What is the ruling on a communal iftar for colleagues (females and males) at a restaurant?

Communal Iftar (breaking fast) between unrelated men and women is a prohibited mixing (ikhtilat) because it is a means to corruption. Allah commanded the Mothers of the Believers to remain in their homes and not to display their adornments, and He clarified that the wisdom behind this is to remove impurity and purify them. Allah Almighty also requested that when asking for anything from them (the Prophet's wives), it should be from behind a screen, because that is purer for the hearts. Mixing is forbidden if it involves seclusion (khalwa), or looking with lust, or if the woman displays herself improperly, or if there is frivolity and physical touching. Mixing is permissible for a legitimate need, provided the rules of Sharia are observed.