I have a birthday coming up. Getting older is worse each year, and as my 'crowd' are increasingly unable to stay up late, at least without being unable to function for the following fortnight, I thought I'd ease the passage (matron) this year by gathering my friends around me in the civilised environment of a private dining room in a posh restaurant. We may even wear frocks. The veneer of civilisation will no doubt crack within an hour or so, but I can but try.
My question to you, at least the civilised among you, is: have you eaten in the private dining room of any London restaurants, or do you know of any that are particularly good? To include the povs among you: have you had any rilly good birthday dos recently?
Posts: 4537
| IP: Logged
posted
Chez Bruce is the finest and tastiest eattery in London but very expensive. It's a good place for a really boozey (and reasonably priced) set lunch and then you can move on to the well established local (I forget the name but it's next to Wandsworth Common).
They have a room upstairs which fits about 15 which could work.
Posts: 116
| IP: Logged
posted
Chez Bruce is the finest and tastiest eattery in London but very expensive. It's a good place for a really boozey (and reasonably priced) set lunch and then you can move on to the well established local (I forget the name but it's next to Wandsworth Common).
They have a room upstairs which fits about 15 which could work.
Posts: 116
| IP: Logged
posted
ooh ooh! I am going to The Gay Hussar next week for a posh birthday, we have a private room for 20 people. The menu looks tasty, though my experience on Hungarian food in Hungary was not entirely positive. Im expecting it to be substantial.
When is your birthday? I can report back if it is after the 4th. I may even report back anyway!
Posts: 2793
| IP: Logged
quote:Originally posted by MonkeySusan: Chez Bruce is the finest and tastiest eattery in London but very expensive. It's a good place for a really boozey (and reasonably priced) set lunch and then you can move on to the well established local (I forget the name but it's next to Wandsworth Common).
Scrawny is due to take me here very soon (possibly on Saturday if we can get a cancellation spot). I'm excited.
posted
I'm sure Chez Bruce is simply lovely, but it's a trifle out of the way, what with me living in Walthamstow. I was thinking more Clerkenwell, Islington, Shoreditch, "SoSho", wanky places like that.
Posts: 4537
| IP: Logged
posted
Yes, greatly. I went to such an establishment at the weekend, and was :sadface: by the quality of food. I hope that you know of a good one - as far as good can exist within the framework of 'generic'.
[ 25.10.2005, 11:20: Message edited by: Dr. Benway ]
quote:Originally posted by Dr. Benway: Yes, greatly. I went to such an establishment at the weekend, and was :sadface: by the quality of food. I hope that you know of a good one - as far as god can exist within the framework of 'generic'.
posted
I'd like to hire that back-room of the bar in Sleepers that would be good. Then all the people who have been molested by life, or Kevin Bacon's truncheon could meet and have one last blow-out, perhaps the last time we'd ever meet again. That would be nice, lovely scene that. I'm particularly looking forward to the b&w photographs showing friends dying of an overdose in a New York bog. We could even have a voice-over saying what happened after. I suspect I may retire and become a carpenter in the English countryside, but I still sleep with the lights on.
Posts: 874
| IP: Logged
quote:Originally posted by Dr. Benway: VOP, are you drunk? Or am I? Because that makes no sense to me at all.
Have you not seen the last scene of Sleepers?
Its lovely. One of the few wrap-up scenes from Hollywood that didn't seem totally forced.
Apologies - I'd just done a 36 hour chained-to-desk marathon. Though I should point out that lack of sleep was only a minor factor in producing such a crap post.
Posts: 874
| IP: Logged
posted
Why are they vulgar? Surely it's more vulgar to take over most of a restaurant with one's party, making lots of noise, unwrapping presents, bumping past other diners' chairs on the way to the loo and disturbing everybody else's peace with one's 'it's my birthday, look at me, oh here's my cake' tediosity?
Posts: 4537
| IP: Logged
A friend of Mrs. Mask invited us to a karaoke night in a private room in a Chinese restaurant in Lisle Street, once. Thousands of pounds worth of video-disc technology, space-age air-conditioning, wireless mics and astonishing food. We were the only gai-jin there. There were quite a number of private karaoke dining-rooms, but they were only for hire to orientals. When we first arrived at the restaurant and told them we were there for karaoke the staff denied all knowledge, we mentioned the name of the Chinese friend who had invited us and we were brusquely bundled up the stairs to our room. So, a unique experience. In a private dining room. Perhaps, they're not all bad.
quote:Originally posted by herbs: Why are they vulgar?
I don't know... it's just the exclusivity thing, know what I mean?
A lot of restaurants get all arsey about their private rooms, as well. Like they're bestowing some amazing honour on you by allowing you to dine apart from the herd in an underheated, poorly decorated, ex-storage room. Often they'll offer you a truncated menu, too.
posted
I know what you mean, but I was hoping that if the place was moderately classy to start with, it would be less of an issue. It's either that, or take over an entire restaurant for the evening, which could be a trifle expensive.
Posts: 4537
| IP: Logged
posted
If you go to porchetta, they all bang pots and pans and play 'happy birthday' over a PA. You can't beat porchetta. The pizzas are still getting bigger - now roughly 1/3 biggger than the plates that they are served upon.
posted
I fucking loathe the Kings Road. I even loathe the fact that it's got a wholly unnecessary 'the' before it. What I hate about it most is the snotty fucking demeanours on most of the vapid, dessicated ***** who tread its length and the nauseating stench of 'entitlement' they give off. It attracts over-privileged ***** from all over the globe who congregate and promenade with their snooty fucking airs and graces and glances of withering contempt. Oh, and the braying. Did I mention the braying? I hate the braying. If I ever find out I've got 24-hours to live and I can get my hands on a flamethrower 'the' Kings Road better fucking watch out!
quote:Originally posted by kovacs: Is it less vulgar and tacky than a "VIP Room" in a club?
I think that if good taste and refinement were represented by the Earth and that the orbit of the moon was described by an ellipse of vulgarity the "VIP Room" would be its apogee.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic