Trying to lock down a spot for my buddy's 40th next month. Ten of us, mostly locals but a couple coming in from Jersey. He wants Flushing, good seafood, and a round table where we can actually hear each other. The hard part: one person doesn't do spicy at all, one is vegetarian, and I don't want a place that tries to turn the table in 90 minutes. We're fine with a set menu if they can swap a dish or two. Anybody done a group birthday in a semi-private room out there lately? Bonus if it's walkable from Main St 7 or not a total hike.

Oh, you have to look at Asian Jewels! They have actual private rooms and the seafood tanks are huge. You can point at the king crab or lobster and they'll do it ginger-scallion or salted egg yolk. Have you tried their Dungeness crab with ginger scallion? It's not just the usual delivery joint crab—the sauce is so good over rice. For ten people, the back room gives you a real tablecloth and a door, not just a curtain. We did a family banquet there and they let us swap the beef for a tofu dish for my aunt. The only thing is the weekend front room gets chaotic, so ask for the inside room when you call. If you want something a little less grand, Guangdong BBQ doesn't have private rooms, but the whole roasted duck for the table is a moment.

DumboSunset is right that Asian Jewels has real private rooms, and the seafood tanks are the draw. I've done a 10-person birthday there; we had the back room to ourselves, and they didn't hover over the lazy Susan. One caveat: on a Saturday night the main dining room can be extremely loud, and the private room still shares a wall with it. If you go that route, call ahead and confirm the room has a door, not just the partition, and ask if there's a minimum spend (they sometimes won't quote one until you make the reservation).

For a more low-key option, Lake Pavilion on Main St has a bunch of semi-private round tables near the back. The food is Hong Kong-style seafood, very consistent, and they were fine with two vegetarians at our table—they'll do pea shoots, mixed fungus, and a tofu clay pot that isn't just an afterthought. We ordered the whole steamed flounder and the crab with rice noodles. They didn't rush us, but we also tipped well and told them upfront it was a birthday.

If you want stronger vegetarian entrees, ask for the Buddhist-style menu; they usually have one in Chinese but the server can tell you what's available. Another thing: with people coming in from Jersey, factor in the walk from the LIRR/Main St. Lake Pavilion is closer to the 7 than Asian Jewels, but both are fine in decent weather. With 10 people, I'd make the reservation for 6:30 or 7:00, not 8:00—the good round tables in Flushing tend to go to the early seating.

Seconding the call-ahead thing. I've seen people get a 'private room' that's just a round table behind a plastic divider and the karaoke speakers still bleed in. If you're not locked to Cantonese seafood, Hahm Ji Bach in Murray Hill has private rooms and a massive seafood pancake, plus they'll cook a tofu stew for the vegetarian. But that's a different vibe for a 40th—more wood paneling, less banquet hall. For pure Flushing, Lake Pavilion is the move. Skip the spots in the basement mall; the echo is a conversation killer.

Good looks. We're leaning Lake Pavilion or Asian Jewels—my buddy's wife speaks Cantonese and is going to call about the actual door situation. You're right, a plastic divider and karaoke bleed isn't it. DumboSunset, you ever done Lake Pavilion? Wondering if their flounder holds up against the crab at Asian Jewels. Also is it weird to ask for a fruit platter for the birthday, or do they just bring it?

I've been to Lake Pavilion once! Their flounder is so delicate, but if I'm being honest, the crab at Asian Jewels is still the one I dream about. If you pre-order the Dungeness, ask for the ginger scallion version—it comes out on a big platter and everyone goes quiet. They won't bring the birthday fruit automatically unless you tell them; ask for the cut fruit with the little orange slices. Have you looked at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao? Not for a private room, but if you want a soup dumpling pre-game before the table, it's a very good detour.