Rich S.
Yelp
Terrific hosting of our 24-person family get-together at this elegant venue!
We had a wonderful event with delicious food and a perfect hostess! Right from the start, communication with their events team was always prompt, clear, and efficient. Price options were exact and reasonable. Room options and deadlines were clear. Their great event manager, Brian George, was friendly, available, and responsive.
The restaurant is easy to find, just off E. Carson St. under the Smithfield Street Bridge, about a 500-ft walk from the Station Square station on the Silver, Red, and Blue lines. $12 Valet parking on the east side of the restaurant was quick and easy, and not much more costly than the $8-$10 self-parking about 0.2-miles up the street, and they would have discounted $8 off the self-parking fee for the event.
The Grand Concourse is a truly majestic restaurant and bar, in a train station on the National Register of Historic Places built in 1901, where the patriarch of our family took the train to summer camp in his youth. Stained-glass ceilings, marble columns, ornate brass and dark-wood (mahogany?) decor with historic photos, and a long elegant photo-ready staircase up fromm the main dining concourse. We were in the spacious Board Room off the main concourse, slightly less ornate but still lovely. In addition to ample comfortable seating for all of us around a U-shaped table, they provided appetizers on a side-table and a large-screen TV for a slide-show we put together. The high ceiling didn't echo, and we all could hear each other, even while we played a self-made playlist. The kids danced a lot, and the most-fun guest danced with them! (Shout-out to you, Duncan :-)
Staci, our event hostess, was excellent! She was ready when we came in the door, helpful in setting up our A/V, and always attentive with prompt friendly professional bar and food service. She and her staff made sure we were happy every moment, providing personal touches that made each of us feel welcome and valued. We'll ask for Staci when we return!
Food was delicious, from a varied and generous charcuterie and hot flavorful chicken satay, to endless fresh breads, bright maple-vinaigrette salads, our selection of perfectly cooked tender moist bronzed salmon and blue-cheese-buttered sirloin, with roasted vegetable ravioli for our veggie guests. They made spaghetti for our 4 and 5-year olds. (Thank you Staci for that timely child-friendly offer!) Key lime pie was enjoyably tart and sweet and fresh-flavored.
Several of us came back to the pleasant Gandy Dancer Saloon for the weekday 3:30 to 6:30pm happy hour (as of early Sep 2024). Nice selection of known brands and tasty well-drinks, tasty small plates (plus the full restaurant menu which we didnt indulge this time), friendly efficient service and well-crafted cocktails. Pro-tip: The bar stools have backs! There are some booths, too.
Thank you Staci, Brian, talented kitchen and bar staff, and the beautiful Grand Concourse for a lovely memorable event for the whole family.