How to Find the Perfect Restaurant for Your Family Party

A special event is coming, and you're excited to start the party. However, it can be challenging to pick a restaurant, especially in a highly-populated area. There are almost 30 thousand restaurants in Los Angeles alone and 700 thousand across the United States. For a big event, the right location can make or break your night, but we'll help you pick the perfect one.

Budget Constraints

Whether you're paying the entire bill or sharing the cost, you need to ensure that the restaurant of choice fits your and your guests' budget constraints. If your guests take care of their bills, try to keep high-cost options off the list because you could unintentionally disclude your loved ones. It's better to stick to a venue with entrees that are less than $20 each.

Don't Forget to Tip Well.

Let's get something straight: large parties are challenging to serve, especially by one person. Always add a 15-20% tip on the bill, but if you're separating the account, you can use one of these many creative tip jar ideas to ensure the employees get their fair share. Remember, most servers are paid with their tips, and shorting them for any reason could affect their quality of life.

Overall Ambiance

If your venue of choice is located near your home, head over and scope out the vibe of the place. While online photos can give you an idea of what you'll experience, they can't substitute for the real deal. On top of that, those photos may have been taken on a slow day. Being present at the restaurant will also allow you to speak to the manager for setup. 

Parking and Accessibility

When checking the ambiance of your restaurant of choice, take a look at the parking lot and accessibility options. Will there be enough room for your guests? Can they park on the street if there isn't enough room? Is there wheelchair accessibility or baby chaining rooms for anyone who needs it? Doing this research beforehand will be much appreciated by your guests.

Children Friendly vs. Family Friendly

Although children-friendly and family-friendly sound synonymous, they couldn't be more different. Some family-friendly restaurants have a cut-off time where they won't allow minors in, and other children-friendly spots are overly casual. Always tell the restaurant in advance that you plan to have children to provide entertainment or menus specific for them.

Technology Usage

Depending on the type of event you're hosting, you may need a sound stage or a dance floor. Even if the restaurant you're scoping out has marketing material available on Google, it doesn't mean their location uses the kinds of technology you need at the location. Most events won't need anything of the sort, but an add-on, like a karaoke system, may be fun for your guests.

Capacity for Guests

One of the primary reasons why you need to be accurate with your guest list is accommodations. There is nothing more frustrating for a restaurant than a party of 10 that turns into 12. Although that seems small, the restaurant can't do much if they're full. At the same time, make sure that your party can fit in the restaurant at all, as some places can't accommodate large groups.

Online Reviews

Reviews are very important for any restaurant, but always take them with a grain of salt. Some diners expect the world, while others will be appreciative no matter the service. Still, it's essential to pay attention to the quality of the service, wait time on food, and the attentiveness of managers when it comes to large parties to ensure your guests have a good time.