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Event Planning - Food and Venues

Pre-Contracted Venues


What is a pre-contracted venue?

 Pre-contracted venues have already provided much of the required documentation needed by NU for off-campus events. Using a venue from the pre-contracted list below will expedite the event approval process significantly, with a 2-3 business day turnaround time. Additionally, we will handle the payment processing for these pre-contracted venues, so students do not have to front any money.

Want to use a venue that's not on this list?

  • If alcohol is not sold and no contract is required:

    Feel free to choose any venue. This won’t delay the event approval process, with one exception: student residences are not permitted as event venues. For more details, please refer to our off-campus event policies.

  • If alcohol is sold or a contract is required:

    Even if you don't plan to serve alcohol or use club or section funds to pay for it, additional documentation will be needed. Please consult the Student Life Office and allow at least four weeks for document approval.

How to formally select an Event Venue

  1. Make a Tentative Reservation: Contact your desired venue using the information provided below.
  2. Submit an Event Pre-Approval Form.
  3. Complete the Payment Request Form: After your event is approved, submit this form to ensure that our Financial Coordinator processes the payment to the venue.

 


Questions?
Contact Office of Student Life, or stop by the Student Life office (Suite 1391).

Pre-contracted venues

Evanston venues

Open/Close
VENUE TYPE CONTACT:               DETAILS
The Barn Steakhouse  Restaurant  Danielle Daniot   847-868-8945  Events@thebarnsteakhouse.com  Reception: 1,200 person Capacity 
Beer On Central  Store, Bar, Private Rental Venue  Peter O’Malley (Co-Owner) 847-905-0951  Beeroncentral@gmail.com  Private Parties must be 25 people or more
Bluestone  Restaurant/Sports Bar  Pat Fowler (Owner)  847-424-0420  pat@squarecuthospitality.com  Call to see about private party capacities 
Burl  Restaurant  Thomas Carlin  708-683-4862
contact@burlevanston.com  75 guests indoors year-round, with room for an additional 30 to 35 guests on their three-season outdoor patio. The Burl Room (Semi-Private): Up to 25 guests. Full Restaurant Buyout: Up to 75 guests indoors. Outdoor Patio: Seats 30 to 35 guests during warmer months. Bar Area: A small 5-seat bar is available for walk-ins or guests waiting for a table
Celtic Knot Public House  Pub  Liz Bresliln  847-425-0025  celticknotpub@sbcglobal.net  (847) 425-0025 to check if they can accommodate your group size. 
Comida Cantina Restaurant Fred Gale 847-868-8466 info@comidaevanston.com  Total: 80
+ Rooftop
Double Clutch Brewing Co. Restaurant/Entertainment Steve Milford 312-515-4136 steve@doubleclutchbrewing.com Capacity Total: 300
Egg Harbor Cafe  Breakfast and Brunch Restaurant    224-551-6116  wecare@eggharborcafe.com A mix of traditional tables, modern booth seating, and a barista/counter area, alongside limited outdoor sidewalk seating.
Evanston Corner Bistro Restaurant Skylar McElroy 847-492-9700 skylar@lmrestaurant.com Capacity
80 seated
110 cocktail
18 small first floor private area
The Fat Shallot  Restaurant  Sarah Weitz  224-714-2119  info@thefatshallot.com
Capacity: 200 people inside and outside 
Firehouse Grill Restaurant Molly Fowler 847-733-1911 pat@station2evanston.com Room 1 - Seated: 100, Standing:175
Room 2 - Seated: 24, Standing: 35
Five and Dime, Taco DIablo, Blue Horse Tavern
Restaurant/Entertainment
Daniel Kelch 847-869-4343 info@coreandrindhospitality.com Capacity Total: 150
Game room: 60
Main bar: 80
+Rooftop
*Please ask vendor for more information on specific location capacity*
Frida's Breakfast and Lunch Breakfast and Lunch Restaurant  Rosario Barreto 847-859-6342  fridas618evanston@gmail.com  (847) 859-6342 to check if they can accommodate your party size. 
Ignite Arcade - Skokie Venue/Restaurant  Sam Oanta   773-404-7033  sam@ignitegaming.com  Inquire with venue 
La Cocinita  Restaurant Rachel Angulo   847-332-1625  rachel@lacocinita.com  Capacity: varies, please contact restaurant 
Le Tour Restaurant Danielle Daniot 224-999-7085 events@thebarnsteakhouse.com Seated:150
Standing: 300
Lock Chicago Entertainment Brian Lee 312-646-0051 info@lockedchicago.com Escape Rooms: 10
Team Bonding Room: 50
Palmhouse  Venue Monica Picchietti  847-238-2848  Monica@palmhouse619.com  Capacity: 250 for ceremony & seated dinner (with a room flip), up to 400 guests for a seated dinner without a dance floor or programming, and up to 750 for a cocktail style event. Our space is ideal for groups of up to 300 reception only with a dance floor.  
Peckish Pig  Restaurant  Ayo Avery   847-491-6778  events@thepeckishpig.com  Capacity: On-site private events for 25-130 guests (indoor/outdoor space) 
Pinstripes - Oakbrook  Bowling Venue  Amanda Willhite  847-480-7676  amanda.w@pinstripes.com  Varies 
Pinstripes - Northbrook  Bowling Venue  Sam Shvartsman  847-480-7676  samantha.s@pinstripes.com  Varies 
Prairie Moon  Restaurant  Rob Strom   847-864-8328  prairiemoon@sbcglobal.net  Capacity: Dining parties up to 8. For full buyout, inquire with restaurant. 
Ridgeville Tavern  Restaurant  Ike Robertson  847-905-0485  ike@ridgevilletavern.com  Capacity: Contact venue 
Sketchbook - Skokie  Venue/Brewery  Cesar Marron  847-588-0652  cesar@sketchbookbrewing.com  30 - 100 people depending on space and group size 
Soul & Smoke  BBQ Restaurant Sarah   847-859-2732  team@soulandsmoke.com  Reach out via email for private dining capacities 
Table to Stix Ramen  Ramen Restaurant  Tang  847-859-6847  tabletostix@gmail.com  Seating: Features a few bar-style counter seats alongside a small number of tables and chairs. 
The Spot Restaurant Dena Moritz and Otto Ade 847-905-0669 dena@thespotevanston.com Capacity: Seating up to 40 guests
Union Pizzeria Restaurant Heather Behm 847-475-2400
events@unionpizza.com Capacity: 65 guests, along with an event space that can host up to 250 guests for cocktail-style events or 230 for other gathering types.  
Union Squared Restaurant Heather Behm  224-714-3100 events@unionpizza.com Capacity: Indoor capacity for approximately 15 people and a beer garden with a capacity of up to 50-75 people. The beer garden is the main seating area.

