by Leah Crisman, executive editor

Prom is almost upon us, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than to reserve a table at The Republic Steakhouse? The Roar scouted out this upscale restaurant with prom in mind. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

What is the atmosphere like? While the menu is consistently high-quality, the live music is a little less so. That’s not to say you should attempt an escape just because there’s a guy on a guitar warbling “Wrecking Ball,” just that it can be hit-or-miss. The ambiance as a whole is delightfully prom-worthy, though. Diners are divided into little alcoves with warm mood lighting and the servers are endlessly helpful.

Will the prices fry your credit card? Quite possibly. As you’d expect with a restaurant of The Republic’s class, the dishes are quite expensive. The steaks range around $25-40 and the rest (chicken, king fish, salmon, shrimp, etc) hover around $20-30. Add in drinks and dessert, and you’ve got a meal your wallet won’t soon forget.

How flexible are they with special dietary needs? The larger the group, the more likely this might be a problem. Luckily, The Republic has several off-menu options for vegetarians, vegans and even gluten-free (the server I asked mostly talked about “custom vegetable medleys”).

Is it a good place for group or individual pictures? Pretty rose bushes line The Republic’s walkway, but there isn’t a whole lot of space between the restaurant and the crowded parking lot. Taking photos inside isn’t exactly easy either; the dim lighting undoubtedly adds an air of romance, but it also leads to dark and grainy photos.

Is it better suited to a larger or smaller prom group? This close to prom, you will have trouble reserving a table at The Republic for groups larger than six. With a smaller group or even just a couple, there should be no problem getting a spot at a reasonable time.