Seeking: Not just a dinner

[Sebastian]

I'm looking for a team building exercise I can do in the philly area with my employees - given that we're in the food industry (we make chocolate) I'd think it'd be fun if we could find a really unusual dining experience - something that's more than just a good dinner, but an event that'd make one want to call home after you'd been there and explain it to your spouse. I don't spend much time in the philly area, so i'm afraid I don't know it well - was hoping y'all might be able to help me out here 8-) Suggestions?

[MarketStEl]

One of the Moroccan places where you nearly sit on the floor and dine communally, perhaps? Marrakesh (on a small alley just west of 5th between South and Naudain)? The other place on (I believe) South 3d below Bainbridge? (I forget its name, but went there once with a large group. The waitress even performed a belly dance!) You might want to consider either of these. You can make an evening's entertainment of the meal.

Google and Citysearch come through again! The two I know of (I've been to both) are named for two of Morocco's three principal cities:

Fez, 620 South 2d Street, 215-925-5367

Marrakesh, 517 South Lithgow Street, 215-925-5929

(Missing is the capital, Rabat.)

Edited September 18, 2007 by MarketStEl (log)

[Diann]

What size is your group and what do you want to spend per person?

[KatieLoeb]

Although the idea of having the Moroccan dinner sounds like fun, unfortunately neither Marrakesh nor Fez has particularly good food. Fez is far better in my experience, but it's just not that great. The belly dancers are interesting, but don't make up for the mediocre dining experience. The food strikes me as the Moroccan equivalent of Applebee's. They're clearly making boatloads of the same stuff ahead of time and serving the exact same menu to every table. Meh. Just not so interesting. The bastilla was infinitely better at Fez, as I recall, but still overly dusted with powdered sugar and the spices were dumbed down for the American palate.

I'd suggest a chef's tasting and pitchers of sangria in the smaller private dining room at the back of Amada. Food is much better, and the Chocolate Five Ways dessert ought to really please your crowd.

[Sebastian]

Great suggestions all! We'll have roughly 6-8 people, so not a large group. How much? oh, i dunno, $100pp or so.

Katie, what's this chef's tasting of which you speak? I imagine that's something I'd have to call and arrange specially ahead of time..

The Moroccan ideas sound great too - I've never been to either one - only concern there might be in the wonderful corporate world in which we live, someone might have an issue with belly dancers and i don't want to have to deal with the potential repercussions of that...

[KatieLoeb]

Great suggestions all!  We'll have roughly 6-8 people, so not a large group.  How much?  oh, i dunno, $100pp or so.

Katie, what's this chef's tasting of which you speak?   I imagine that's something I'd have to call and arrange specially ahead of time..

The Moroccan ideas sound great too - I've never been to either one - only concern there might be in the wonderful corporate world in which we live, someone might have an issue with belly dancers and i don't want to have to deal with the potential repercussions of that...

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Sebastian:

There's is a "Chef's Tasting" option on the regular Amada menu that is a bargain at around $45-50/person. With a group your size I might try and call ahead and see if they might do something special and interesting for your guests with a bit of advanced notice. There's a private dining room in the back of Amada that might be perfect or might be too large depending on how busy they expect to be on whatever given night you choose to come in. Certainly a phone call and a chat with a manager should yield the best results for all concerned. Call and speak to Melissa. She's the GM and ought to be able to help you with planning a group event, even if it's a small one. Tell her I sent you.

If there's an issue with "wanton navel baring" or over-conservative dining companions, I think that anything involving scantily dressed women and gyrating hips ought to be avoided.

Edited September 21, 2007 by KatieLoeb (log)

[Sebastian]

Spoke to the folks at amada ( i spoke to zoe - didn't see your message until this morning), and they're completely booked for monday night - turns out it's a special event for restaurants in center city to generate additional business that week 8-( looks like a great place too!

[Sebastian]

Spoke to melissa - threw your name out and she found room for us at 5pm! that's some sway you've got there KT 8-) - that or you've got some good dirt on her and she's scared of you... I owe you a big ol' piece of chocolate or a drink sometime - thanks!

[KatieLoeb]

Sebastian:

I completely forgot about Restaurant Week! It's a special promotional week of $30/dinners all over the city. Good that they were able to find a slot for you earlier in the evening. Good to know I still have a little bit of mojo left. But I think Melissa probably has more dirt on me than vice versa.

Have a great time and let us know how you enjoyed it.