Decent restaurant for group / big birthday

Decent restaurant for group / big birthday

Author
Discussion

juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Tuesday 16th May 2023
quotequote all
Wife has her 40th approaching, I’m looking for a decent restaurant in London that will seat a group at the back end of the year (most likely a tasting/group dining menu of some sort).

As it’s a mixed group I’m trying to find something that isn’t utterly wallet shattering, around the £100pp mark.

I was exploring Lucky Cat and their Chef’s experience menu, but reviews seem a mixed bag. Anyone been?

Any other suggestions from the great PH hive mind? Not too fussed on location as long as it’s somewhere around zone 1-ish. Thanks!

22s

6,440 posts

226 months

Tuesday 16th May 2023
quotequote all
How many are you going to be?

What cuisine does she like?

Any favourite chefs?

juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Tuesday 16th May 2023
quotequote all
22s said:
How many are you going to be?

What cuisine does she like?

Any favourite chefs?
Around 10 people

Cuisine: She likes most things so very open (although not too fish-focussed).

Favourite chefs, yes but they’re not based in London.

Thanks!

Tebbers

373 posts

161 months

Tuesday 16th May 2023
quotequote all
Had dinner at Chutney Mary (Indian cuisine) the other day at £100pp, food fantastic as always. They definitely do tasting menus. Lots of swanky bars near there before and after.

juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Tebbers said:
Had dinner at Chutney Mary (Indian cuisine) the other day at £100pp, food fantastic as always. They definitely do tasting menus. Lots of swanky bars near there before and after.
Thanks will take a look

SaulGoodman

248 posts

82 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Have a look at Hawksmoor maybe? They can seat big groups in a private room and do a sharing menu. Although it's a steak restaurant the veggie dishes are excellent.

juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
SaulGoodman said:
Have a look at Hawksmoor maybe? They can seat big groups in a private room and do a sharing menu. Although it's a steak restaurant the veggie dishes are excellent.
I did actually spot this as a potential

https://thehawksmoor.com/locations/borough/private...

UTH

9,956 posts

188 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Private dining at Hutong is pretty awesome, and it's up the Shard which always makes for a special event. Although might come in more than £100 PP, but it is an awesome restaurant: https://www.hutongblog.co.uk/category/private-dini...

SaulGoodman

248 posts

82 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
juggsy said:
I did actually spot this as a potential

https://thehawksmoor.com/locations/borough/private...
I arranged a work Christmas meal at Guildhall. Would definitely go again.

juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
UTH said:
Private dining at Hutong is pretty awesome, and it's up the Shard which always makes for a special event. Although might come in more than £100 PP, but it is an awesome restaurant: https://www.hutongblog.co.uk/category/private-dini...
Thanks, yeah I’ve done Hutong and have enquired with some of the other restaurant in the shard, but it does push the budget and I’m trying to find somewhere we can include our friends who may not want to splash so much cash

UTH

9,956 posts

188 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
juggsy said:
UTH said:
Private dining at Hutong is pretty awesome, and it's up the Shard which always makes for a special event. Although might come in more than £100 PP, but it is an awesome restaurant: https://www.hutongblog.co.uk/category/private-dini...
Thanks, yeah I’ve done Hutong and have enquired with some of the other restaurant in the shard, but it does push the budget and I’m trying to find somewhere we can include our friends who may not want to splash so much cash
Yeah fair point.

As someone who is lucky enough to take clients to these sorts of places for lunch most weeks, even I've been shocked at how the costs of these places has gone up - even though it's on the company card, places like Hutong and Hawksmoor have had to become a rare occasion rather than the norm like they were just a few years ago. Places that were comfortably £100 pp are now shifting into the £150pp category which is just too much a lot of the time, especially if you're paying on your own money!

UTH

9,956 posts

188 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Another suggestion, not sure how many people you are, or what time of day or even what the weather is like, BUT this is a great spot to have lunch or dinner with an awesome view: https://trafalgarstjames.com/the-rooftop

22s

6,440 posts

226 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
juggsy said:
I did actually spot this as a potential

https://thehawksmoor.com/locations/borough/private...
I've eaten in that private dining room - it is good, but it's also big for 10 people and not sure it's that "special" compared to some of the suggestions (e.g. Hutong). It would be a good bet at £100 a head which (crazily!) doesn't get you very far these days.

Any tasting menu + booze is going to easily blow through that - I'd say for something 'gastronomic' you're looking at £200 a head at least (which is a lot!).

Depending on how generous you're feeling you could ask for a contribution of £100 a head from friends and cover the rest yourself... Might be an expensive day out for you though.

Other options which could work budget wise, and will be an experience with decent food:

https://www.amazonicorestaurant.com/
https://www.casacruz.co.uk/
https://goldnottinghill.com/
https://daphnes-restaurant.co.uk/

Good luck!

Giantt

649 posts

46 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Inn 1888 Marleybourne,seen birthday groups in there,fantastic pizza and other Italian dishes,great pint of Guinness, really lovely staff
Rapsa,Hoxton,great Filipino/fashion,last Sunday of the month,boodle fight,like a table buffet,meat,fish and desert,had my birthday there last Oct,great cocktails too
Shell, Holborn,great seafood place, reasonable drinks for London
Oops just seen tasting menu bit, definitely Rapsa

TIGA84

5,339 posts

241 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Easy to keep it under £100 (for food) here, even at the top end.

https://www.thedelaunay.com/private-dining/


juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
22s said:
I've eaten in that private dining room - it is good, but it's also big for 10 people and not sure it's that "special" compared to some of the suggestions (e.g. Hutong). It would be a good bet at £100 a head which (crazily!) doesn't get you very far these days.

Any tasting menu + booze is going to easily blow through that - I'd say for something 'gastronomic' you're looking at £200 a head at least (which is a lot!).

Depending on how generous you're feeling you could ask for a contribution of £100 a head from friends and cover the rest yourself... Might be an expensive day out for you though.

Other options which could work budget wise, and will be an experience with decent food:

https://www.amazonicorestaurant.com/
https://www.casacruz.co.uk/
https://goldnottinghill.com/
https://daphnes-restaurant.co.uk/

Good luck!
Some great recommendations on there, thank you. Amazonico sounds interesting for sure!

I like the idea of a contribution but you just know the cocktails will flow! biglaugh

juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
UTH said:
Yeah fair point.

As someone who is lucky enough to take clients to these sorts of places for lunch most weeks, even I've been shocked at how the costs of these places has gone up - even though it's on the company card, places like Hutong and Hawksmoor have had to become a rare occasion rather than the norm like they were just a few years ago. Places that were comfortably £100 pp are now shifting into the £150pp category which is just too much a lot of the time, especially if you're paying on your own money!
I enquired at one place for a private room, they wanted £4500 minimum spend plus tip. That’s over £500 a head!

juggsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
UTH said:
Another suggestion, not sure how many people you are, or what time of day or even what the weather is like, BUT this is a great spot to have lunch or dinner with an awesome view: https://trafalgarstjames.com/the-rooftop
Sadly late November so definitely can’t rely on the weather, great spot though!

FunkyGibbon

3,811 posts

274 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Cinnamon Club in Westminster. Great chef, great food, great atmosphere.

Audis5b9

1,090 posts

82 months

Wednesday 17th May 2023
quotequote all
Chez Bruce is very nice and has a private dining room upstairs