My daughter wants to come to the city for her 16th birthday with about 10 of her friends. We were planning to come up around 5pm, spend a couple of hours shopping (maybe at Pier 39), then heading up toward Union Sq. - maybe appetizers at the Starlight Room at sunset. Then dinner somewhere close by followed by a cable car ride down to Ghirrardeli's for dessert.

Any suggestions on restaurants or alternates to the places we're thinking of?

I suggest eating at Buca di Beppo (near Metreon), family style Italian restaurant. It's a good place for big groups, and you can be loud! If you have enough people (15?) you can get "The Pope Room"! Food comes in family portions for sharing, reasonably priced! Good food and fun!

My daughter (14) spent her friend's birthday at Rainforest Cafe near Fisherman's Wharf and loved it. I'm not sure if your daughter would like it, but try going to their website and BayInsider.com for more info on Rainforest and other restuarants

What type of dining experience is your daughter interested in?

Elegant?
Entertaining?
What type of food?

You have a lot to choose from. At 16, I would have wanted to have a more elegant, sit-down dinner, but some would have wanted a more fun atmosphere. Give me some direction, and I can give you a list of choices.

Sharon - thanks for offering. I think we're looking for something fun & entertaining with enough variety on the menu that 10 16 yr.old girls will find something to their liking.

Thanks for any suggestions

Since you don't mention a budget, I will do my best to give a variety of price points and include approximate costs:

$$$$= $51 or more
$$$ = $31 to $50
$$ = $16 to $30
$ = $15 and below

Grand Cafe - French; grand European-style ballroom atmosphere. Very celebratory atmosphere with a touch of old world elegance. Could easily handle a large group. Casual dress ok.
501 Geary Street
http://www.grandcafe.net/
$$$

Kuletos - California-Italian; old San Francisco style. Could easily handle a large group. Casual dress ok.
221 Powell St.
http://www.kuletos.citysearch.com/
$$

The Stinking Rose - Italian; Fun celebratory type place. More casual than the others. Could easily handle a large group.
http://thestinkingrose.com/sf/sf.htm
$

Gaylord India Restaurant - Indian; beautiful views overlooking the bay to Tiburon. Could easily handle a large group. Casual dress ok.
Fisherman's Wharf (right next to Ghiradelli)
900 North Point
http://www.gaylords.com/
$$

Great Eastern Restaurant - Chinese; in the heart of China town. Fresh seafood is the emphasis. Very nice dining room with plenty of space for a large group.
649 Jackson Street
http://bayarea.citysearch.com/profile/917708/
$

R&G Lounge - Chinese; at the edge of China town. Excellent food with friendly service. Could handle a large group
631 Kearny St.
http://bayarea.citysearch.com/profile/11344469/
$

Julius' Castle - Cal-European; beautiful views of the bay from Telegraph Hill. Elegant celebratory spot. Could easily handle a large group.
1541 Montgomery Street
$$$

One Market - California; High-end dining in the financial district. This could be a really fun one if you scheduled the Chef's Table http://www.onemarket.com/chefstable.html. You get to have an elegant dinner with the chef. It's educational and really fun!
1 Market
http://www.onemarket.com/
$$$

This is a start. Let me know if you need additional information, or if one of these sounds interesting, but not quite right. Give me more detail, and I can give a more directed response.