The Rainforest Cafe Review

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Best for: waking up the child inside.

Great: rainforest atmosphere.

Rain thundered from above. It cascaded down in streams, running in rivers to the left and right of us. But above: nothing. There was not a speck of water on my coat. To my left: torrential storm. To my right: heavy rain. But in front of me, only very dry steps downwards.

Surrounding us was thick foliage – wide flat-faced leaves and jungle trees twisted around the stairs – and the noises - of birds calling and chattering to each other and the faraway sound of an elephant raising its trunk - sounded distinctly like the jungle.

You’d never guess we’d just escaped the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.

The dry steps took us deep down into the undergrowth, until we emerged into a clearing. Two people, kitted out in safari gear, called us over.

“Hi, welcome to the Rainforest Café. I’ll be your safari leader for the evening.”

The Rainforest Café isn’t any old restaurant. It’s more of an experience than a restaurant. Your senses are awakened as soon as you enter through the unassuming doors, as the sounds of rainforest animals – the ca-caw from birds invisible to the eye, the trumpet of elephants, and the beating of the gorillas’ chest – compete with the smells and sights of the rainforest in all its glory. The moment I stepped into the rainforest – and a rainforest is what it undeniably is – I reverted back to my childhood, and the excitement I only remember feeling from rare trips to Disneyland as a five year old.

Ignoring my boyfriend, I looked at the safari leader in awe. Following her blindly, I listened intently when she introduced me to the elephants by name and I even reached up to touch one (before my boyfriend dragged me away and sat me down at the table).

The food became an afterthought – a pleasant afterthought, nonetheless – as I craned my neck to see all the animals that hid in the trees around us.

“I’m just going to the toilet,” I told my boyfriend.

He looked at me questioningly, “But you went a minute ago at the station.”

Pushing my chair back, I made my way towards the centre of the restaurant and a huge tropical fish tank. Two children, noses pushed up against the glass, didn’t hear me come over. Joining them, I too pushed my nose up against the glass. Tropical fish swam around, oblivious to the cacophony of noise and smells and sights around them.

“I’d love to be a fish.” I nudged the closest kid next to me. “Wouldn’t it be great? To breathe underwater?”

The kid looked at me and grimaced. “Uh, how old are you?” He nudged his friend in the back and they both ran back to their parents, only looking back at me once to poke out their tongues. But not before I’d poked out mine first.

Remembering why I was visiting the Rainforest Café, I went back to the table where my rather grumpy-looking boyfriend sat with a menu in his hand.

“I’ve decided what I want, already. Have you?”

Just then, the elephants started to move. They lifted their trunks and trumpeted to the restaurant, as loads of kids rushed over to reach out and touch the baying giants. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them, wishing upon everything that I was 20 years younger and able to join the one kid about to be told off by his Mum for swinging around the elephant’s trunk.

Grudgingly I turned my attention back to the menu and ordered my food.

The food was great: lively and interesting with rainforest-themed names, such as Lava Nachos (a pile of chilli topped tortilla chips with jalapeños, sour cream, tomato salsa and black beans which I ordered to share but pretty much scoffed on my own) and Aztec Chicken (a chargrilled chicken breast with my ultimate ingredient, goats cheese, melted on top, sat on garlicky mashed potatoes with a mushroom sauce).

But all the while I was eating, I was looking around and taking in the rainforest nirvana around me. So much so that I wanted to take a piece of the rainforest home with me. And take a piece with me I did, in the form of a stuffed zebra bought hastily in the Rainforest Café shop upstairs after our meal, much to my boyfriend’s dismay. ...read more

Claire Williams 18 Apr 2013

The Rainforest Cafe Description

Rainforest Cafe is a tropical hideaway in the heart of the West End. This spectacular restaurant recreates the sights and sounds of the Amazon Rainforest with the help of stunning special effects such as thunder and lightning storms, tropical rain showers and cascading waterfalls.

Rainforest Cafe proudly offers a varied menu of American and tropical cuisine made from the freshest ingredients. Combine this imaginative food to the magical scenery and you have captured the breathtaking and dynamic features that embody Rainforest Cafe.

Customer Reviews for The Rainforest Cafe

Average (based on 4 votes): 4 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of The Rainforest Cafe.

“I found it very good, the prices were brilliant, the effect in the restaurant was also very good, and loads of fun for us kids. The only bad thing was that the shop was a bit too expensive. Overall, though, very good. We may go there again.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Daisy White, Evesham (1 years 4 months 22 days ago)

“You cant fault the atmosphere at this restaurant. If you have kids then this is a perfect restaurant to bring them to. The whole place is kitted out with an array of cool animatronics, strobe and lighting effects, plus they have a special menu just for kids. And crayons. The service is also excellent but the prices and the quality of the food don't match the experience. Prepare to spend big as you exit through the gift shop.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
The Restaurant Hunter, London (1 years 6 months 24 days ago)

“I went to the one in Tennessee and loved it. but that was a one time thing i always go to Myrtle Beach every year, and would like to see one put in there or Kentucky were i am from. thanks”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Carol, Ashland ,Ky (3 years 2 months 8 days ago)

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The Rainforest Cafe Opening Hours

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: International
• Dress Code: Not specified
• Website: Visit the The Rainforest Cafe website
• Group: (Independent/Freehouse)