We had our wedding here this past summer: ceremony, cocktail hour and the reception all at Waterside. Couldn't have been happier. Working with Shantal was an absolute pleasure--we truly valued the professionalism, attentiveness to (EVERY) det...ail, and personal attention she provided us every step of the way. She went above and beyond what we would have expected from a maître d' and made the entire process that much easier.
= The Food =
When we went for our initial tasting a few months before the wedding day, we were impressed with the selection. Everything was delicious, but we were wary of the "mass produced" effect that wedding food usually falls to--steaks like hockey pucks, dry chicken, mediocre fish. But boy were we (and the guests) pleasantly surprised. Every guest we talked to raved about the spectacular selection of food at cocktail hour (more than anyone could possibly eat), as well as the overall quality of it all. The same could be said of dinner--everyone said their food came out exactly as they wanted (steaks cooked rare when asked!) and VERY generous portions. One thing is for sure--they do not skimp on the food portioning here and you certainly get your money's worth.
Quick aside: the open bar option was excellent! They even worked with us and ordered cases of Sam Adams Oktoberfest to serve at the wedding for no additional charge. All the liquor was good quality--Johnny Walker Black Label, Crown Royal, Belvedere Vodka, etc. Very happy with it!
= The Service =
As I said earlier, Shantal (our maître d') was spectacular. From the moment we walked in to scope the place out, she was a joy to work with and helped address our every need and concern. When she was not available via email during the months of planning leading up to the date, the other staff quickly jumped in to assist. Overall, I would absolutely rate their help and support throughout the entire wedding an A+. During the cocktail hour, there was an abundance of wait staff and the bartenders were not your average joe mixing drinks. For the reception, the wait staff was friendly and did a good job keeping things moving and the guests happy. The only complaint I would have is regarding the end of the night: the dessert came out, coffee and tea was served, and before you knew it they had begun clearing tables earlier than we would have liked. I understand that our wedding ran until 12AM, but it still put off a few of the guests. But truly, that's our only complaint about the service--it was spectacular otherwise!
= The Venue =
Absolutely gorgeous views of mid-town and lower Manhattan. This was one of the deciding factors for us--we knew getting married with that as a backdrop would be unforgettable. The guests were very excited and amazed with the views. We were fortunate to have beautiful weather that evening. However, even if it rains, their indoor option still provides great views of the skyline. The upstairs reception hall fit our guest list of 150 very comfortably along with the DJ, 2 bars, and a photobooth.
Truly, you can't beat the views from Waterside, particularly for the pricing. Sure there are other places (such as Liberty House), but they charge such a ridiculous premium simply for being across from Lower Manhattan. Trust me when I say the pricing and deals at Waterside were worth every penny to us. Our guests said they had an excellent time, and that's really what mattered to us in the end.