I have a friend who is the manager of the local Texas Roadhouse. I'll talk to him about the possibility of reservations, but based on my experience, I seriously doubt it, especially on a Friday night.

 

Well, Roadhouse won't take a reservation, but will "work with us" by trying to keep a section open for us. We can use this as a fall back. Schula's is closed for the night. I'll try them in the morning

 

Where ever we go I will vote for a place that is willing to give us separate checks even if they add a group gratuity of 18 to 20%. I am OK with that. On the other hand, I am NOT in favor of just dividing the check up divided by the number of people attending. As some people seem to take advantage of that by ordering the most expensive things on the menu including appetizers and soup, soft drinks etc. and make out like bandits.

At the risk of sounding like a cheap stake: Now that we are both unemployed, we can not afford to subsidize others. At our most recent meet/drive the Plant Pixie both ordered dishes that were under $10.00 each. We are not into soft drinks so we both had water with lunch. Our $8.95 meals with tax and tip should have cost us a total of about $23.41 (assuming a 9% restaurant tax and a 20% tip) NOT the $40.00 that it cost us) because the check was divided up equally. Some people seem to just take advantage of that situation. I don't like being taken advantage of like that. It is the principle that I don't like.

 

Any place works for us......... as long as they serve booze! Thanks for taking on the task of looking. I spent the past couple months looking for a place in MI that could handle 400 people and at the same time trying to keep the cost down. One does the best they can in a situation like that but you never please everyone.

 

400 - that takes some planning! LB - see my Trip Advisor list in the dinner thread. Not sure if you used that to work from, but they are pretty good for reviews. With such a large group, I'd be reluctant to go anywhere that will not take a reservation. It's difficult enough to find a place. You don't want any additional headaches.

 

If folks don't care for the restaurant that is chosen, they can opt out, and meet up after dinner.

 

I use Yelp and find their reviews pretty reliable.

 

I have a friend that uses BooRahs as well.

Maybe we can make a list of these?

 

Especially if one pays attention to the number of posts that it took to get the "Star" rating. IMHO, one post that rates it five stars could be the owners Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, or (MFSB) that reminds me that I have not heard that tune from TSOP for a while.

 

Or the amount the restaurant "donated" to Yelp.