Two families, diverging palates--where should we go?

OK so I knew if anyone could help me with this it would be you guys.

I'm getting married next month and my fiance and I are trying to figure out where to have the "rehearsal" dinner (which is a dumb name, since we're not rehearsing anything, except maybe how to all get along) the night before. It'll be the first time my family and his meet.

Here's why this isn't easy:

My family is from Iraq. They like really spicy food and interesting food and are pretty adventurous, eatingwise. They're all good cooks (except one of my sisters, but she can play tennis and I can't, so...) and have always enjoyed "ethnic" restaurants more than your standard American places.

His family is from the Jewish suburbs of Baltimore. They like their food bland. They do not enjoy being surprised. They complain if there's too much heat. They don't like anything "weird." A few of them have NEVER EVEN TRIED sushi. Their favorite foods are steak, chicken sandwiches, brisket, various Jewish-deli salads, the American-mall version of Chinese food.

I know I'm making it sound like my family is good and his is bad. That's not true. His family is much nicer than mine, for the most part. But they have terrible taste in food.

Other complications: The place needs to be kid-friendly, because there will be five children there (ages 5 to 11). It should be vegetarian-friendly, because the fiank and I don't eat meat (well, I eat fish sometimes but he doesn't). It should be fun and relaxed enough that people who've never met might feel comfortable getting to know each other. And there should be alcohol. Because nerves will be running high. Especially mine.

It doesn't need to be particularly fancy or classy or anything like that. It doesn't have to be the kind of place we'd ever go on our own. It can be a little cheesy in a family restaurant kind of way. It can't be superexpensive.

The perfect place would have been Tizi Melloul, because there's stuff on the menu for everyone and it's a "festive" place and there's that nice private room in the back where you can sit on the floor. But my fiance took his mother there when she was still alive, so it brings back too many memories, so, you know, that's out.

Sorry so longwinded.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Anaheed

How About Brasa Roja or El Llano. El Llano serves great steaks Columbian style for very reasonable prices. The more adventurous among your group might go for some blood sausage while the tamer eaters can have a good steak, some boiled potatoes, and a fried banana.

The menus at both Places are similar (they have common ownership) except that Brasa Roja serves some really great rotissierie chicken in addition to steaks, chops and rabbit.

VI Writes On Brasa Roja and El Llano

Maybe Reza's on Ontario? Not the best Persian food around perhaps, but big and child friendly (and I think it has a private room); the menu includes seafood and vegetarian dishes and non-threatening things like beef kabobs.

Reza's
432 W Ontario St
Chicago, IL
312 664-4500
www.rezasrestaurant.com

I like Brasa Roja, but it's a long way from being a party place. I'm going to recommend my GNR nominee and winner, Moon Palace. Good food. Family friendly. Full bar. You should be all set.

Another possibility might be Tapas. There's a discussion of some of the various local choices here A few pitchers of Sangria might console any guests who share the prevailing view that there's no good tapas in Chicago and no one else would know.

I also concur with Amata's recommendation of Reza's.

Let us know where you end up.

Greektown might be an option. Conservative meat & potatoes people have excellent lamb chops (assuming that's not considered too far 'out there') or even steak and then the more adventurous have the entire menu to explore. Most of the restaurants there are large enough to easily accomodate larger groups, have full bars, and are used to parties with children (and what kid wouldn't want to see flaming cheese?). My fave is Santorini, Adams and Halsted.

Greektown is a great idea that I hadn't considered. Thanks!

We were thinking tapas, too, though every local tapas place is a little depressing. But we're still considering it, partly because empanadas = perfect kid food.

My parents would kill me in a cornfield if I took them to Reza's. That place insults Middle Eastern food so violently. They would be horrified.

Moon Palace sounds good, too, but might be a little too far for people to drag their kids to and fro. (We live in Lakeview.)

Anaheed wrote:Greektown is a great idea that I hadn't considered.

I've heard a lot of positive things about parties at Greek Islands.

Another thought would be The Bagel -- you could have them do a spread of meat, fish and veggie trays. It's nothing gourmet, but it would make his family happy without offending yours too much. Their pastrami and chopped liver are both decent; I haven't had the smoked fish there, but assume they buy it rather than make it, so it can't be too terrible. They don't serve alcohol -- but they'd probably let you bring your own, which would be cheaper. For that matter, you could get the trays and have the party somewhere else altogether.

French bistro fare is another option, safe for the unadventurous but interesting enough for others. Bistro 110, Brasserie Jo and Cyrano's all have good food and private rooms.

