Kevin P. Casey
Yarrow Bay Grill
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Digg itThe spring and summer months in Seattle are packed with special occasions – weddings, birthdays, family reunions, anniversaries and the like. Most of these events happen in private halls and public parks, but what about dinner? Where are you going to put all of these people, especially that one weird uncle?
Fortunately, lots of restaurants around town can accommodate large groups like yours – often in special dining rooms that are used only for special occasions. Below are just a few places where you can dine large. Some charge extra for large groups but offer more amenities; some don't have as much room but make up for it with cozy atmosphere.
The private dining room of this subdued, cozy Italian restaurant seats 28. Groups of 20 or more are asked to spend a minimum of $1,000 on food and drink on weeknights, $1,500 on weekends. Check the restaurant's Web site for special group-dining menus. There is no minimum advance reservation period -- if the room's available tonight, you can reserve it.
This energetic establishment has a nice, big room that accommodates 80 seated or 100 standing patrons. Reserving the room means meeting a food-and-beverage minimum that varies depending on the time of day or day of the week, and groups over 20 must order from a special menu; contact the restaurant for details. There is no minimum advance reservation period, and you must put a credit-card number on file at the time of reservation.
Up to 18 guests can enjoy Salon du Jardin, the private dining room of this quaint yet bustling French bistro. There is a food-and-drink minimum of $50 per person, which guests can meet by ordering from the dinner menu or creating a special menu directly with the chef. Reservations should be made a few weeks in advance, with a bit more lead time if a special menu is desired.
This quiet Northwest favorite has a private dining room that can seat up to 50 people for a sit-down dinner, or up to 75 people for a cocktail party. The size and feel of the room are easily adjusted by sets of sliding doors and velvet curtains. Food-and-beverage minimums vary by the size of the party and the day of the week. Call the restaurant for further details.
Two private dining rooms stand ready to serve patrons of this classy surf-and-turf joint. One room accommodates up to 38 people for a sit-down dinner and has a food-and-beverage minimum of $1,000. The second room holds up to 50 and has a food-and-beverage minimum of $2,500. A $500 deposit is needed to secure either room (it will be deducted from the final bill). Guests are asked to create a menu at the time of reservation. To hold either room – or to inquire how the rooms can be combined to make one large room – call Schwartz Brothers Private Dining at 425-990-6310.
This stylish steakhouse boasts four private dining rooms – the 410 Room, the Wine Cellar, the Grill Room and the Pampas Room. They vary in size from a 10-guest capacity (the 410 Room) to the Pampas Room's capacity of 110. (The latter room is more of an intimate club, with its own entrance and a baby grand piano.) Food-and-drink minimums range from $500 to $2,000, and reservations can be made with very little lead time. Call the restaurant for details.
This easygoing downtown favorite – home to a cuisine puckishly deemed "aroused Americana" – has an intimate private dining room that seats up to 24. There is a $650 food-and-beverage minimum Sunday through Thursday and an $850 minimum Friday and Saturday. The room tends to get booked quickly, but last-minute callers sometimes get lucky. Call Icon for details.
A pair of private dining rooms, seating 24 and 60 respectively, are available to large parties hungry for superlative steak and chops. A dividing wall can be removed to accommodate 100 sit-down diners and 150 mingling partygoers. The restaurant also has a semiprivate atrium that seats up to 30. Food-and-drink minimums vary by the size of the party, from $1,500 to $4,000, and a special large-group menu is provided. Two weeks' minimum lead time for reservations is appreciated, but last-minute arrangements can often be made. Call the restaurant for details.
This local institution has three, count 'em, three private dining rooms located right on Puget Sound. (The rooms can easily be converted into one big reception space that accommodates up to 300.) Food-and-beverage minimums vary by date and time, and the menu is different from that of the main dining room; call Salty's for details. Reservations are taken up to a year in advance; a minimum of three days' lead time is requested.
The private dining room of this Big Easy-flavored joint seats up to 15 people, while its semiprivate "bistro" room (it's separated from the main floor by a curtain) seats up to 30 seated diners and up to 60 reception-style. There is a $75 room fee for the private room, and a $400 food-and-drink minimum for the bistro. Special menus are available, as is buffet or family-style service. Contact Sazerac's front-desk supervisor if you're interested.
The private dining room of this quiet, elegant restaurant – the Bayshore Room – is located in a separate building, but has the same spectacular Lake Washington view as the main dining area. It can seat up to 60 dinner guests and has a full bar all to itself. Food-and-beverage minimums vary according to time of day, and it's worth noting that parties of all sizes can book the space – even a party of five. A special menu is provided, viewable at Yarrow Bay's Web site. Call for reservations – you can make them up to a year in advance.
Enjoy – and if you have a good experience or would like to let us know about a good place to dine with a small army, please leave us a comment below.
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