Group meals
Commenting on the Inside thread, Humberfisher mentioned that while it's absolutely great for a romantic dinner for two, Inside isn't the best place for parties of more than 10. This got me thinking. I wonder where IS the best place for a group meal in Greenwich?
I guess it sort of depends on the group of course - a kiddie birthday party isn't going to be the same as an office Christmas do or a sedate 50th Birthday meal.
So - I'd like suggestions, please, for the best places (and the worst) for large parties (meals, not actual parties.) Suggestions for all the above types of groups and others will be interesting - we all have celebrations from time to time.
Part of me can't help thinking that despite any other prejudices I might have, some of the Greenwich Inc. places are best set up for larger groups - Bar du Musee, The Trafalgar Tavern and, gulp, The Spread Eagle (has anyone eaten in the posh conference room bit that used to be the antique shop yet?) may be, despite anything else, the best places to eat. Cafe Rouge, too, might do it - size and ability to cope with numbers has to reign over intimacy and personal service when it comes to occasions.
What's your opinion?
I guess it sort of depends on the group of course - a kiddie birthday party isn't going to be the same as an office Christmas do or a sedate 50th Birthday meal.
So - I'd like suggestions, please, for the best places (and the worst) for large parties (meals, not actual parties.) Suggestions for all the above types of groups and others will be interesting - we all have celebrations from time to time.
Part of me can't help thinking that despite any other prejudices I might have, some of the Greenwich Inc. places are best set up for larger groups - Bar du Musee, The Trafalgar Tavern and, gulp, The Spread Eagle (has anyone eaten in the posh conference room bit that used to be the antique shop yet?) may be, despite anything else, the best places to eat. Cafe Rouge, too, might do it - size and ability to cope with numbers has to reign over intimacy and personal service when it comes to occasions.
What's your opinion?
Labels: Debates, Eating Out
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
09:20
15 Comments:
We have small children, so this will obviously colour our choices. Whenever we mums want to go out for a meal, we meet at Pizza Express. The staff are generally so pleasant and welcoming to children, it's hard to go anywhere else. The no smoking policy years ahead of the ban is also very welcome.
I have been there with groups of people (who hasn't?) and found it absolutely fine. Not excellent, but that's not what one looks for in a corporate outing, really. We have also had a child's birthday party at Pizza Express, which I cannot recommend highly enough. They took care of everything including cake and ice cream. Not only was it a breeze to plan, but we had a ridiculous amount of fun making our own pizzas. It's still my favourite party place.
Other group places I've been include The Everest in Blackheath which has a lovely private room upstairs for groups, and Cave Austin which has, erm, an upstairs room for groups. Sometimes they'll even let you use it. Other times they say, "You'll just make a mess and we'll have to clean it up." Well, yes, that's our contract. We make a mess, you clean it up, but we pay you. Oh, and a group evening at Mogul was nice but awkward with the space.
Thanks for the tips!
Went to the upstairs private room at the Spread Eagle before Christmas with a party of about 25. Terribly well organised although portion sizes varied greatly. I am a member of a Greenwich Women networking group and we have found Rivington and the Hill quite happy to accept groups, welcomed with open arms especially on quite nights. They are also more than happy to negotiate a set price, albeit for a slightly limited menu choice, which obviously works best for the chef. Locale and Strada in Blackheath are very helpful too.
Let's hear a shout for the last of the cheap eats! The curry place near the Cutty Sark DLR station.
It does a £5 buffet at lunch times. There's usually two chicken curries, one lamb and about three vegetarian curries. All the usual side dishes too. There is an upstairs room which seems to be saved for larger groups.
If it's a work outing and you have a mix of people on widely differing salaries, I think suggesting a £5 restaurant goes down well with everyone.
I eat in this place nearly every Saturday: it's tasty, the staff are friendly and it's cheap.
So which one do you mean, Alan? Taste of India?
I havne't ever been, but for a fiver - well it would be wrong not to..
By far the best service and food I've had at a large celebratory function (double 40th birthday party) was at SE10 Restaurant & Bar on Thames Street in Greenwich. Lovely venue, friendly and very capable chef, and helpful, hard-working staff. I think it was quite expensive but as I was one of many guests being treated, I had only to enjoy it thoroughly!
Also attended a smallish group supper at the Cutty Sark pub, whose staff were happy to reserve us a couple of tables since it can be quite difficult to find several seats together in there at times. Food is adequate: As someone else said, such bookings are for the social aspect at least as much as the repast itself.
Staff were not overly attentive at Bar de Musee at a hen night I attended there, but they made sure the people in charge of our group got what they wanted regarding moving tables, ordering wine, etc. The Mitre and several other pubs have function rooms upstairs, for which presumably at least some of them offer catering as well as the space itself.
I wonder if any of the boats leaving from Greenwich Pier do meals? There are party boats from there, but I think they tend to have drinks bars only.
Hi Phantom
Yes, I meant Taste of India. I go so often I don't bother remembering the name!
Cheers Alan!
Kori - I think you're right - party boats only do drinks - though that may change as the Dome opens and the party boat companies see a gap in the market...
I attended the launch of the re-fitted Silver Sturgeon where we have a magnificent lunch. It is part of the Woods fleet and they all do food. Unfortunately you have to embark from the Savoy pier but at least they come down to Greenwich before heading back. Not cheap I would guess, but lovely.
A very timely question. I'm organising an annual get together of about 12 people who were at college together. The format is a day visit to a "place of interest" (this year Greenwich). Requirements for lunch is somewhere bookable, which can comfortably seat 12 at a single table, good range of food including vegetarian options, and most importantly moderatly priced (one of the group is famous for being "careful" with his £s).
With so many resteraunts in Greenwich this ought to be easy, but hasn't been. The event is on a Sunday when many pubs and resteraunts seem to be obsessed by Sunday roasts and other choices aren't available
I now have a shortlist of Cafe Rouge and Cucina do Sorteri on Nelson Road. I tried the latter on Friday evening and it was Ok in a safe Cafe Uno/Prima Pasta kind of way; simple pastas, pizzas, and meat dishes plus of course staff waving comically large pepper grinders.
Has anyone any other suggestions ?
BTW has anyone any experience of eating at the Novotel ?
It's amazing, isn't it - you'd think it would be easy - but there you go. Yes I have eaten at the Novotel - I'll review it properly sometime, but for now the food is ok, the service ok, the decor ok - it's all just - well - ok. We were the only table that wasn't single business men. But, as has been said before, it's the social aspect that is the most important when you're with a group and the Novotel's menu shouldn't let you down - just bring your own atmosphere.
Out of your shortlist, I think it depends on how quiet you want to be. Cafe Rouge may get a little noisy, but that may be what you have in mind. Soteri does nice pizzas but again, it's not somewhere I would visit for the atmosphere - I eat in there from time to time and then instantly forget it.
I went to a lunchtime party upstairs in the Spread Eagle and would recommend it - service and food were both very good. I imagine the balcony in the Rivington would be a good place for a party of around a dozen. Have only had a table for 2 there myself, but I like the idea that you have your own area while not being entirely cut off from the atmosphere of the restaurant. Another one to try might be the restaurant in the Greenwich Park Bar & Grill.
Ooh - the balcony in the Rivington. That's a good one. Youcould get one of their party meals - Suckling Pig, anyone?
Why no mention of the North Pole? We have had our Staff Xmas party there on a couple of occasions and the food and service was very good-esp considering it was Xmas. The best deal was booking through a web site called Toptable which offered 50% off the food bill for up to 4 people. That was amazing value
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