The best private dining rooms in Lower Manhattan

Frank Prisinzano is the East Village’s favorite Italian uncle, owning an array of casual and fine dining restaurants across the neighborhood. For a more elevated experience borrowing from the cozy, inn-like experience of Northern Italian osterias, head to Supper. Comforting entrees like wild mushroom pappardelle and veal parmigiana hover at a reasonable $35, and creative appetizers like black salt Caesar salad are a nice addition. The daily rotating specials, however, are what makes this place unique – depending on the day, you can choose from various risottos and suppers that’ll add an element of surprise (even if you’re a committed regular). End with a fat block of tiramisu – the way any Italian meal should end.

There are three private dining rooms at Supper – the Milano Room (16 to 24 guests), the Verona Room (20 to 30 guests) and Venezia (30 to 45 guests). Hand-painted moody wallpaper, chandeliers, chestnut tables, and wine bottles make the space feel like a private dinner party dripping with generational wealth.

We don’t know if any chaos is happening in the kitchens of Crown Shy, but the sleekness of its plating and the elegance of its setting makes it hard to tell. Part of the magic is in its location – a 1932 Art Deco skyscraper, grandeur which extends into the interior and the menu. High ceilings, saddle-brown leather seating, and soft lighting welcome guests through the marble lobby, into an environment that isn’t intimidatingly fancy (though the Michelin star speaks for itself): no white tablecloths or dress code here. The menu is American – classic and simple with some worldly influence. You’ll find gruyere fritters with chili, jang glazed pork katsu, and baklava cheesecake, alongside a sizeable wine list with plenty of bottles under $100.

Private events can be held in the Pearl Room (25 seated, 40 standing), the Cedar Room (15 seated, 30 standing), or a combination of the two (50 seated, 80 standing). There is a dedicated private entrance for each room through an arched gallery, and prix-fixe menus can be prepared and customized. For larger events, the full dining room can be bought out for up to 300 guests.

Centered around izakaya-style dining, EN offers an authentic small-plate dining experience with fundamental Japanese cooking techniques. The spacious restaurant can accommodate everything from intimate romantic dinners in their booths to big group dining in their private rooms, or even a solo meal at the counter overlooking the kitchen. Established in 2004, it’s been a well-loved spot for celebrities who live in the neighborhood as well as longtime New Yorkers who want their fix of fresh sashimi or homemade tofu.

The menu can be overwhelming; in short, you can come for a set lunch, sushi tasting menu, or an omakase-style dinner. Highlights include miso black cod, stone-grilled Wagyu, and the super-fresh sashimi. For private events of up to 22 guests, you can book one of the six tatami rooms, designed as odes to old Japan. The enkai tasting menus start at 130 per person, and vegan options are available.

Chef Dan Kruger has spent his life cooking in New York. Born and raised in the city, he studied hospitality at Syracuse before his career led him to cook with renowned chefs like Michael Romano and Jean-Georges. Loring Place is a culmination of everything he’s learned – both professionally and personally, as the restaurant is named after the street in The Bronx his father grew up on. Kruger’s grandfather owned a greengrocer, and this inspired the use of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients on Loring Place’s menu. The restaurant’s dishes are driven by greenmarkets – you’ll find wood-grilled broccoli salad with orange and pistachio, grilled Arctic Char with housemade yogurt, and a selection of whole-wheat pizzas topped with corn and zucchini.

There are two event rooms for private dining: the main level room, with natural light, white brick walls, and space for 18 seated guests, and the larger lower level dining room, an intimate, low-lit space for up to 60 seated guests. Full restaurant buyouts can accommodate catering packages and seated meals for up to 150.

Listen, we know there’s no shortage of vegan and veggie burgers in New York. It’s the 21st century. But, we can easily convince you that Superiority Burger is different than all the rest. You’ll easily pass it as you walk along Avenue A – the retro storefront looks more authentic than masqueraded, and an old-fashioned marquee advertises things like “SOUP FRIES ICE CREAM”. The interior is unpolished, like the East Village diners that came before it, with placemats featuring local businesses and laminated menus. Owner Brooks Headley, who pivoted into hospitality after a successful career as a hardcore punk drummer, wanders around the joint most days serving food in a paper hat.

The menu is full of old-school diner dishes with an elevated twist – if you can believe it, the collard greens sandwich on focaccia is a must-try – and you’ll find odes to the neighborhood with Ukrainian and Polish influence. The Sloppy Dave is perhaps even better than the eponymous burger, and the twice-baked fries are iconic in the neighborhood. It might not be what you think of when you imagine a private dining experience, but it can be a fun, casual birthday meal or social outing. The private party room can host 15 people and offers customized packages and pre-selected menus.