Somebody Help This Poor Groom: Rehearsal Dinner

Posted on January 25th, 2012 2:07pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Somebody Help

This loyal Disher with a sunny disposition needs your help. He’s getting married and has many friends he wants to feed. Hear his plea:

We are looking for a place that is uniquely Dallas for a rehearsal dinner. We need to be able to host 75-90 guests and would like to keep it under $20 per person (plus tax tip and booze) Tex-Mex is out. Our hotel for out of town guests is near Willow Bend Mall and the actual wedding venue is in downtown Dallas. Does the SideDish nation have any suggestions?

47 comments

  1. It seems like Maggiano’s at Willow Bend would be a good and convenient choice.

    @ 2:12 pm on January 25, 2012

  2. Uniquely Texas? Maybe Hacienda Ranch in Frisco. Patrizio’s at Park and Preston in Plano.

    @ 2:17 pm on January 25, 2012

  3. Oops, I missed “uniquely Dallas”, but that seems to contradict “Tex-Mex is out” :-)

    @ 2:25 pm on January 25, 2012

  4. BABE’S CHICKEN!! :D

    @ 2:38 pm on January 25, 2012

  5. That is a metric crap-ton of people for a RD, isn’t it (as a straight guy, I’m not allowed to have a firm grasp of the etiquette of the situation)? At $20 a head, though, Tex-Mex is probably your only real option. I guess barbecue? Best bet, cut the guest list in half and go for $40 a person.

    @ 2:40 pm on January 25, 2012

  6. NOSH in Oaklawn would be close to a Downtown Venue. I know you said no Tex-Mex, but Mattito’s has a great private room. How casual? Katy Trail Ice House.

    @ 2:40 pm on January 25, 2012

  7. If the rehearsal is downtown I’m assuming you don’t want to drive far and be between downtown and Willowbend? Try renting out Sammy’s BBQ.

    @ 2:44 pm on January 25, 2012

  8. Sammy’s Barbeque! A friend of mine had her rehearsal dinner there in September and said it was a blast!

    @ 2:55 pm on January 25, 2012

  9. Do you need your price to be $20 per guest all inclusive of the tax gratuity and alcohol or can you spend $20 per guest + tax, gratuity and alcohol?

    @ 2:59 pm on January 25, 2012

  10. Whiskey Cake on Dallas North Tollway, maybe one exit north of Willowbend Mall. Their chef is TJ from Shinsei. Good food and good price point. Website here — http://www.whiskey-cake.com/

    @ 3:05 pm on January 25, 2012

  11. I second the nomination for Sammies’ BBQ…they throw these kinds of parties (uniquely Texas / Dallas that don’t cost a fortune) all the time

    @ 3:06 pm on January 25, 2012

  12. You could get it catered by one of the good BBQ places and have it at White Rock Lake – either Winfrey Point or the Pump House. Beautiful location. Might be too pricey. You’re going to have trouble doing it for $20.00/person, IMHO, as a recent MOB (mother of the bride) – but we didn’t have our wedding in Dallas. I would point out if you are having an actual rehearsal the night before the wedding the dinner should be close to it, or allow time for travel. My son went to a wedding in Austin where the guests were all at Lakeway (quite far from downtown) and the rehearsal dinner was downtown – everyone got caught in traffic and things were running late.

    @ 3:10 pm on January 25, 2012

  13. I would suggest Maggiano’s

    @ 3:14 pm on January 25, 2012

  14. Sambucca in Uptown can host that many (my RD was there and we have 75)

    @ 3:27 pm on January 25, 2012

  15. BBQ or the Stoneleigh P.

    @ 3:28 pm on January 25, 2012

  16. I can spend more than $20 per person it was more of a goal. We are serving Tex-Mex at the wedding so thats why we dont want to do it for the rehearsal dinner.

    @ 3:36 pm on January 25, 2012

  17. For those who asked why so many, its a lot of out of town guests. If they dont end up coming, it will be smaller but were not sure yet.

