I'll third the recommendation for Tony's, it's very good family-style Italian and it's a large enough space to handle a group of that size.
I tend to forget about the Italian places since I can't take my mom and sister to them. I don't think Sardi's is "awful". It's worth going to at least once - I love all the pictures there. I'd nix trying to pile everyone into taxis and on the subway and again recommend making a reservation. 18 people pre/post show is going to be a nightmare if you just show up somewhere.
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