Le Colonial offers its intimate parrot room with seating for 12. Photo provided by Neil Burger
By Jan Norris
It’s the start of the season for parties, events and life celebrations. But where are you going to host, say, 132 of your closest friends?
There’s still time for small December parties if you book as soon as possible, though a few area caterers said you might not find space on the weekends.
Robert Stanfield, of Potions in Motion in Boca Raton, said a lot of people book a year in advance for holiday parties, especially for large groups.
“We can book the week-of for certain parties; we have good relationships with certain venues,” he said. “But typically it’s two to three weeks out during the month of December.”
You can try for a Friday or Saturday party, but chances are the answer will be no.
“Ninety-five percent of parties are on Friday or Saturday nights,” Stanfield said. “We try to encourage corporate clients to book on a weeknight. Thursday nights are a good night for parties and we can sometimes give clients a price break.”
He could handle parties for up to 100 quickly, using The Brick, the old T-Rex facility in Boca Raton.
“It has, I think, nine different atriums and their redecorated ballroom, a courtyard. It’s a hot place for parties right now.”
Ashley Bacon of Lady Ashley Party Planning in Boca Raton focuses on small parties, and says a December party is still possible for even 25 people, but call as soon as possible.
“It’s hard during season, but we have great contacts and can get people to work with us if we need,” she said.
But, Bacon said, planning more in advance gets you what — and when — you want. “Big events, plan a month or more longer. Really big events, huge bar mitzvahs, weddings — of course six months at least. Some people plan a year or more out.”
At VIP Caterers in Boca Raton, Neil Wasserman says he’s booked for parties up to three years from now. But, he said, “For small events, I’d need a week to 10 days to do an event.”
Other tips:
Get at least a rough head count. Many spaces charge per person for food and will charge astronomically for walk-ins.
See if you can reserve a room — or a whole place — for meals that are outside the normal hours. Ask if the restaurant will do a lunch or brunch menu, perfect for a shower or reception.
If you can be flexible with dates, ask to go on a waiting list.
Ask for options for covered outside spaces: patios, decks or pavilions — but have an out if the weather turns. If it’s a big event, and especially outdoors, ask about insurance and cancellation policies (that goes for the outside vendors, too).
Get it all in writing. Clarify all the details about how many are allowed, what is furnished, and what can be brought from outside.
Party venue options
Here are some restaurant and hotel venues to consider:
Wine and Spirits Kitchen, 411 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-243-9463. Two private dining rooms are available, accommodating up to 14 in one, or up to 30 in the other. Think elegant wine dinners, or more casual office party tastings.
Elisabetta’s Ristorante, 32 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-560-6699; elisabettas.com. Private room upstairs can accommodate 40 at this Italian spot overlooking the Avenue.
Drift, 10 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561-274-3289; opalcollection.com. The restaurant inside the Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort is the one you call to handle your table-of-eight anniversary party, or a 1,000-person guest list for a corporate affair, or any party size in between.
Sixty Vines, 5050 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561-961-3131; sixtyvines.com. A 10-person lounge with a tasting table is good for a friend’s birthday. Book the Greenhouse for up to 30 for a sit-down dinner, the Paso room for up to 38, or the Terrace patio for 44 in a wine-country setting.
Farmer’s Table, 1901 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, 561-417-5836; dinefarmerstable.com. The farm-to-table restaurant inside the Wyndham hotel has several areas available, including the Oak Room, seating 100; the Grand Ballroom, for 140; or The Arbor, a poolside patio area that accommodates 75 for cocktails or 40 for dinner.
Le Colonial, 601 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-566-1800; lecolonial.com. An elegant, intimate room with tropical parrots wallpaper seats 12 at this upscale French Vietnamese restaurant.
Rose’s Daughter, 169 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561-271-9423; rosesdaughterdelray.com. Rent the patio with its own bar for up to 50 people, and order from the restaurant. Good for office get-togethers and cocktail affairs under the stars.