    @ 3:41 pm on January 25, 2012

  18. If you want to stay near your hotel, I think Whiskey Cake has a pretty sizable side room that can be separated off from the rest of the restaurant. The food is not expensive there and it is very good. That’s at least close to the hotel. I might also not so humbly suggest our new private space at Cane Rosso – we’re opening it next week and can customize a menu for you.

    @ 3:45 pm on January 25, 2012

  19. There is a Romano’s Macaroni Grill very close to Willow Bend. Just sayin.

    @ 4:00 pm on January 25, 2012

  20. Whoops! Didn’t see Jay Jerrier’s post. Yes! Cane Rosso for sure!

    @ 4:02 pm on January 25, 2012

  21. Pappadeux’s did ours and it was fantastic. Great food, Texas based, and they have private rooms. Alcohol can be purchased by you or a cash bar.

    @ 4:03 pm on January 25, 2012

  22. I had mine in the back room of Ozona’s. Great food, we had 2 options, chicken fried steak and enchiladas, salsa bar, cobbler and ice cream for dessert. They were professional, the room was rustic and nicely appointed, and was truly unique. It can hold

    @ 4:07 pm on January 25, 2012

  23. How about Zorba’s in Plano. I beleive it is the north west corner of Plano Pkwy and Preston. Bonus he would be supporting a sole proprietor

    @ 4:44 pm on January 25, 2012

  24. Magic Time Machine – everyone else will think the strippers are part of the wait staff and it doesn’t matter if your guests get rowdy and spill stuff.

    @ 4:48 pm on January 25, 2012

  25. Try the downtown Campisi’s. They have rooms to accomodate your party, are reasonably priced, are not Tex-Mex, and are a Dallas institution. It’s going to be difficult to find anywhere that can do under $20/person; but they should be able to come close. I did my rehearsal dinner there, and I know several others who have done it there and were very happy with their experience.

    @ 4:49 pm on January 25, 2012

  26. Sorry, I was thinking bachelor party later on, not rehearsal dinner.

    @ 4:49 pm on January 25, 2012

  27. My vote is still for Babe’s Chicken!! It’s yummy and BYOB!

    hmmm…or maybe I just really want to go to Babe’s for dinner tonight!

    @ 4:55 pm on January 25, 2012

  28. Seconds for Maggianos (had mine at the northpark one and they did a great job), and for Whiskey Cake (but bar tab could go thru the roof). Blue Mesa at 121 and the Tollway (or addison) would be great – unique to these parts and they always have accommodations for big parties. Think they will even set up the brunch-style buffet.

    @ 4:58 pm on January 25, 2012

  29. Maggiano’s or possibly 3 Forks…..both are close to Willow Bend.

    @ 6:07 pm on January 25, 2012

  30. Brackets at 75 and Mockingbird. Huge space with a ping pong “thunderdome” and wood fired pizza, wings, burgers, etc… Casual but upscale. Call and you can reserve the whole back space and ping pong tables.

    @ 7:58 pm on January 25, 2012

  31. Samar by Stephan Pyles. You could do a family style menu for $20 a person. They can work within your budget. They did for me.

    @ 7:59 pm on January 25, 2012

  32. Ozona’s , Eddie Deans or Sammy”s – all three have a real Dallas vibe. All three should also be within your budget.

    @ 8:07 pm on January 25, 2012

  33. A super fun and cool option would be to have several food trucks cater your party – even Cane Rosso has a truck. They can do it at almost any location, are totally self contained and would definitely be a memorable experience for everyone because they can try all sorts of amazing foods! Plus, you can likely supply your own booze, cutting down on cost, because none of them have license to sell it. We have some amazing food trucks in this area! I worked with Randy from Gandolfo’s Deli and he hooked my party up with four other amazing trucks. http://www.facebook.com/Gandolfosdallas Give him a shout and I am sure he would do the same for you!

