3 weeks out...and no rehearsal meal yet...

lgurnie

It's just 3 weeks out from our wedding and we still don't have a rehearsal meal location set. Our original plan was to have a Saturday lunch after our Saturday norning rehearsal and only invite those directly connected with out wedding (about 25 ppl). But, we're planning from a distance and EVERYONE is flying in for the wedding, so our total guest numbers are a lot lower than we thought they'd be. We'll have around 40 guests at the wedding...not the 75 we first thought. So, we'd now like to invite all guests to a rehearsal meal. We're having trouble finding something that's not a chain that can accomodate a group that size on a Saturday for lunch. Do you girls have any ideas? It's important to us to find a place that actual makes the food fresh and isn't something that guests can go to in other cities. Having something Saturday nigiht isn't out of the question, but lunch is preferred. Also, how did you let your guests know about the rehearsal meal if you didn't do it in your wedding invite?? Thanks!!!

kkidd83

Hi,We are looking at Mangia Pizza on Guadalupe for our casual rehearsal dinner and I think it would be a great lunch spot.  It has local Austin flair and the pizza is great.  The Guadalupe location has a party room that fits up to 50 w/ no reservation fee, you just have to eat their food.  They have a salad/pizza/cookies & brownie combo for $8.67/person.  They also serve beer and wine.  Plus there is an amy's ice cream right next door so you might be able to get Amy's over there to scoop ice cream too.  They also have other food options, just check out their catering menu.Good luck!kelsey

kkidd83

PS I would just call people or even email them.  It's a lot of phone calls to make but its cheaper and faster than snail mail and you could probably get an immediate RSVP.

SarahPLiz

Im not sure what side of town you are looking on, but Reale's http://www.realespizzaandcafe.com/ is a good place for a lunch. Its nice enough to call it nice, but not too fancy, and the food is good. THey are located on the south side of 183 at Anderson Mill. Its a gem of a place! I havent gotten as far as planning a rehearsal meal, but a friend of mine who got married in Dallas in April sent an evite for the rehearsal dinner.

ejayne

What part of town do you want to do this?

natjb

Moonshine on Red River is a great place to eat. They have a great food, and a cool atmosphere. Not too fancy but not too casual.

lgurnie

Not sure about side of town. The rehearsal will be east...at Barr Mansion...so most folks will go straight to lunch from there. I've been working with the folks at Primizie and they're willing to open just for us, but it's a total budget stretch, so I need to look into other things. Not being from Austin, it's so hard to pick a place to have an event at when you haven't had the food!  Thanks so  much for the suggestions...I'm open to more, too!

rjpaulsen

I second Moonshine.  Great Austin feel and it should be a reasonable cost.  You can also pre-select the entree options.   The other spot to consider is some place like Maudie's or Guero's.  Both are near downtown and offer great tex-mex options that is very typical of Austin. 

annabellfarrar

As an Austin native, I would second Moonshine (right next to the river downtown), Guero's (just barely south Austin on Congress Ave.) and Maudie's (multiple locations, including one in north Austin)... and add Z'Tejas, Iron Cactus and Trudy's, all of which I believe have north Austin branches that wouldn't be a far drive from Barr Mansion. On a Saturday, the north locations' private rooms/lunches may be less busy than their central Austin locations, so that could benefit you. Iron Works BBQ downtown on Red River and 1st St. has a large covered porch area they do private parties in, and is definitely charming. Chuy's downtown on Barton Springs Dr. is classic Austin but can be loud and busy. There is also Pappasito's and Pappadeaux's, but I am not sure how "chain" you want to go. The weddings I've been to where the majority of guests were out of towners and the couple didn't do formal paper RD invites simply sent nice-looking Evites or html designed/graphic invites that they emailed to everyone. They included links to the RD information on their wedding website, such as a map, restaurant info, etc.