Learn Hardcore Chinese: nǐ hé nǐ de bàba wǎnshang zài fàndiàn, háishi zài jiā? - Are you and your dad at a restaurant tonight, or at home?

If context makes it clear that 爸爸 means the listener’s dad, 你和爸爸 is fine in casual speech. Without context, 你和你爸爸 is safer to avoid ambiguity (otherwise 爸爸 often refers to the speaker’s own dad).

Can I use 跟 instead of 和?

Yes. 跟 is very common in speech and is largely interchangeable with 和 here: 你跟你爸爸. 和 is a touch more formal; 跟 can also mean “with/follow” in other contexts.

Why is 在 repeated before both places? Can I drop the second 在?

Parallel structure prefers 在A，还是在B. In casual speech, many people say 在饭店还是家; it’s acceptable, though keeping both 在 is a bit clearer and more formal.

Do I need the comma before 还是?

No. It just marks a natural pause. 你和你爸爸晚上在饭店还是在家？ is perfectly standard.

Why use 还是 instead of 或者?

Use 还是 to offer a choice in a question. Use 或者 in statements. For example: 问句: 你喝茶还是咖啡？ 叙述: 你可以喝茶或者咖啡。

Can I add 吗 at the end?

Not with 还是. 还是 already signals a choice question, so 吗 would be redundant or sound odd here.

Where does 晚上 go, and can I say 在晚上?

Time words like 晚上 usually go before the verb or at the start: 晚上你和你爸爸在… or 你和你爸爸晚上在…. Don’t say 在晚上 in everyday speech; just 晚上 is natural.

What’s the difference between 家 and 家里 here?

Both 在家 and 在家里 work; 在家 is slightly more concise. By default 在家 means “at (your) home”; to refer to someone else’s, specify: 在他家.

Is 饭店 the best word for “restaurant”? What about 餐馆/饭馆/餐厅/酒店?

Mainland: 饭店 can mean hotel or a (often nicer) restaurant; 饭馆/餐馆/餐厅 are all common for restaurants.
Taiwan: 飯店 = hotel; 餐廳 = restaurant; 飯館 is less common.
Your sentence is fine in Mainland usage; in Taiwan, 餐廳 is clearer.

How would I answer this question naturally?

Short answers are normal: 在饭店。 or 在家。 More complete: 我们在饭店。 or 我和我爸爸在家。 Don’t repeat 还是 in your answer.

Why use 在 and not 是 to express location?

Location is expressed with 在: 在饭店/在家. You can add 是 for focus/contrast (a cleft): 你们是在饭店，还是在家？, but the basic locative is just 在.

Do I need 都 when the subject is A 和 B?

Not here. 你和你爸爸在饭店 is fine. Use 都 to stress that something applies to both separately: 你和你爸爸都喜欢中国菜.

How is 和 pronounced here?

As hé (second tone). Other readings like hàn or huó appear in fixed expressions or different meanings, not for “and” in modern speech.

Does 晚上 mean “tonight” or “evenings in general”?

Context decides. It can mean either. To be explicit, use 今天晚上/今晚 for “tonight,” or 平时晚上 for habitual “in the evenings.”

Can I add 呢 at the end?

Yes: 你和你爸爸晚上在饭店还是在家呢？ Adding 呢 softens the tone and signals you’re seeking information.

Any politeness adjustments if I’m speaking to an older person?

Use 您: 您和您父亲晚上在饭店还是在家？ For very formal/honorific style, 令尊 (your esteemed father) exists—您和令尊…—but it’s literary and not for casual talk.

Do I need a classifier like 一家 before 饭店?

Not if you’re speaking generally: 在饭店 is fine. Use a classifier when specifying a particular one: 在一家饭店 / 在那家饭店.