Best volcano

Do yourself a favor and book your next group-dining experience in the Lava Room at Cambridge's East Coast Grill. Of course the barbecue and seafood here are outstanding -- that's a given. But in the Lava Room, you'll dine beneath the resplendent kitsch of a full-wall volcano mural, complete with red lights that blink to simulate lava flow. Smaller groups can get a cheap look through windows, but there's nothing quite like dining in the glow of the mountain itself. For the fullest experience, go on the restaurant's Elvis-impersonator night.

East Coast Grill, 1271 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, (617) 491-6568; www.eastcoastgrill.net.