best places for big birthday dinners
"Where should I take a big group of people for my birthday" is a question I'm asked frequently. You have a diverse group of people and you need to satisfy their entertainment level, wallets & palates. Here's what I'd do:
pig beach
Laid-back outdoor bar & eatery offering trays of pit-smoked BBQ
480 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
ilili
Creative Lebanese sharing plates served up in a trendy, modern space.
236 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001
boqueria
Creative Barcelona-style tapas made with market-fresh ingredients in a warm, modern space.
171 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria
Bustling, gourmet pizzeria & wine bar from Mario Batali
1 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003
Famous Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse
Classic Jewish comfort food & vodka presented in a basement dining room
157 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002
beauty & essex
A pawn shop gives way to a hip restaurant & lounge serving creative American fare
146 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
esperanto
This colorful cafe with sidewalk seating serves up Latin food, drink & live music.
145 Avenue C, New York, NY 10009
Royal palms shuffleboard club
Shuffleboard courts draw playful crowds to this big bar with food trucks & occasional live music.
514 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
The smith
Trendy types gather for American eats & specialty drinks at this upbeat hangout & brunch favorite.
55 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Yurba Buena
Stylish Pan-Latin eatery with an open kitchen, a lively atmosphere & late-night hours.
23 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Claw dadddy’s
Airy, laid-back joint featuring Cajun-Creole seafood boils & po' boys, plus a raw bar
185 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Miss lily’s
Diner featuring retro decor, cocktails & classic Caribbean fare such as jerk chicken & curried goat.
132 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
Brooklyn bowl
Genre-defying bowling alley with high-tech lanes, live tunes & food by Blue Ribbon.
61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
frankies 570 Spuntino
Italian eatery specializing in Tuscan fare served in a traditional space.
570 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya
Vast Japanese menu of sushi & small plates plus sake & cocktails in the trendy Thompson LES Hotel.
187 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
toro
Tapas specialist for traditional & modern small plates in a lofty, industrial-chic space
85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011
catch
Slick, bi-level space known for creative seafood-focused food & a rooftop.
21 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014
Brooklyn crab
Tri-level seafood shack offers buckets of crab and raw oysters with outdoor seating and water views.
24 Reed St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Hometown bbq
Rustic counter-service choice featuring slow smoked meats, craft beer & live music on weekends
454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Emmy squared
Detroit-style square pizzas & signature burger in a spacious setting with a bar.
364 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Insa
Korean BBQ, noodles & other staples offered in a space with private karaoke rooms.
328 Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY 11217