Nice Places to Eat for Prom
If you're thinking about eating at one of these restaurants, go there first, on a weekend, and check them out to see if you like them. Tell them you're thinking about eating there, and ask if you can see a menu and have a look around inside. American/French cuisine unless noted. Figure that dinner is going to cost you between $100 and $150 per couple. Check the menus online before you go.
San Francisco:
Tonga Room:
In the Fairmont hotel. Large. Not so formal. Asian food. Tiki theme. Famous since the ‘50s. “Rains” (fake rain--you won’t get wet) every 20-30 minutes or so. Pool in the middle has a boat on which musicians play on some nights. This is
a famous touristy place, so you will see casually-dressed people.
Max’s Opera Cafe:
American food. Less formal, but the food is good and it’s about a block from City Hall. Some waiters sing in the evening. Many people in casual dress. Significantly less expensive than the other places. Avoid tables right next to the stage; it can be harder to have a conversation there.
Closer to home:
Limewood, the restaurant at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley:
The Claremont is an old-school resort hotel; it'll remind you of The Great Gatsby.
Spacious. Nice view. I ate here on one of my prom/ball nights...nice place. The most expensive place on this list.
Neumanali (in Hayward):
California cuisine in a converted Victorian. You will probably see casually-dressed people. Not very big. Nice inside.
Paradiso (in San Leandro):
Upscale and consistently good Italian food.