Dear Critic,

I’m breathing into a paper bag and hoping that you can help me. It’s December and I haven’t yet planned my workplace’s holiday throwdown. AAAAAAAACK! What restaurants might I have the best luck trying? At this point, I don’t even care if they’re any good. But good would be nice.

Signed,
One Panicky Admin

Dear OPA,

Relax. If you can be somewhat flexible on your timing, restaurants still have openings for holiday parties. Here are some great rooms.

Osteria La Spiga boasts what might be my favorite room in town: A wood loft, slung over the restaurant in the rough-hewn rafters of the Piston & Ring Building, and just right for enjoying pasta, wine, cocktails, and each other in semi-private.

You know, I popped into Serafina Cicchetti, the mod, Manhattany little sister to wonderful Serafina, and was delighted to see that it has a nice-sized private room on the lower level. (It’s part of the restaurant, actually—they’re calling it the Library—but we’re betting you could talk them into closing it for a party.) Upstairs stretches a big showy mezzanine…another perfect party venue, with twinkly views of lake and skyline. The menu runs to Mediterranean small plates, including killer pizzas on pillowy crusts.

Finally, the granddaddy of party joints in town has to be Ponti Seafood Grill, which has several rooms that can be blocked off for parties, all with views of the Ship Canal and the Fremont Bridge. The bonus here is that owner Rich Malia lured back original chef Alvin Binuya to head the kitchen, so the food’s as good as it’s ever been.

Good luck!