Wes --
I'm not a coffee drinker...so no help there.
We ate breakfast out on the deck aft of La Veranda every chance we could get.
You shouldn't have any problem corralling 8-10 chairs in the Observation Lounge to meet and greet -- just about any time. Or on the aft deck outside of Horizon Lounge.
No real favorite section in CR (now that the treed off smoking section is gone).
