GREAT NYC RESTAURANTS

Our Wedding Guide: Queers Invade the Chapel, Part III

 

The New York State Assembly passed an historic same-sex marriage amendment last month (right before Pride weekend, no less!), paving the way for gays and lesbians to legally wed as early as this Sunday, July 24. Whether you’re going to race down to City Hall or sashay through Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (kidding!), we’ve got you covered with a multi-part guide to LGBT weddings in the Big Apple. Now you just have to pop the question!

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The Rehearsal Dinner and Reception

Though often treated as an afterthought, the rehearsal dinner can be the most stressful part of a wedding, since it’s often the first time some members of the family are meeting your fiance. And the wedding reception is not picnic either—in both cases there’s the drama of who was and wasn’t invited and, if your family is anything like ours, someone is gonna throw a shitfit about not having their vegan, gluten-free lasagna served just right. Plus, If you life in a city like New York, there’s also always the chance that your intended had sex with the cute server taking your drink order.

We can’t promise to make your meal completely anxiety-free, but we’ve selected some great restaurant options for rehearsal dinners or post-ceremony receptions that will distract the wedding party long enough for you to make a toast, enjoy your meal and stare lovingly into your partner’s eyes. And, hey, you don’t have to be getting married to enjoy a good meal!

 

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Annisa

You worked hard to earn the right to get hitched—why should some breeder get your cash? Anita Lo is one of the city’s most highly regarded chefs, a veteran of Iron Chef (where she beat Mario Batali) and a big ol’ dyke. (“Annisa” means “women” in Arabic.) Lo’s West Village café combines flavors inspired by her Asian roots, classic French training and world travels.  You can book a table or be a bigshot and take over the entire restaurant. (They can accommodate 40-50 for formal dinners or up to 75 for cocktails and appetizers.)

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Beauty & Essex
This Lower East Side hotspot from the owners of Stanton Social feels like a old-school speakeasy but with a glamorous art-nouveau sheen and room on two floors to accommodate up to 400 folks. Smaller parties can dine privately in the Vault, which has its own bar (not a bad thing when in-laws mix), while other jewel-themed lounges can house groups of various size. Want something hip and casual? Book the DJ booth—it’s accessed through a private entrance and can accommodate up to 175 people with cocktails and passed plates.

 

elmo
On those rare occasions Chelsea boys deign to put carbs in their mouth, they do it at this Seventh Avenue mainstay, gay-owned-and-operated by the proprietors of  Industry and Barracuda and staffed by some of the hottest boys this side of Rio. (We’re just sayin’!) Beneath the cacphanous dining room, the elmo lounge offers full bar, catering services and DJ booth—but if the guests want to get really rowdy, take ’em down the block to G Lounge.

Lips
Mother gave you such a hard time when you came out—now’s the time to rub her face in it, right? Okay, maybe not, but you can’t get much gayer than having your rehearsal dinner at a drag theme restaurant, with crazy strong drinks and nightly floor shows. Unless maybe you had the ceremony at Lips, with both of you dressed as Liza impersonators.

Just make sure your guests don’t get lost—the infamous East Side Club is in the same building. Awkward!

Nathan’s Famous
Why waste your budget on burnt steak or dried-out chicken when you can serve your guests gut-busting chili-cheese dogs, fries and a Coke for under $5 a pop? (We’re actually partial to the Corn Dog on a Stick, but that’s something we’re gonna bring up with our therapist.) If you haven’t slipped into a food coma by the end, toast your nuptials with a quick dunk in the Atlantic. Trust us, it’s easier than breaking a wine glass!

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Tying the knot in Central Park? This beautiful bird is conveniently located on Lenox Avenue between 125th and 126th Street.  Opened by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson (Aquavit) last year, and it offers a unique blend of traditional soul food (catfish and black-eyed peas, mac ‘n’ greens), bistro favorites (steak frites, grilled salmon) and dishes from Samuelsson’s own Swedish roots (Helga’s meatballs).  Are you a true New York starfucker? Samuelsson himself will whip together a custom menu for up to 40 guests in the private dining room.

 

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