Mazel tov and good luck!

Greek Islands
312/782-9855
www.greekislands.net
200 S. Halsted St. (entrance on Adams)

Bagel Restaurant & Deli
773/528-7990
www.bagelrestaurant.com
3107 N. Broadway St.

Bistro 110
312/266-3110
www.bistro110restaurant.com
110 E. Pearson St.

Brasserie Jo
312/595-0800
www.brasseriejo.com
59 W. Hubbard St.

Cyrano's Bistrot & Wine Bar
312/467-0546
www.cyranosbistrot.com
546 N. Wells St.

Anaheed wrote:Greektown is a great idea that I hadn't considered. Thanks!

Hey Anaheed,

You know, a desirable collateral benefit of Greektown would be that some of the restaurants are quite lively, and loud, and would thus distract, divert from the awkward silences and alleviate the tensions of a first family face-off.

LAZ came up with some good suggestions, and I personally like the Bagel as a general, all-purpose, non-threatening okay food place, but it seems like it might be a little...oh, I don't know, patronizing, maybe.

Incidentally, that's a pretty stiff critique of Reza's...I'd be interested in hearing more about why you hate it so much (I don't have strong feelings either way; just curious).

Hammond

Interesting thread. While my wife's father was actually born in France, he's of Persian descent. And my family is Jewish. When we had our rehearsal dinner I didn't even consider if anybody else would like the food. I didn't care if the two sets of parents got along. The first time they met was at the rehearsal and the last time they met was at the wedding.

As a young couple, it's important to take control early in this situation. It's your wedding, not your parents or his parents wedding. We simply went to a place my wife and I liked. If I remember it was Gullivers. I figured that if anyone was put off by the food, well, we'd be done eating early enough that they could go wherever they wanted after we were done. I just wasn't going to get hung up pleasing other people when it came to our wedding.

I know this isn't really the kind of suggestion you were looking for. But I hope that no matter how things turn out at this dinner that it makes you feel a little better and less stressful about this decision. Besides picking what color underwear to choose for your wedding day, it's probably the least important decision you have to worry about.

So good luck on your wedding. I just wanted you to also know that 2 people of such different heritage can make a marriage work. We just had our 33rd anniversary. You just need to be strong the onset.

LAZ wrote:They don't serve alcohol -- but they'd probably let you bring your own, which would be cheaper. For that matter, you could get the trays and have the party somewhere else altogether.

The Bagel in Old Orchard has a full bar.

You don't say whether the party will be big enough to need a room of its own or just a few tables pushed together, but I tend to think cuisine-wise, yes, this is exactly the sort of situation of divergent tastes and pickiness for which Greektown was invented, and likewise why Chicago has approximately one trillion Italian restaurants. I don't know exactly who has party rooms, but out of the Tuscanys and Scoozis and Francescas and so on in the world, there ought to be one you can find easily enough if you need that. Speaking of Italian in Lakeview, has anyone ever eaten at that Salvatore's place on Arlington near Clark? It seems to do a lot of wedding-related business....

As strange as it may sound, Greek cuisine can seem exotic to the "I'm-an-easy-to-please-meat-and-potatoes" crowd, and in my own similar experience a GT restaurant has elicited the damning comment "what an interesting place to eat."

Italian would seem to me to be a good meeting ground. Have you considered Sabatino's? It's a fun place with an eclectic Italian menu and a good value. Much commented on on this site, but make sure they know well in advance that you're coming and your special needs. A preliminary personal visit with the manager would do some good. (Long ago I had a bad experience there re a reservation, but not with a large party.)

Sabatino's Restaurant and Lounge
4441 W. Irving Park Rd

Why not take over Spoon Thai for the evening? His family orders off the English menu and yours off Erik M.'s translation of the Thai (or something to that effect). The kids will have fun with the spring rolls and fried chicken, etc. It's BYO so that will help cut the cost.

As a young couple, it's important to take control early in this situation. It's your wedding, not your parents or his parents wedding.

Thanks for this reminder. But we've controlled every aspect of our actual wedding so intensely and much to the chagrin of our families that we figured we should make the night before something "for them."

As strange as it may sound, Greek cuisine can seem exotic to the "I'm-an-easy-to-please-meat-and-potatoes" crowd

Yes, the second I mentioned it, the fiance said, "That might be a little weird for my family, believe it or not." I hardly can.[/quote]

Have you considered Sabatino's? It's a fun place with an eclectic Italian menu and a good value.

This place sounds perfect. We're gonna go try it out tonight. Thank you!