Rainforest Cafe--It's Wild!

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Hey gang..

Who here has been to the Rainforest Cafe?

For those who don't know about it...it's a cool resturant that has been decorated to the extreme to resemble a realistic rainforest jungle. In this jungle are numerous animatronic animals, including a gorillia family, some elephants, a leopard in a tree, butterflies, and at some locations a huge python and realistic gator ( when he works!)

I bring this up as the other night J, his wife Cheryl, Kerry and i went out to our local Rainforest and had a great time. It was Kerry's first time and you have to admit it's quite a spectacle!

She even spotted our buddy "Bubba" in the forest shaking the trees....heh heh! Just kidding folks...it was'nt a CEI "Bubba"...just a lookalike! She took some photos...perhaps she might share them here?

So who's been to RC? I've been several times while at WDW and loved em'. Sure the food might be a little expensive, but the portions are HUGE ( you can easily split anything between two people..even the salads! CEC this ain'nt folks!) and the food is really GOOD!

Check it out at www.rainforestcafe.com (http://www.rainforestcafe.com)

[MatHat13]

I'm sorry for all who love the place, but I think it was one of the worse places I have ever eaten. I hated the food there, the wait is always long, the place is so loud, as well as the animatronic animals, along with the thunder that happans every once and while, and to me it smells too. And also for people's birthdays, or other occasions I have to hear this a person come out from the backroom screaming "VOLCANO" making me jump. Eh I can do with out this place, I like Bugaboo Creek better.:x

[dheineCECfan]

I have eaten at 2 Rainforest Cafes, one in Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL and one in Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurnee, IL.

[pizzacam]

Yeah one just opened here and everyone says the food's bad...what do they serve anyway?

[MMBBfan327]

OOO I went the one in the Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurnee, IL a few years back. The food was..."different," however the rest was AWESOME!!!! There was a talking tree and an aliigator in a pond that moved, and 4 gorrilas that moved and stuff, and real aquariums, and I wish I could go back!!!!

[VegaNova]

I've been to two of them, the one at Downtown Disney in CA and the one at Downtown Disney in FL (with Jenn actually).

The atmousphere is cool, and it's something kids would love. It is loud, so don't go in there expecting to have an intimate conversation. But when the place isn't busy it's pretty cool. Always kinda reminded me of a yuppie version of Casa Bonita with animatronics - the whole place is made to be like a rainforest.

The food is pretty decent. I've only been there twice so I haven't tasted much to be honest. But all the platters are pretty exotic - not a pizza and fried chicken place. They serve a flounder plate, and if I remember right the pizzas are all gourmet (chicken, cilantro... themed ones). I think the plates were like $15-20 or so. But like Jenn said, the portions are big. I always have to watch what I order at these places since (for those who don't know) VegaNova doesn't eat condiments. The fancier meals are usually made with special 'sauces' which usually don't agree with me. >D

But as far as waiting time and crowdedness.... that can be bad. In Florida it was nice, not too busy the night we were there but in California it was rediculous! We went on like a tuesday night expecting to have a smaller crowd. Nope. We almost weren't going to get in without a reservation. There were lots of people waiting outside the restaurant waiting for a table. Luckily a table for two opened up right as we went up to the kiosk - got a ton of dirty looks when they let us right in too. And then it was so crowded... to where you didn't want to get up and leave the table because everyone was running around like mad.

But overall it's a place you should eat at if you ever get the chance - at least to say you've been there! Plus it's one of the few places left that even bothers with animatronics so there's always that.

-VegaNova

[CEC3066]

i've been to the one in San Francisco & DTD Anaheim. I LOVE the Thunderrstorm effect. it reminds me of The Tiki Room. (THE GOOD VERSION)

[ChuckEZone]

I've been to the Rainforest Cafe at Disney's Animal Kingdom (WDW). We were with a group that got in before it opened.. so the crowds weren't an issue. Having the place to yourself may sound nice, but it was during morning maintainance. We were seated right under this large fish tank (which was being cleaned at the time, btw) Well, some water splashed down onto the table. :x Kinda gross

[Lilredridinghood]

I really enjoyed The Rainforest Cafe! I loved the atmosphere, and I thought the food was really good! I actually had pizza (yes, they had pizza at this location). Thanks again guys, it was so nice seeing all of you, just of sad that I had to say goodbye, but I'll be back to visit! (And Jenn your coming to work at DisneyWorld.)

I did take some pictures, but I wish I had actually gotten more-(I wish I got one of the snake-he was my favorite) but heres the few I did take:

49.photobucket.com/albums...lfesangel/ (http://49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/rolfesangel/)

[TomD]

Going to the rainforest cafe to me is heaven! I always get one of those awesome rainforest ricky's when i go. And their food has definately gotten better over the years. It's not just a kiddie restaraunt anymore like it used to be. I love it :)

[JyPsy]

I have only been to he one in gurnee, IL (noting more and more people are from the midwest area.....gives me an idea for something..cec related :P ) Anyways, I realy didn't like the place. the food was average, the portions admittedly were decent, but the price was above really what i wanted to pay in a noisy, tight area..

it might be better if it is less crowded, but I have yet to see it when it isn't packed to the gills. *pun intended*

Gurnee Mills in general dissapoints me as of the last 4 years, they pulled planet hollywood, which was just neat for the memorabilia and the "gremlin" drink, and 90% of the stores are overpriced fashion stores.

eh.