Food, Fun & Celebration: Private Rooms & Banquets in the D

By: Amber Ogden | March 30, 2015
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There are many desirable aspects of springtime, and with warmer weather comes graduation and wedding season. When you’re looking to celebrate your special day, look no further than Metro Detroit restaurants! There are countless venues that provide private dining spaces and banquet halls where you can host a birthday party, wedding shower, even a work gathering.

If you’re looking for somewhere to host a special celebration in the D, consider one of the following restaurants that double as excellent private dining venues.

The Whitney, 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit, is a mansion with over 120 years of history. The mansion has a number of small and large rooms to accommodate groups of any size. There are several meal packages to choose from, including silver, gold, platinum, elite and ultimate.

The Saturday Bountiful Brunch Buffet is perfect for any medium-sized gathering, and is available on Saturday mornings for parties with a minimum of 75 guests. Hot breakfast selections include Detroit sausage links, a made to order omelet station, cherry wood smoked bacon and traditional scrambled eggs. Cold buffet selections, a carving station, seafood bar and desserts and pastries are also available. The package costs $39 per person, or $19 for children under the age of 10.

family loading backpacks in a blazer

With ample space and advanced safety features, the Blazer ensures every journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

All banquet package options at The Whitney can be viewed here.

Tirami Su, 146 Maincentre, Northville, is an excellent Italian restaurant that offers a fixed private party lunch and dinner menu. Banquets are limited to three hours and a confirmed guest count is required 48 hours before your soiree begins.

A three choice private party lunch menu is available for $15.99 per person and includes Salmon or Chicken Toscana, Farfaletta Al Pollo and Chicken Marsala. The four choice private dinner party menu includes similar choices (Chicken Marsala, Farfaletta Al Pollo, Salmon Brace and Filet Mignon) for $31.99 per person.

When booking your party, be prepared for a $150 nonrefundable deposit.

Roast, 1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit, is a great place to host any event, because who wouldn’t want to do so at Michael Symon’s restaurant? There are two rooms available for special events, the State Room, which seats 11 to 18 guests, and the Window Room, which seats 19 to 36 individuals. There are various food and beverage minimums for each room on weekdays and weekends, which can be found online.

Menu packages include a first course, entrée, two sides and a dessert. Just think; you could host your birthday party and feature a menu package that includes a mixed green salad or soup, choice of roasted chicken, sturgeon or filet mignon, sides of spinach and feta, whipped potatoes and crème brûlée. Your guests will love you for it!

Antonio’s, 2220 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, offers four different banquet rooms, so there is no doubt you’ll find one suited for your next event. The Rita Room is the largest and seats up to 140. Next are Rita West Room (suitable for 80) and Rita East Room (for no more than 55). The Amici Room is best for intimate gatherings, as it seats a maximum of 20 and minimum of 12 people.

The catering menu includes homemade pasta, stuffed pasta, main courses, salads and side dishes by the full tray and half tray. Eggplant Parmigiana, Antonio’s Italian Salad and Stuffed Shells are sure to be crowd pleasers. Pizza is also available by the sheet!

The Bird and the Bread, 210 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, is a stylish bistro that just so happens to have an adjoining banquet facility. The Elm Room can be utilized as one large room or two small rooms, depending on the nature of your event.

The Elm Room fits up to 150 guests, or can be broken down into two separate areas: The Bella Room (for 100 guests) and The Enzo Room (for 40 guests). Whether you’re having a small, intimate birthday party or a bumpin’ wedding reception, this is a great venue!

The Bird and the Bread’s executive chef put together several thoughtful banquet menus, including appetizers, dinner packages, dinner buffets, lunch packages and more. Just to give you an idea, the Woodward Avenue dinner package costs $65 per person and includes four entrée choices (Calotte de Boeuf, Smoked Duck Breast, Seared Sea Scallops or Polenta and Portobello), along with salad and choice of dessert.

Best of all, you can decide whether or not you want a dance floor at your party! The answer: you do.

Sweet Lorraine’s, 17100 N. Laurel Park Dr., Livonia, has received numerous accolades, including being voted one of the state’s Top Ten Favorite Restaurants in the Zagat Guide for Michigan. If that’s the case, why wouldn’t you want to host a gathering here?

Groups of up to 35 can be accommodated in the restaurant, while larger private parties can be held in the Livonia Marriott dining rooms (the restaurant is inside the hotel). Brunch, lunch and dinner private parties are all available, and there are several suggested menus for each.

If you’re planning a lunch, consider this option: a choice of soup or garden salad, followed by a main course of Maple Cured Salmon, Barcelona Paella, Jamaican Jerk Tenderloin, Down Home Pot Roast, Traverse City Pasta or Pecan Chicken. For dessert, fresh fruit or Sweet Lorraine’s Cheesecake! All of this, plus coffee, tea or soft drinks, is included for just $25.99 per person (sales tax and gratuity not included).

Planning an event can always be stressful, but remember one thing: you’re celebrating! No matter the occasion, whether you’re graduating, getting married or growing one year older, enjoy it. And congratulations!

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