We're planning to have our mid-September reception dinner in a restaurant (either renting a private room, or buying out the whole place for the evening) for about 50 guests. Ideally, it would be a venue that has some open space for dancing and mingling, and allows us to play our own music. We have a flexible budget, but the more affordable the better. Decor needn't be super fancy, but we'd like something classy. Recommendations in the Boston area?
We're not huge fans of old-fashioned American food -- we prefer ethnic or contemporary American. Many of our guests (and I) are vegetarian, so we're staying away from very meaty places.
I would particularly love to hear from those of you who had your reception in a restaurant. We're considering going that route because traditional wedding venues in Boston are too damn expensive, and we don't have the time or manpower to plan a DIY outdoor wedding. What are the potential downsides to doing it in a restaurant?