Perfect Event Hosting in San Antonio - Pat O'Brien's
Written: Sep 29 '07 (Updated Oct 01 '07)
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Pros: Great ambiance and service.
Cons: Smoking facility may not be for everybody.
The Bottom Line: Pat O'Brien's is a great place for anyone from individuals to families and large groups.
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| Petra's Full Review: Pat O'Brien's |
Arranging a party in another state without knowing anything about the location isn’t a picnic, pun intended. Alas, the task was dumped on me a few months back and, as suggested, I asked for a budget proposal from the hotel we were staying at. The result: a party for 120 people came to about $9000.- with a limit on the drinks.
And then, suddenly, a letter comes through the fax, sent by the event organizer at Pat O’Brien’s in San Antonio, suggesting considering their restaurant for any events we may have planned. What the heck, can’t hurt, so I ask for a proposal from them, too, as well as a few more from various San Antonio restaurants I found online.
In the end, Pat O’Brien’s beat every one of them by far. The original proposal came to about $7000.- including an open bar, a cheese display, hors d’oeuvre, an entr�e and dessert, so the choice was clear.
Not quite sure what to pick, we asked Pat O’Brien’s what the difference would be in price if we asked for 2 of each food items and their answer, to our surprise, was: “nothing, we’re flexible.”
In the end, we had the said cheese display which seemed to have been designed for a small army, spinach and cream cheese filled philo dough pastries, roast beef on French bread slices, jambalaya, pasta, key lime pie and chocolate cake, both of those sliced twice the size of any cake you’ll get anywhere else. (I would be more precise on the menu if FedEx hadn’t lost all our stuff which includes the binder with the Pat O’Brien’s menu).
After we cut down our planning to 90 guests, we ended up with what translated to an all-you-can-eat-and-drink evening for less than 5 grand, including the drink designed by the original Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans: Hurricanes. The bill wasn't given to us until after the event came to an end and all we had to do was sign off on the receipt to have things charged to the credit card we had given them months ago.
When I asked what would happen if there were more guests than expected, I was told that the kitchen always over-buys food and they will continue to cook all through the evening if more should be needed (It wasn’t). Even the last-minute change to 90 guests, which we submitted about a week before the actual event, went without a hitch.
Once in San Antonio, I visited the restaurant and found it to be a real fun place … for me and my ilk. But would it work for scientists and oil industry folk with it’s live music in the New Orleans style courtyard, its bars and a number of young, tattooed and pierced guys fluttering about the place?
As I found out after the event, they sure did. Whether it was the great food, the flaming fountain, or our old-style rooms upstairs in the Briars Suite with the Napoleon d�cor, in the end, the event went without a hitch and much of that was due to the efficient and courteous service of the staff.
On the day of the party, the young employees had scurried out of sight and made room to a very professional, straight-laced looking staff that included the office staff who stayed to make sure things went smoothly. The rooms were set up well, with dinner tables in one room and bar stools and tables in the other, where the bar was located at. A good mix of jazz and the occasional light pop played in the background and the mood amongst the guests was great.If we had wanted to, we could have asked for a piano player.
Not realizing beforehand that this was a smoking facility, I found myself panicking when I noticed a strong cigarette odor in the bathroom; my boss a fanged non-smoker, I asked the staff if they could do something about it and not only did they spray the place with Oust before my boss got there, they also pulled me to the side to show me a little hideaway they had arranged so I could sneak out of sight to smoke myself. (Although this is a smoking facility, there is enough room in the courtyard for non-smokers to find a corner).
They half-way climbed up a wall to hang our banner for us, offered their counter space to sit behind for people to sign in, then hauled out a table when I changed my mind about the location; they made up sign-in sheets and registration signs for me since I had forgotten mine at the convention center and, noticing another party was hosted by a rival company on the first floor, made signs to hang in the entrance, directing people to the various parties.
While I didn't have any individual meal at Pat O'Brien's it seemed to be reasonably priced and the location, with its two bars, courtyard, piano bar and event rooms has a style and place for everyone. Our guests ranged from 20-something New Zealanders to 50-something Texans, with a few Germans and Norwegians thrown into the mix, and everybody had a great time.
Pat O’Brien’s is conveniently located near the convention center and diagonally across from the Alamo which turned out to be useful for those guests who had to be shoved out of the place at closing time and found themselves still longing for entertainment; from what I hear, they found it in the shape of silly pictures in front of the Alamo (not to worry, the Alamo is guarded, so no damage done). Pat O’Brien’s is also within walking distance of almost all the hotels in the immediate convention center area.
Check out their facilities at www.patobriens.com
Recommended:
Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Any of the six items we had from the party menu was very good. I can''t comment on individual meals.
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Epinions.com ID:
Petra
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: California
Reviews written: 327
Trusted by: 312 members
About Me:
If life gives you lemons ... there's always someone deserving of being pelted with fruit
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