Latitudes, 2809 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach, 561-278-2008; opalcollection.com/delray-sands/restaurants/latitudes. The modern, Blue Ocean ballroom handles up to 75 with an oceanfront view. The White Sands room can hold 60 diners, and the Ocean Terrace, with ocean view, has space for 60 in a cocktail party setting.
Waterstone Resort, 999 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 561-368-9500; waterstoneboca.com. A ballroom here can handle a party of up to 225. The Point outdoor terrace holds up to 50 for cocktail parties with a waterfront view.
Benvenuto, 1730 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach, 561-364-0600; benvenutorestaurant.com. Party in a historical site — a Mizner-inspired building that began as a botanical garden. Operating as a restaurant since 1975, it is now an event venue as well. Its dining rooms can accommodate from 18 to 350.
Abe and Louie’s, 2200 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561-447-0024; abeandlouies.com. The upscale steakhouse (known for its dress code) can take on 16 to 50 guests, with three private rooms.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561-237-0067; eddiev.com. Private rooms accommodate anywhere from eight, at an intimate dinner in the Vault, to 80 on a terrace for a cocktail affair.
The Addison, 2 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 561-372-0568; theaddisonofbocaraton.com. Numerous rooms and a romantic courtyard are available at this well-known Mizner-designed venue. Its kitchen can handle all dietary requests for parties, including glatt kosher.
Think beyond restaurants
Lady Atlantic, yacht charter, 801 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-243-0686; delraybeachcruises.com. Book the modern yacht for a cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway for up to 150 people as a cocktail venue, or 120 seated for dinner. Casual or formal as you choose.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, 561-495-0233; morikami.org. Options are available for cocktail and dinner parties on the terrace, or larger events in the gardens.
Boca Raton Innovation Campus, 5000 T-Rex Ave., Boca Raton, 561-807-6932; workatbric.com. Several spaces for rentals such as an updated ballroom, atriums, and a courtyard are available at the old T-Rex campus. Large parking and valet facilities. Bring your own caterer.
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Chef Angelo Romano has joined Benny’s on the Beach. Photo provided
New Oceanwalk by Benny’s
A new chef and redesigned space are in place at Oceanwalk by Benny’s on the Beach. The modern space at the end of the Lake Worth Beach casino building, closed since Sept. 2, is reopened and redecorated as an oceanside beach house with teak tables, striped umbrellas and green and ivory quartz accents.
Angelo Romano, chef and culinary director of both Benny’s on the Beach on the pier and Oceanwalk, returns to his hometown from New York City where he worked 20 years as a chef. He’s earned critical acclaim, including a Bib Gourmand from Michelin.
The menu continues to emphasize food from coastal waters and area farms, and Romano says sourcing products is getting better all the time.
“Better grocery stores are open, and we have more forward-thinking vendors. I’ve never seen so many green markets.
“We have better butchers now, things like that. Everything starts to build from that.
“It’s a really exciting time for South Florida, but Palm Beach County especially.”
Any menu changes won't come right away, because Benny’s concept has “stood the test of time,” he said. “... It’s a matter of paying attention to nuances, as well as product mix and sales.”
The appeal of the all-day menu is there because of the restaurant’s hours, he said.
“We’re not open very late. Most of our clientele is coming in most of the day and for early dinner. We’re not drawing a late crowd. The menu is framed around that. It’s a menu of all the hits.
“I’m very patient and methodical. Change is meant to be a thoughtful, layered decision.”
Oceanwalk by Benny’s on the Beach is at 10 S. Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth Beach, 561-247-7676; oceanwalkbybennys.com. Open daily at noon, and until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
In brief
The Butcher and Bar in Boynton Beach has closed after five years. The butcher shop and restaurant featured premium meats and cocktails as its focus.
Citing skyrocketing business costs, including a 54% food cost increase and insurance rates that doubled over the five years, owner Eric Anderson said the business is not viable in these circumstances. “The truth is, we failed,” he wrote to his online audience.
Jan Norris is a food writer who can be reached at nativefla@gmail.com.
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