Affordable group and party dinners

The food at this suds haven is as well-curated as the cult-favorite beer list. Gather at least ten brew-loving pals (35 people max) and talk hops strains over one of Jimmy's pairing dinners; $45 per person buys you either six craft-beer samples with small bites, or a full three-course, three-beer meal, featuring Jimmy's creative pub fare and local, seasonal produce (braised-brisket tacos with pickled radishes were recently matched with Barrier's caramely, hops-heavy Bulkhead red ale). Cough up another $150 among the group ($15 each for ten people, less if you bring more compatriots), and a beer expert will guide you through your meal, explaining beer styles, brewing methods and your specific pairings. 43 E 7th St between Second and Third Aves (212-982-3006, jimmysno43.com)

Loreley
With 80 seats indoors and a 60-seat outdoor patio, Loreley's year-old Williamsburg location can easily fit a large group (reservations are accepted for parties of eight or more) for an affordable German feast. Various meat platters will please en masse: $16 grants each of you a plate piled with smoked sausages, weisswurst and a wiener (hot dog) with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut; another option ($19) centers on an ample brined pork shank. The vegetarians in your crew can fill up on German vegetable casserole topped with creamy curry sauce for $14 each. To drink, sample a 0.4-liter glass of light, slightly sweet Klsch beer from owner Michael Momm's native Cologne ($6). 64 Frost St at Meeker Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-599-0025, loreleynyc.com)

Roberta's Pizza
This sprawling, super-hip ode to market cuisine and artisanal pizza is a favorite for bargain-seeking locavores. For $30 a person, groups of 10 to 18 can reserve a table in advance, then settle in for a multicourse meal: Share meats, cheeses and salads to start, three kinds of Roberta's stellar wood-oven pizza—we like the salty-creamy Specken Wolf, which pairs melty mozzarella with speck—and cookies and gelato for dessert. For an extra $10 each, the "bomber package" throws in another main, like the rich, tender pork butt. And to make the event a real celebration, an additional $20 each will buy your group two hours of unlimited beer or wine. 261 Moore St between Bogart and White Sts, Bushwick, Brooklyn (718-417-1118, robertaspizza.com)

Rye
The hefty portions at this casual-chic bistro encourage sharing among friends. Rye's meat-loaf sammie ($15), a decadent blend of duck, veal, pork and beef topped with crispy fried onions, is easily splitable, as is the rich short-rib sandwich with onion jam ($13). A side of fries is $5, while potato puree and Swiss chard each run $6. And in keeping with the restaurant's name, you'll also find plenty of well-priced quality whiskeys; sip a glass of Jim Beam or Old Overholt rye for just $8. 247 South 1st St between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-218-8047, ryerestaurant.com)

Shanghai Tide
Hot pots bubble all over Flushing, but the massive caldron of deeply flavorful broth at this lively Chinese spot is best suited for a big crew on a budget. For just $26 each, group diners have two hours to throw back all-you-can-drink Budweiser while boiling their own heaping plates of sliced raw beef, lamb and pork—as well as gratis extras like pork meatballs, fish balls, clams, cuttlefish and veggies. 135-20 40th Rd at Main St, Flushing, Queens (718-661-4234)

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