Any ideas??? Fun, good stemware, great food, will let you bring in you own wine, etc...

might of been the easiest poll i have ever answered.

I love it! A whole mini winery with crusher, barrels, bottling line, etc!

They make a Percy and the chocolate factory set (not to mention a cdrom game about helping the factory make chocolate) why not a winery one? Although first they need to make an episode featuring the local winery on Sodor Island so there is merchandise tie in








LOL! How do we get this made? It would be nice to enjoy a nice glass of wine and play "choo choos" with my son at the some time!

True.

But the person whose ratings have most closely matched mine [and we haven't been at the same table but once ] has been ojeffso. You just gotta stick to your guns even if you wind up in left field

stratta

DavidN's place.

Well what's the place???

Manressa will frown (or maybe even prohibit) on your bringing several bottles of wine especially if it is on a Friday or Saturday night. I would call David Kinch personally and ask him. He as "rid" himself of his SO Amy (pronounced by her Ah-me'). She didn't like anyone. Maybe there is a chance now. But you are looking at $100 a head for dinner.

Kuleto's is absolutely AWFUL! both service and food.

Cafe Marcella would probably handle it but they do not have a private room. Still Larry Stepik has a way of making things happen.

There's a rumor that California Cafe has re-opened in Old Town.

One place very few think of is the Lyndon Hotel.

Valariano has good grunts and I think they can give you the room above the restaurant.

If you want nostalgia check out La Hacienda. I ate there the other day and it was actually very good. They do lots of banquets.

And the new VIA restaurant (I think that is what their name is) next to Whole Foods is one to definetly look at. I here they are pretty wine friendly. There is no corkage on Tuesday nights.

Is this your rehearsal dinner? What night of the week are you looking at?

Gus,

I thought they can't take groups at Stratta. I LOVE Stratta! But you end up at 17 St. Peter (sister restaurant) and I am personally not fond of the room there. I don't think the kitchen is as good either (which would seem to me to be wierd if it were so).

Go over and see Klaus at the Plumed Horse in Saratoga. They have wonderful food, are wine-friendly and the room is great!

David, All,
Thanks for all the feedback. The dinner is going to be on Oct 15th at around 5:30 - 6:00 pm.
I'll look into some of these places.

I agree 100% on Kuleto's. Went there last time I was in town and in was awful.

Nice to hear that La Hacienda has gotten better since I worked there...

At what point was CA Cafe in Old town closed, every time I was by there, it was open.

I second Plumed Horse.

Well, Emile's can certainly handle a group that size. Plumed Horse is good, but the restaurant is a bit tired. It won't push the edges of culinary excellence, but they are extremely wine friendly.

Another possibility is La Foret out in Almaden. Beautiful area, and excellent food. IMO much better than Le Papillon.

Quote:

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At what point was CA Cafe in Old town closed, every time I was by there, it was open.

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ormbee,

They closed the place about the same time they closed up in Valley Fair. IIRC that was six or seven months ago. I looks like it has reopened now. The one in Valley Fair is bye-bye forever.

Well I'll be, shows you my observation skills.

What do you guy's think of AP Stump's???

I've had good meals there but nothing outstanding. Be sure they show you the downstaires wine cellar/banquet room.

If you're thinking about downtown San Jose check out:

Paolo's; great food and good service.

Arcadia; no private room but still semi private in back left area, good sea food, fun and delicious food, relatively expensive, wine friendly byo.

Emiles; good food and very good value.

Grill on the Alley (Fairmont); I held a Christmas party there last year and am going back. Great atmosphere, great steaks, great bar.

When is the party? Sometime in the near future Cafe Marcela in Los Gatos will be turning their little retail store next to the restaurant into a small private room. This would be my first choice. New owner needs the business plus a new wow chef. Wine friendly.