Since you left out every conceivable piece of useful information aside from your daughter’s age, I will try to help.

How many people?

What kind of food? Seated dinner or buffet?

Is this a “party” with dancing or just dinner?

What is your budget?

Without the above info I suggest you buy out O Ya for the night.

Edit: Also looking at your post history you’re a sophomore in high school so are you asking for yourself?

McDonald's

Yes

My mom helped me create this post

Ok. Well if you give the above info I would be happy to make some suggestions.

Just made an edit

I haven't been in a longgg time, but in high school and into early college years I had fun experiences at Fire + Ice.

https://fire-ice.com/locations/boston-ma/

Right off the Common/Public Gardens, so it's T accessible and a good downtown environment for a walk before or after the meal, and easy public transit or parking.

It's a buffet-style meal, but is prepared and cooked with any ingredients you can fit in a dinner bowl. They use a big central grill and mix whatever sauces, noodles, veggies, protein you pick and customize. So it is/was a good option for a group of people with diverse palates (shout out to a younger me...)

Sort of like a hibachi restaurant, some of the cooks participate in banter with customers, or you at least create some conversation and photo ops watching everything get ready. Then everything is eaten in a kind of party atmosphere

If it’s soon, find something on a rooftop before it gets too cold.

I have no idea what 16yo girls want out of a dinner but given that you can't drink or get into clubs I'll suggest something that's an activity as well as a meal, like korean/japanese bbq or hibachi. For korean/japanese bbq there's koreana in cambridge and gyu kaku in brookline, for hibachi there's bisuteki tokyo in cambridge. Or you could just do cheesecake factory at either the prudential mall or cambridgeside galleria - both are in nice malls so you can walk around and check out stores and get boba or something.

Not dinner but I can also suggest the laser music shows at the museum of science on fridays and saturday nights, they do beyonce, fleetwood mac, pink floyd, and radio head. It's like $8 per person and decent fun.

This is actually a perfect affordable option.

As much as I despise the place and would never recommend it, 16 year old me thought it was the shit.

Thanks!

So I agree with one other commented that Japanese BBQ could be really fun! I love gyu kaku though it can get a little pricey. Along the same vein Hot Pot is awesome! My faves are Spring Shabu Shabu (buffet style noodles, tofu and vegetable but a la carte meat), and for all-a la carte, Lamei Hot Pot and Royal Hot Pot in Quincy are both good.

There is a relatively new place called Wu Song Road in Cambridge. They have a really fun staircase for taking pics and a tiki vibe. If you like American Chinese food there are plenty of options for you, plus some menu items that might be new to you. Kowloon is another option for a tiki vibe though I’m sure you’re familiar with Kowloon!

All the restaurants under COJE Management group (Lolita, Yvonne’s, Mariel, RUKA & Coquette) are very vibey with good music and fun photo ops. If you choose one I would recommend an early reservation (or going for brunch!) as they tend to become more bar-like and adult-oriented quickly after 9pm.

If you’re thinking of an activity I think both Flatbread Pizza Co. locations with the candlepin bowling lanes are really great! The pizza is good and the staff are really nice.

If you want something upscale feeling but affordable I love the vibe at wusong road tiki bar. Great food too.

If you want to have the most fun, level 99 gaming in Natick is so fun. You can earn points for pretzels and fries and they serve fancy soda. It's $50 a head though (definitely get full day pass and ideally go on a weekday to avoid lines)

Myers and chang is also great and affordable.

Brassica is my favorite Boston restaurant. Bit more expensive though.

I guess all my recommendations are tapas. Tapas is so good.

My favorite hot pot is Kaze, it's cleaner and nicer than spring shabu shabu. I agree it's a great experience.

What do you like to eat?