride or groom.</p>
<p>We’d be looking for someplace in Syracuse or just a little east of there. Thanks.</p>
<p>Dinosaur BBQ does have private rooms. I’m not sure how much it costs to reserve - probably depends on the day. I’ve been there many times (they catered my wedding, even) and I love it. Looks like the Willow Room might be about the right size for your party. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if it would be the best place for a rehearsal dinner, but if you’re looking for another great place to eat in Syracuse while you’re there, China Road has the best Chinese food I’ve ever had. It’s a sit-down sort of place but it’s not expensive. Bangkok (the name of the restaurant, not the place) has pretty good Thai food. </p>
<p>The Retreat is another restaurant I’ve really enjoyed and it has an area for up to 40 guests that can be reserved. Weather would matter though because it is in a covered outdoor deck sort of area. </p>
<p>I’ve seen Dinosaur BBQ’s website. I know S1 would love it, but FDIL is vegetarian. They seem to have some vegetarian options on their party menu. What is parking like around there?</p>
<p>Sorry, forgot to add a thanks for the other suggestions and links. I wasn’t sure what kind of response I would get since I wasn’t sure how many CCers are from the Syracuse area.</p>
<p>A million years ago, I had my rehearsal dinner at Coleman’s. It has been a few years since I have eaten there but it is still getting good reviews on trip advisor. They had a nice private room upstairs and they were very helpful to my inlaws who were planning the dinner from out of town…</p>
<p>Dinosaur Barbecue has a large private space upstairs (I’ve been to a party for 150 people there) that I imagine they could cut down to suit 35. Lots of couples enjoy using it for a rehearsal dinner. It’s very informal, and the menu is wonderful down-home food.</p>
<p>Pascale’s in Fayetteville has a lovely ambience - contemporary décor, relaxed and informal but not too casual. I’ve been there several times but haven’t noticed that there’s a private area. The same folks have a bistro at a local country club where private dining is an option: <a href=“http://www.pascaledrumlins.com/”>http://www.pascaledrumlins.com/</a></p>
<p>Another option is Limestone Grill at the Craftsman Inn. <a href=“http://www.craftsmaninn.com/dining.cfm”>http://www.craftsmaninn.com/dining.cfm</a> The food is good, the decor is nice, and there’s a large private area upstairs. The inn is a nice, relatively inexpensive hotel option, though you probably have lodging for the wedding set already.</p>
<p>Parking around Dinosaur is not great. There is on-street parking and I’m pretty sure there is a pay lot right across the street (but then you have to pay to park). At our wedding my husband’s cousin, who is a vegetarian, got some sort of mushroom skewer and she said it was great. Most of their sides are also vegetarian (their mac and cheese is my personal favorite). </p>
<p>You’re all giving me good places to check out. </p>
<p>Not being familiar with the area, it’s hard for me to say how far outside Syracuse we’d be willing to look. I’d say probably not more than 20 minutes, but would prefer closer. Most guests will be traveling that day (either by car or plane), and I’d prefer not to make them do too much more traveling just to get to the rehearsal dinner.</p>
<p>You could do a google maps search for the hotel location and then search for restaurants nearby. Maybe there’s a good restaurant near the hotel.</p>
<p>shellfell,
Let me chime in here and say a general congratulations and specifically good luck with this dinner planning. My S#1 is getting married this weekend on the other side of the country, and it was CC’ers in that “neck of the woods” who pointed me to the restaurant where we are having the “out-of-towners” (not rehearsal) dinner for 82 people. The place is sight unseen by me, but I am trusting my CC “imaginary friends” to have pointed me in the right direction. </p>
<p>I didn’t know that they were at drumlins. Would probably be a good place for a rehearsal dinner. Plenty of parking and it’s on the east side of town. </p>
<p>shellfell, where are the out of town guests staying? </p>
<p>We did a bridal shower for my niece-in-law at Craftman’s and I thought the food was ‘meh’</p>
<p>Skaneateles would be a bit of a schlep depending on where people are staying. Sherwood Inn is pretty and right across from the lake. They definitely have private rooms but I don’t know if any overlook the lake - though since it will be evening doesn’t really matter. <a href=“http://www.thesherwoodinn.com/”>http://www.thesherwoodinn.com/</a></p>
<p>Also, at the Genesee Inn several blocks up from Phoebe’s. There restaurant is 1060. <a href=“HugeDomains.com”>HugeDomains.com; I haven’t eaten there, so no idea how the food is. Parking wouldn’t be a problem as I believe they have a lot. At Phoebe’s would be more difficult. I think there maybe only on street parking there. </p>
<p>Shellfell - Congratulations! Could the bride’s parents help you? I have helped future son-in-law’s parents (from out of town) as they make this decision. We have looked at four places and I hope they will choose the fourth as it is very close to the hotel and reception site. Oh, and it has the most beautiful view. I have been a chauffeur and lunch date, but am trying hard not to offer advice.
Momof3sons - Congratulations! I am hoping they / we can keep the “rehearsal / out of towners” dinner number below 100 guests. There are a lot of out of town relatives for both bride and groom. </p>
<p>momof3sons - Mazel tov on this weekend’s wedding. I remember you posting about your son’s wedding and getting help from CCers on the venue for the rehearsal dinner, so that’s why I figured I would try here and see what suggestions I could get.</p>
<p>deega - I could get suggestions from FDIL, but at this point she and S1 are dealing with all the wedding planning, as well as S1 interviewing for post-docs and them planning a cross-country move (and her having to find a new job). I figured if I could get some ideas from CCers and online, I could then run some of those places past her to see what she thinks instead of making this one more thing for her to have to deal with right now.</p>
<p>emilybee - I wish I could tell you where guests will be staying. That’s one more thing S1 and FDIL are still working on. The wedding venue is actually east of Syracuse, but it may be more convenient for guests coming from south of Syracuse and those flying in to stay in Syracuse rather than further east on the Thruway. It also seems that there would be more possible rehearsal dinner choices closer to Syracuse. It’s entirely possible that rooms may be blocked at 2 different hotels, but that’s still to be done. The wedding is a year away, but I’d like to get goingon the rehearsal dinner while I have the time.</p>
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