Battle of Tables is a cooking studio on the Bowery, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, that runs private events for companies and other groups. The corporate page lists groups of 4 to 70 guests. Each event is closed to outsiders: the group cooks a meal with a professional chef, then eats it together. It is a team activity more than a meeting room, so it suits a company outing, a team-building afternoon or a client evening.
Seminars and company events
The studio presents corporate events and team building as its main private offer. The format is fixed and simple. The chef welcomes the group and gives a short introduction. Branded aprons are provided, and the group cooks for 1.5 to 2 hours. A further hour is set aside to eat and celebrate, with toasts and music if the group wants them. The site states that the studio has hosted more than 300 events, some for large companies. A manager calls back after an inquiry to go over details. Because the activity is cooking, a seminar with slides is not what the venue sells.
Weddings and receptions
The official site does not offer weddings or receptions. It lists corporate events, birthdays, bachelorette parties and children's birthday parties as the private formats.
Rooms and capacities
The studio is a single cooking space on the second floor at 136 Bowery. Corporate groups range from 4 to 70 guests. The studio is open seven days a week with three daily time slots: 11 AM, 3 PM and 7 PM. Each slot combines the cooking time and an hour of celebration. Guests can bring a USB stick with their own music, and the studio plays music of its own otherwise. Groups can bring balloons and decorations to dress the studio.
Catering
The food is part of the activity. The group picks one of 16 menus, each with at least three courses, and cooks a main, a side dish and a dessert. Portions are large and guests can take food away. The studio states that nobody needs to clean up afterward. Guests may bring snacks or alcohol, and the studio does not charge a corkage fee. A kids' menu exists for children's parties. A photographer and an entertainer can be ordered for the event.
Getting there
The site places the studio in the center of the Lower East Side, one minute on foot from the Grand Street and Bowery subway stops. City parking is available nearby. Because the time slots start at 11 AM, 3 PM and 7 PM, a group can plan a lunch event, an afternoon outing or an evening dinner on the same day of the week.
