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:


photo: Swan Dive

photo: Swan Dive

pig beach

Laid-back outdoor bar & eatery offering trays of pit-smoked BBQ

480 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

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ilili

Creative Lebanese sharing plates served up in a trendy, modern space.

236 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001

photo: Boqueria

photo: Boqueria

boqueria

Creative Barcelona-style tapas made with market-fresh ingredients in a warm, modern space.

171 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

photo: ny mag

photo: ny mag

OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria

Bustling, gourmet pizzeria & wine bar from Mario Batali 

1 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

photo: Thrillist

photo: Thrillist

Famous Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse

Classic Jewish comfort food & vodka presented in a basement dining room 

157 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002

photo:  Eater

photo:  Eater

beauty & essex

A pawn shop gives way to a hip restaurant & lounge serving creative American fare 

146 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

photo: gilt

photo: gilt

esperanto

This colorful cafe with sidewalk seating serves up Latin food, drink & live music.

145 Avenue C, New York, NY 10009

photo: blockwork

photo: blockwork

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

photo: The Smith

photo: The Smith

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

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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

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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

photo: Frankies 570 Spuntino

photo: Frankies 570 Spuntino

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

photo: toro

photo: toro

toro

Tapas specialist for traditional & modern small plates in a lofty, industrial-chic space 

85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

photo: Catch

photo: Catch

catch

Slick, bi-level space known for creative seafood-focused food & a rooftop.

21 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014

photo: NY Times 

photo: NY Times 

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

photo: Hometown BBQ

photo: Hometown BBQ

Hometown bbq

Rustic counter-service choice featuring slow smoked meats, craft beer & live music on weekends

454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

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Emmy squared

Detroit-style square pizzas & signature burger in a spacious setting with a bar.

364 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

photo: NY Daily News  

photo: NY Daily News  

Insa

Korean BBQ, noodles & other staples offered in a space with private karaoke rooms.

328 Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY 11217