Holiday Party Time

While Christmas means family and gift-giving in our society, the holiday season means holiday parties for business owners and employees. These holiday parties are a great reward to workers for a hard year's effort in a tight economy.

"A good holiday party can really improve morale," notes Jennifer Jarvis, owner of the Riverworks Restaurant and Tavern in downtown Newmarket. Riverworks hosts holiday parties of up to 65 in its upstairs dining rooms before 5 PM, including weekends, and hosts get-togethers in private rooms or in its dining room for evening parties.

"For some companies, the holiday party is one of the few times that people from different departments get to socialize with each other, so it acts as a great team-building opportunity," Jarvis said. "And serving fresh, creative food is something that employees really appreciate."

Jarvis and her staff at the Riverworks know a lot about satisfying a variety of palettes affordably. She'll typically ask a business manager for a budget, and then come up with a menu accordingly. Or, businesses can choose from Riverworks' catering menu, or even their regular menu, and the restaurant will come up with a price that won't have the business owner reaching for the Alka-Seltzer.

Either way, there’s no fee for groups wishing to make use of Riverworks’ dining room or private areas. “It’s our way of trying to accommodate businesses that want to celebrate the holidays, but have to closely watch their expenses,” explained Jarvis, whose restaurant offers a mobile catering service that raises the bar for offsite food quality. “We cater or deliver our homemade food for small and large companies, complete with table cloths and a buffet line, and it’s a nice, convenient treat for the staff.” 

For groups looking to hold a holiday party at one of the nice spots in eastern New England, Clay Hill Farm Restaurant in Cape Neddick, Maine is an extraordinary spot for a holiday party: it’s the first restaurant in the country to be certified by the World Wildlife Federation as a natural wildlife habitat and bird sanctuary, and has since been deemed an Environmental Leader in the state of Maine. Private evening events for 30 or more can take full advantage of Clay Hill Farm’s party menu  - complete with salad, entrée, and dessert – while smaller groups can gather by the fireplace, and enjoy the use of Clay Hill Farm’s gorgeous rooms, and its award-winning food and service while ordering off the regular menu.

Clay Hill Farm owner Jennifer McShera encourages companies to consider a co-op holiday party.  “Our ‘little-big’ party concept of smaller businesses combining their resources to share entertainment and hors d’oeuvre allows businesses to reward the staff with not only a locally-sourced dinner, but also networking and socializing opportunities,” said McShera. “It’s tempting for small businesses to save a little money in the short term, but it’s important to show appreciation to hard-working employees.”

“Sharing expenses with other small businesses to make a ‘Big Bang’ event can be a great way to have fun and give back to your employees!”

Two other holiday party venues that are great options for businesses that pride themselves on corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship are Robert’s Maine Grill in Kittery, and Two Ceres Street in downtown Portsmouth.  With an upstairs dining room overlooking scenic Spruce Creek, Robert’s Maine Grill offers party organizers the ability to create a specialized menu and atmosphere.  It’s also a supremely green restaurant, as they’ve developed an extensive storm water-treatment program to minimize contaminants from flowing into the Spruce Creek, and has reduced its waste by 95% through a comprehensive single stream recycling program.  

And Two Ceres Street Restaurant – considered by many to be downtown Portsmouth’s premier martini bar – is no slouch when it comes to hosting elegant holiday parties. Featuring a gorgeous fireplace, exposed beams, reclaimed wood artwork on the walls, and an inviting bar area, Two Ceres Street is rapidly becoming known as the spot in downtown Portsmouth to host a company or personal gathering that will have guests gushing about their experience.

Riverworks, Clay Hill Farm Restaurant, Robert’s Maine Grill, and Two Ceres Street are all members of the Green Alliance, which connect local green businesses with burgeoning eco-conscious commercial and residential communities in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.  Green Alliance members get discounts ranging from 10% - 20% off food (and in some cases, alcohol) from nightly menus at all these restaurants, as well as 90 other businesses across the region. Robert’s Maine Grill is also offering $100 off of any holiday party bill of $500 or more for Green Alliance members (excludes alcohol and before tax and gratuity is added).

For more information or to book a holiday party:

Riverworks Restaurant and Tavern: Jennifer Jarvis, jen@theriverworks.com,  www.theriverworks.com

Clay Hill Farm Restaurant: Jennifer McShera, clayhillgreen@gmail.com, www.clayhillfarm.com

Robert’s Maine Grill: Deb McCluskey, deb@robertsmainegrill.com, www.robertsmainegrill.com

Two Ceres Street: John Goulmb & Marlisa Geroulo, marlisageroulo@aol.com, www.twoceresstreet.com