Chicagoland venues

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VENUE TYPE CONTACT:      DETAILS
Barcocina - Lakeview Restaurant Desi Westfall 773-687-9949  desi@barcocinachicago.com  Capacity Total: 400
Barcocina - West Town Restaurant  Desi Westfall  773-687-9949  desi@barcocinachicago.com  hosting up to 400+ people for a full buyout, with specific areas like the Private Party Room (around 75-135), the Main Dining Room (up to 250-300), and the large patio (200+ seats) for smaller groups or partial buyouts, accommodating various event sizes from intimate gatherings to large celebrations.  
Big Putt Mini Club - Lakeview and Wicker Park  Indoor Mini Golf, Bar, Restaurant  Matthew Rivlin (Front of House Manager)  312-363-2369 (Wicker Park); 773-770-9200 (lakeview)  info@bigminiputtclub.com  See Website for capacity by location 
D4 Irish Pub & Café  Restaurant  Deb Zalesiak  312-624-8385  deb@d4pub.com  Capacity Total: 250 
The Fifty/50 Management Group, Inc (13 locations)  Restaurant  Heather "Yoshi" Yoshimura  773-899-2163  Hyoshimura@thefifty50.com Capacity Varies: 13 locations include: Roots Handmade Pizza (South Loop), The Alston, Kindling Downtown Cookout and Cocktails, Professor Pizza, Utopian Tailgate, Roots Handmade Pizza (West Chicago Ave), West Town Bakery Ohio, The Berkshire Room, Westy Town Bakery and Diner, Homestead on the Roof, VU Rooftop Bar, 90th Meridian, The Second City
Furama  Restaurant  Gina Baeg or Kenny Lau  773-271-1161  ginabaeg@gmail.com;klau@ furamachicago.com  Capacity: 200+ seats 
Happy Camper  Venue/Restaurant  Tatum Davis  224-588-3338  tatum@happycamper.pizza  Capacity: See website parties page for event room capacities 
All Chicagoland Lettuce Entertain You Various

  Capacity Total:Varies 
Mullen's Sports Bar and Grill  Restaurant  Tony Anton  312-287-7094  aceanton2002@yahoo.com  Capacity is 200 seated
Puttery Chicago Indoor Mini Golf, Bar, Restaurant Sierra Youngblood 704.368.1604 syoungblood@puttery.com A total full-venue capacity of up to 400 to 450 guests across its three floors. 
Pinstripes (Northbrook)   Bowling Venue  Amanda Willhite   312-527-3010  amanda.w@pinstripes.com  Capacity varies, please contact venue 
Royal Palms Shuffle Board Club Chicago
Entertainment  Taylor  847-868-8041  party@royalpalmsbrooklyn.com  Half Space Buyouts:  100 to 250 guests; Full Space Buyouts:  200 to 700 guests; Rooftop Buyout: up to 75 guests 
Seven Star Venue  Venue  Lenice Levy   773-636-6300  info@sevenstarvenue.com  Capacity: 500 seated & 1000 cocktail style 
SPF Pickleball Chicago   Entertainment  Brooke Rightnour  773-451-3600  brooke@playspf.com  9 courts, indoor turf field space; coffee bar and cape space; cucumber club for kids 3-11. 
U-Star Karaoke  Karaoke Venue  Michael Oh  312-937-5149  newstarkaraokebar@gmail.com  Up to 20 ppl for small room, up to 25 ppl for mega party