    @ 8:35 pm on January 25, 2012

  34. The food truck idea is really cool!!! It would be a unique, casual, inexpensive way to go. One more idea: The Porch on Henderson. We were on a super tight budget for a class parent party. They catered it, we did our own booze and it came out to $25 per person.

    @ 8:53 pm on January 25, 2012

  35. A patron that eats at Eden Restaurant sent this to me. Eden is close to downtown on West Lovers Lane, is always BYOB, always sets a lovely buffet with excellent food, and is very easy to work with. We would be delighted to assist this groom with all of his needs and to stay within his budget.

    @ 9:49 pm on January 25, 2012

  36. Thanks Karen. I love Eden Cafe but it might be too small for our numbers. And I appreciate the Eden Cafe is a proud member of ShopLocalDFW.com

    @ 11:01 pm on January 25, 2012

  37. [...] Somebody Help This Poor Groom: Rehearsal DinnerD MagazineThis loyal Disher with a sunny disposition needs your help. He's getting married and has many friends he wants to feed. Hear his plea: We are looking for a place that is uniquely Dallas for a rehearsal dinner. We need to be able to host 75-90 guests … [...]

    @ 1:04 am on January 26, 2012

  38. Crossroads Diner can help you out wth your event!! You’ll have exclusive use of the restaurant for your party!!
    Give us a call and we can customize a menu to your needs…

    @ 6:31 am on January 26, 2012

  39. I was in the same boat with over 150 people. I had it at Sammy’s, they were great to deal with, we had a live band and we stayed until 2. They left us the keys and said to lock up when we were done and they would call with the bill for beer the next day. Everybody loved it. Cane Rosso wasn’t around, but that might be my first choice today.

    @ 9:44 am on January 26, 2012

  40. Hard 8 BBQ in Coppell. Your guests will go nuts over the huge pit.
    Babe’s…BYOB!!!

    @ 10:50 am on January 26, 2012

  41. Babes: About $13 per person…all you can eat sides.

    Celebration Restaurant: Plenty of Private rooms and for the main course, you can get seconds, thirds, etc….Homestyle cookin’. http://www.celebrationrestaurant.com/restaurant/dinner.htm

    @ 11:07 am on January 26, 2012

  42. I run an event venue and we get these requests all the time. Some of you suggest Nosh, III Forks, Samar, even Pappadeux? You can not walk in and have lunch at Pappadeux (the cheapest of these suggestions) for $20 tax, tip included, much less have a glass of wine. Why would you thing you could have dinner, plus booze and grat and tax? Where/who did y’all speak to to get these prices? There is no way any of those venues could have you OUT THE DOOR at $20/per person and make a dime. No way. No possible way. Now, the food truck idea is great… and buy your own booze… in someones backyard.

    @ 12:08 pm on January 26, 2012

  43. I hate typos.

    @ 12:14 pm on January 26, 2012

  44. Sammy’s & Crossroads are your best bets!

    @ 1:23 pm on January 26, 2012

  45. Blue Mesa is your absolute best choice! Pros at rehearsal dinners and weddings. Room large enough to hold the number of guests you have. Call Kim – 214-387-4407.
    She can help you with every aspect of your dinner.

    @ 2:31 pm on January 26, 2012

  46. Go with the food truck idea and have it in the church basement/rehearsal hall. If it is the right denomination, then you can legitimately explain why you don’t have the expensive booze. Or, as @What?!?! suggests, use your back yard. Depending on which food truck, they’ll already have connections to servers and other paraphernalia that you might need. You can go as high-end or low-end that you want, from scallops to hot dogs to sandwiches to kimchee burgers. Email me or post what sort of cuisine you are looking for, and I can suggest which food trucks. Or talk to Jasper Russo at Sigel’s. He knows most of the food truck owners and he can hook you up with the wine as well.

    @ 3:31 pm on January 26, 2012

  47. @what!?!, yes ma’am you sure can have food from Samar for $20.00 a person. Tell them your budget and they will accommodate your needs. They did for me.

    @ 9:39 pm on January 26, 2012