WHY Luscious prime rib and a theatrical sense of ‘going out.’

WHAT It’s kinda like the Disneyland of restaurants. Lawry’s has characters (waitresses in uniforms and perky caps and imposing carving men in stiff toques), adventures (salad tossed tableside in a huge spinning bowl, prime rib carved from a silver cart) and tons of Japanese tourists. But don’t let the kitschy show have you thinking this place isn’t good—it’s great.

WHO Three-generation families celebrating occasions, couples on special dates and lots of happy Japanese business people and travelers.