Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris
Originally published March 16, 2006
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Ten Best Prom Night Restaurants
The prom season is beginning now, and lots of young people are looking for places with food and atmosphere to match their formal clothes, but with tolerance for their low budgets and youthful tastes. The following seem to have the best mix of those things, according to the feedback I get. A great deal of primary research on this has been done by my sixteen-year-old son, who has orchestrated over a dozen such dinners for himself and his friends and their dates.
1. Galatoire's. 209 Bourbon, French Quarter. 525-2021. The New Orleans classic, and particularly good for the scions of the establishment--or those who want to act like it. Make a reservation for upstairs. If your dad is a regular, his waiter will take very good care of you.
2. Dakota. 629 N. US 190, Covington, 892-3712. Beautiful restaurant, a young staff, and very accommodating to young couples with an interest in fine dining.
3. Muriel's. 801 Chartres, 568-1885. Very cool place, right in the middle of the Quarter, and with food that's at the same time serious and amusing. Very affordable for all that.
4. Andrea's. 3100 19th Street, Metairie. 834-8583. First-class Italian, seafood, and everything else. They have a special three- or four-course menu specifically for prom-goers. It's priced in the mid-$30s, inclusive of tax, tip, and soft beverages, and for groups big enough they have private rooms.
5. Cafe East. 4628 Rye (just off Clearview), 888-0078. This is a particular favorite for my prom-age son, who has held several very successful pre-dance dinners there. Chinese food, with a very unusual menu. Under-$10 entrees are available. Very cool dining room.
6. Nola. 534 St. Louis, 522-6652. Very hip, with an Emeril aura, and interesting food.
7. Drago's. 3232 N. Arnoult Rd., 888-9254. Now that the restaurant has more private space available, this is a great place for pre-dance dinners. They'll put together a very good dinner at a moderate price.
8. Palace Cafe. 605 Canal, 523-1661. Hip, a little noisy, a cool scene, a great staircase for taking pictures, and a great menu with a lot of variety.
9. Ruth's Chris Steak House. 3633 Veterans Blvd., 888-3600. For the fellow who's saved up his money for this special night.
10. Ralph's On The Park. Convenient of all parts of town (I remember what it was like to have to pick up dates), a view of City Park, perhaps even a balcony table, and enough variety and sophistication to make it a special night.
© 2006 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com