The Best Shared Plates Restaurant in Libertyville for Groups & Gatherings

Anyone who has organized a group dinner knows the menu discussion can take almost as long as the meal. There is always someone looking for something light, someone who wants a full entrée, and someone saying, “Why don't we just order a few things for the table?” For a larger gathering, having plenty of choices can make the decision much easier. 

At The Board Room Libertyville, the dinner menu gives diners both choices. There are charcuterie boards and small plates for the center of the table, but there are also salads, flatbreads, pasta, seafood, chicken, steak, short rib, sides, and desserts for anyone who would rather order their own meal.

That makes the restaurant at 137 Lake Street an option worth considering when you're looking through restaurants in Libertyville, IL for a group dinner.

Put a board in the middle and start there.

Charcuterie is often an easy way to get a group eating without having to decide on dinner all at once.

The Board Room's charcuterie boards bring together cheeses, meats, dips, vegetables, fruits, crackers, and nuts. There are small and large board options, so the table can choose according to the size of the gathering.

Then the menu opens up.

The cold shared plates include roasted tomato bruschetta, chicken lettuce wraps, pan-seared blackened tuna, and salmon bites. On the hot side, diners can choose from stuffed mushrooms, goat cheese balls, Asian pork dumplings, Korean beef crispy tacos, mini sliders, chicken flautas, and Armenian lamb skewers.

You don't necessarily need to decide on one centerpiece dish. A couple of people can pick something they want to try, another person can suggest a favorite, and the table can build the meal from there.

For a dinner with friends, that can be a more relaxed way to order.

Everyone can still have their own dinner.

Shared plates don't have to mean that every person at the table eats the same way.

The dinner menu also has plenty of options for guests who want something more substantial. A group can order a few dishes for everyone to try and then move on to individual plates. Salads and flatbreads can work as lighter choices, while pasta, chicken, seafood, steak, and short rib give diners the option of a larger meal.

That can save a group from the familiar restaurant dilemma where everyone has to agree on one style of food.

One person can share a few small plates. Another can order an entrée. Someone who isn't particularly hungry can keep things simple with a salad or other lighter selection.

The table doesn't have to make the same decision for everyone.

Dinner can stretch beyond the food

At a restaurant built for social occasions, the drinks matter too.

The Board Room's bar menu includes handcrafted cocktails and other beverage choices, giving guests something to order while they settle in or continue talking after the food arrives.

For some groups, that is the difference between a quick meal and an evening out. There is no need to rush through the menu simply because everyone has finished an entrée. A drink, another shared dish, or dessert can keep the table going.

And dinner isn't the only option.

Brunch gives groups another reason to meet.

Weekend brunch has a different pace from dinner, and the menu reflects that.

The Board Room serves dishes including the Board Room Breakfast Sandwich, breakfast burrito, Sunrise Florentine Benedict, smash burger, and mini sliders. There are also mimosas, a bottomless mimosa option, mocktails, espresso-based drinks, and other brunch beverages.

That opens up the restaurant to a different kind of gathering.

It could be a weekend meal with friends, a family get-together, or simply a reason to meet somewhere other than the usual coffee shop. Guests can order breakfast-focused dishes while others go for burgers or sliders, without turning the table into a one-menu-fits-all situation.

When the dinner is actually an event

A table reservation works for plenty of occasions. Bigger celebrations usually require more thought.

The Board Room has event spaces for corporate gatherings, birthdays, intimate wedding receptions, holiday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, and private charcuterie classes. Its venue and catering information also includes customizable food and drink menus, dietary options, and flexible seating arrangements.

That is a different proposition from simply finding a restaurant that can fit a large party.

If you're organizing an event, there are practical questions beyond what everyone will eat: Where will people sit? How will the food be served? Does the menu work for different dietary needs? Is there a private or organized space?

Having those conversations with the same restaurant handling the food can make the planning process more straightforward.

The gathering doesn't have to happen at 137 Lake Street

Sometimes the venue has already been chosen.

For those occasions, The Board Room also offers catering to go. The catering menu covers charcuterie and grazing boards as well as brunch, main courses, sides, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and desserts.

The selection includes dishes such as chicken scaloppini piccata, braised beef short rib, fettuccine, roasted seasonal vegetables, Brussels sprouts Caesar salad, mini burger sliders, and grazing boards.

So the menu isn't limited to what can be served inside the Libertyville restaurant. A host planning a gathering elsewhere can also look at the catering options when deciding what to put on the table.

Finding the right fit among restaurants in Libertyville, IL

There are plenty of reasons to choose a restaurant for a group. Location matters. So does the menu. But the size and type of gathering can change what actually makes sense.

A Friday dinner with friends may be perfectly suited to a charcuterie board and several shared plates. A birthday party may call for a private event space. A weekend get-together could work better over brunch. For a celebration being held at another location, catering may be the practical choice.

The Board Room Libertyville has options for each of those situations.

Its downtown location at 137 Lake Street puts dinner, brunch, drinks, private events, charcuterie classes, and catering under the same business. For anyone comparing restaurants in Libertyville, IL for a gathering, that range is worth knowing about before making a reservation.

Plan your next gathering.

If your next group dinner involves more than simply ordering an entrée for everyone, take a look at what The Board Room Libertyville has available.

Start with a charcuterie board. Add a few cold or hot shared plates. Order individual entrées for anyone who wants one. Or choose brunch if a daytime gathering suits the group better.

For birthdays, showers, corporate events, and other celebrations, private-event options are available. And when the party is taking place somewhere else, catering can bring the food beyond the restaurant.

Plan your next group gathering at The Board Room Libertyville. Explore the current menu, reserve a table, or contact the events team to discuss private celebrations and catering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Board Room Libertyville offer shared plates?

Yes. The dinner menu includes cold shared plates, hot shared plates, and charcuterie boards, along with flatbreads, large plates, sides, and desserts.

Is The Board Room suitable for group gatherings?

Yes. Private-event options are available for corporate gatherings, birthdays, intimate wedding receptions, holiday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, and other occasions. The venue also offers customizable food and drink menus, dietary options, and flexible seating arrangements.

Does The Board Room offer catering?

Yes. Catering options include charcuterie and grazing boards, brunch, main courses, sides, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and desserts.

Does The Board Room serve brunch?

Yes. Weekend brunch includes breakfast dishes, the smash burger and mini sliders, mimosas, a bottomless mimosa option, mocktails, espresso-based drinks, and other beverages.

Where is The Board Room Libertyville located?

The Board Room Libertyville is located at 137 Lake Street, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Looking for restaurants in Libertyville IL for a group? Explore shared plates, charcuterie, brunch, cocktails, private events, and catering at The Board Room.

Planning Your Next Libertyville Gathering

Whether you're meeting friends after a day around downtown Libertyville, getting the family together for dinner, or putting together a special celebration, The Board Room makes it easy to plan the occasion around the kind of gathering you have in mind.

For a night out, start with the Dinner Menu and see what catches your group's attention, from charcuterie and shared plates to larger dinner selections and desserts. Hosting a birthday, shower, work gathering, or another special occasion? The Private Events / Venue & Catering page has details on event options and group arrangements.

Not hosting at the restaurant? The Catering menu lets you bring The Board Room's food to your Libertyville-area gathering. For a slower weekend meet-up, check out the Brunch Menu, with breakfast favorites, brunch drinks, and more.

And when you're ready to make plans, the Contact page is the place to go for reservations, event questions, and other details.