Have been away for ages, but am off travelling soon so I should have plenty of inspiration for new r...
Have been away for ages, but am off travelling soon so I should have plenty of inspiration for new reviews! Triciax
Member since:30.07.2003
Reviews:67
Members who trust:84
"A wild place to shop and eat"....
Background
The Rainforest Cafes are part of the American chain "Landry's Restaurants" which also includes names such as The Crab Shack, Saltgrass Steak House and Muer Seafood Restaurants, all, as far as I know, unknown in the UK. Rainforest Cafes are reasonably widespread in the USA and can be found in the Disney resorts in both California and Florida and in other major cities such as San Francisco, Chicago and Las Vegas (situated in the MGM casino - I have been to this one!). I believe the London Rainforest Cafe is the only one in the UK.
A small, but hopefully significant, aim of this corporate US chain is to help save the real rainforests. To this end the coins thrown into the crocodile pond by the front door and a percentage of certain dishes on the menu is donated to four rainforest related charities including the Rainforest Foundation and The Dian Fossey Gorilla Trust. Unfortunately there are only a few dishes on the menu which the donation applies to so statistically you are unlikely to choose this option. I would much prefer a small amount, say even 10p, be added to each main course dish. Possibly also kids might be inspired by the cause after hearing "Tracey Tree" talk about the rainforests or sitting by the enormous globe reading "Save the Rainforest".
The London Rainforest Cafe
The Rainforest Cafe in London is situated on Shaftsbury Avenue and is part
of the Trocadero complex at Piccadilly Circus. The restaurant itself is entered through a large rainforest themed shop on the ground floor selling all sorts of tropical toys, well mainly tropical, strangely I did spot a soft toy moose!
At first the restaurant itself looks quite small, but as you walk around a bit more discovering new areas you realised how massive it actually is. There are two floors, but at quieter times the lower level is usually closed. At full capacity the restaurant can seat 340 people, but, as it is split into different sections, feels much more intimate.
I went to the Rainforest Cafe with a friend last night, a Tuesday evening, and we were lucky enough to walk straight in. The restaurant was not at all busy so we enjoyed our meal in peace. At other times, for example weekends, it can be bedlam with a 45 minute wait to be seated and kids everywhere! I would therefore recommend that adult only parties stick to evenings at the beginning of the week. If you are taking a party of kids and expect the restaurant to be busy you can book online http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/reservations.asp or call 020 7434 3111 9am -5pm Monday to Sunday.
Virtual Tour
As you come down the stairs from the shop, flanked by a large waterfall and two gorillas to the right, there is a bar to the left. Even this is themed with the bar itself looking like a snake and shrouded by giant mushrooms. If the restaurant is busy you may well end up familiarizing yourself with the bar, but on the plus side it serves fresh fruits juices, smoothies and delicious cocktails (from around £6) as well as the traditional soft drinks, beer and wine (beer from £4, wine glass £5, coke £2).
To the right of the stairs a member of staff, dressed in safari attire of course, checks you in and shows you across the bridge into the depths of the rainforest! The attention to detail is fantastic. The walls are designed as rocks, trees trunks separate the space and the ceiling is a leafy canopy with hanging vines and foliage. In one area the canopy breaks to reveal a beautiful sapphire sky complete with glimmering stars. Another sections boasts a tropical fish tank and the "Save the Rainforest" globe (common, I think, to all the Rainforest Cafes). Best of all there are life size moving animals. We sat next to two large elephants and there are also gorillas, a butterfly, frogs etc. And every now and then a tropical storm passes by! Anyone who has been to one of the Disney resorts will be familiar with the resulting style.
The end result is basically a different eating environment that's good fun and that kids will love. Sophisticated it is definitely not, but, oddly enough as long as you pick a less busy time, it is very relaxing dining accompanied by jungle sounds.
The Menu
The food at the Rainforest Cafe is American with a tropical twist and is described as using the freshest ingredients. To give you an idea of dishes and prices here is a small selection of what is on offer:
Sample Menu
Starters
Raging Thunder Buffalo Wings Chicken drummets & wings in a spicy sauce served with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks on lettuce leaves. £6.95
Rainforest Enchiladas (V) Tortilla filled with spinach, sun-dried tomato and goat's cheese served with roast tomato & pepper sauce & rocket leaves. £6.95 With chicken £7.95
Main Courses
Rasta Pasta Grilled chicken, pappardelle pasta, walnut pesto, broccoli, red peppers and spinach tossed with garlic Alfredo sauce. £11.20 Without chicken (V) £9.75
Rainforest Classic Steakburger An 8oz, 100% rib-eye Scottish beef burger stacked with Swiss cheese, beef tomato, lettuce, pickles, red onions & relish served with fries. £11.55
Please note the above is a very small selection of the Rainforest Cafe menu and is included just to illustrate the type of food served. The full menu has loads of different dishes including a very good selection of vegetarian options, salads, pastas, chicken, fish and steak meals. And as you can see from above, your kids can still get the "all American" meal including chips, but nearly all the dishes also include a good portion of vegetables as well.
On my visit yesterday I found myself, as a vegetarian, pleasantly spoilt for choice. In the end I opted for the "Paradise Parcel" which consists of sauteed mushrooms, creamy spinach, cauliflower, mascarpone and brie in a filo parcel served on a bed of roasted vegetables. The parcel itself was really tasty, the filo pastry was crunchy and golden, the filling was creamy and delicious and the relish provided a tangy contrast. The vegetables underneath consisted of a portabella mushroom, red pepper, tomato, courgette and lettuce drizzled in balsamic dressing. Overall the meal was exactly the standard I would expect - tasty and satisfying, similar to a meal at TGI Friday's or the Hard Rock Cafe - but not haute cuisine, which, to be fair, it obviously doesn't pretend to be.
The portions aren't of American standards, but one main course was more than enough for my, admittedly smallish, appetite. I would think that with the addition of a starter and one of the many desserts, larger eaters would be fully satisfied. In terms of value the restaurant is average. I paid around £17 for my main course and soft drink (which is re-fillable) - not bad but if you were treating the whole family it would end up a pricey night out.
Events
The Rainforest Cafe can cater for a variety of events and the smaller rooms and even the whole restaurant is available for private hire. Kids birthday parties immediately spring to mind, but actually I can also see it as a fun venue for an adult do as well and it can hold 625 guests for a standing reception. Please see the website for more details: http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/events.asp.
Opening Hours
Monday to Wednesday Midday - 10pm
Thursday to Friday Midday - 8pm
Saturday 11.30am - 8pm
Sundays 11.30am - 10pm
Thanks for reading & I look forward to hearing your comments. Triciax
Pictures of Rainforest Cafe (London)
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Jan 25th, 2006
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