Lawry's The Prime Rib

Step through the doors of Lawry’s The Prime Rib and you’re transported to another era entirely. This Beverly Hills institution, which has been serving Angelenos for over eight decades, feels like boarding a luxurious cruise ship that never leaves port. Grand staircases lead to a ballroom filled with oversized booths, oil paintings of anonymous royalty, and servers who introduce themselves with proper titles. It’s theatrical, it’s glamorous, and it’s one of the last authentic old-Hollywood experiences the city has to offer.

The show begins the moment you’re seated. Watch as your server spins your salad at what appears to be record-breaking speeds, a presentation that somehow manages to be both charmingly retro and genuinely impressive. Then comes the main event: gleaming golden carts roll through the dining room, stopping at tables so white-jacketed carvers can slice thick slabs of prime rib to order. Choose from five different cuts, each accompanied by mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and horseradish cream. The creamed spinach deserves special mention—it’s the kind of side dish you’ll unexpectedly find yourself raving about for days.

This is pure escapism dining, the kind of place where half the crowd has been celebrating family milestones here for generations. It’s perfect for impressing parents, spending corporate expense accounts, or marking special occasions that call for something grander than the everyday. The prices reflect the experience, but there’s genuine value in what Lawry’s delivers: a complete departure from reality wrapped in white tablecloths.

Don’t leave without the banana bread pudding, even if you’re convinced there’s no room left. At Lawry’s, making the impossible possible is simply part of the tradition.