Jungle-like dining under a starry night
I am in UAE for quite a time now but it was only this year I checked the (Annual) Dubai Shopping Festival. With tired feet and hungry monster tummies, there was no better way to culminate last Friday night than visiting the Rainforest Cafe. We have passed by here when we checked the Dubai Aquarium last time but I never thought that this cafe offers more than the usual.
I think that this cafe is well-conceptualized in the sense that this is currently one of a kind in the UAE. For the naturally greenery scarce Gulf, an artificial rainforest environment will be appreciated by many. There is a reptile at the entrance, and as you take more steps to the dining hall, you will be greeted by a serpent. Then the rest of the tigers, gorillas and butterflies are strategically situated. Although these creatures are available in their artificial form, it is hugely entertaining because approximately at every 10 minutes , they would air some sounds of animals and synched with their movements. The banging of the thunderstorm signals that these creatures will become alive.
Looking at the ceiling is the most fascinating part for me. There’s this lighting effect that does not only make the stars twinkle, but like they also travel slowly from one portion to the other.
In that way, it was like dining under a star-starry night. Although the simulated rainforest feel is the highlight of the visit, the food is also good. We had grilled salmon, pesto and mixed seafood grill. The food’s name from menu is catchy like Rainforest Rascal with Safari Fries and Gorilla Grilled Cheese Delight.
Since the Rainforest Cafe is just behind the Dubai Aquarium (one of the biggest aquariums in the world), there’s one stretch of dining tables directly facing it. How refreshing is that.
There are stoned sculptures of ancient type and waterfalls that give an added feel of the jungle. The tables and chairs are made up of bamboo and the table (top) has drawings of fish and other animals.
I have not taken a photo of the path to the restroom, but the gender reference says like “Queen of the Jungle” and “King of the Jungle”. There’s also a souvenir shop which sells kooky forms of animals, shirts, mugs and other items. We would probably check and get one the next time. Yes, this cafe is worth visiting again.
See how the animals become “alive” in this video:
Rainforest Cafe is in Dubai Mall, near the Dubai Aquarium. Landline: +971 4 330 8515
Edit: Video uploaded on 7 March 2010.
wow! the ambiance is great. mapapadami ang kain mo, wag mo lang isipin na baka may biglang tumabi sayo na ET or dino…
.-= renin´s last blog ..I <3 U =-.
I actually got a little creeped out the first time the monkey hanging near our table started to move. Hahaha.
hahaha. so feeling jane and tarzan pala ang diners diyan?
.-= angeli´s last blog ..Nursing a Cold =-.
Hahaha. Not exactly. The waiters’ and waitresses’ uniform is like Kuya Kim (Atienza’s) normal attire in Matanglawin.
uy ang sarap nga ng feeling pag andyan ka. maganda nga yung ceiling. mura lang din ba dyan?
.-= upto6only´s last blog ..E-jeepney =-.
Hmmm, reasonable naman.
i ate at the rainforest cafe in las vegas once and totally forgot i was in vegas. it really felt like i was in the jungle or in a forest. the animal sounds really adds to the total rainforest cafe experience.
.-= kayni´s last blog ..Puerto Rico’s Fort San Cristobal =-.
The animal sounds complemented much. But some children (the very young ones) tend to get scared at some point.
Wow how cool is that? Dining in the rainforest complete with live show!
Pero di ba there was a leak at the Dubai Aquarium? Some stores had to close and the mall was closed for a few hours for maintenance.
Now that would be a scary experience. Dining at the Rainforest Resto then you got water seeping from the Aquarium. Yikes!
.-= Daphne´s last blog ..A new Month =-.
Guess what? We dined Friday night and the (minor) leak happened the day before that. We only learned about it on a Saturday. As they say, what we don’t know won’t hurt us. Hahaha.
Anyway, I think though that even if we had prior knowledge of the leak, we’d still dine there that night. And we’ll come back. What a risk appetite!
great ambiance! either gaganahan ako kumain or hindi ako makakakain dahil titingala lang ako sa ceiling! hehe
.-= Josiet´s last blog ..Hubby and I competes =-.
Ang bagal ko kumain that night kase panay ang tingin ko sa kisame. Heeheehe.
I like theme restaurants altho there aren’t too many around here. Is the food great?
.-= Photo Cache´s last blog ..Take The Bus Tour =-.
The food is good. But honestly, it’s not as remarkable as the ambiance.
this is so fascinating!
ang galing ng concept.
wish they expand here in PI or we get to try it someday either there in uae or lv. =)
.-= docgelo´s last blog ..TINA+GABBY IN GELATONE’S POSTER =-.
I hope, too. Although Philippines has a lot of themed restos, this one will still make it especially to the kids.
i love the photos, wits!..i didn’t get a good shot when we visited coz Andreas kept running towards the Aquarium.
sa ibang branches daw nila like Beirut and NY, umuulan pa daw talaga hihi
i hope you had Volcano for desert lolz!
.-= Kero´s last blog ..Chocolates & Perfume =-.
We didn’t have our dessert from there because we intended to have ice cream from Cold Stone. We’ll try the Volcano next time. Hahaha.
wow ang ganda nga ng ambiance! very nature ang feeling habang kumakain.
Oo, medyo nakakawala ng pagkahomesick sa nature appeal ng probinsya sa Pilipinas.
wow that looks great! i like the darkness. LOL semi-aswang yata talaga ko LOL the food looks nice too!
Semi-aswang (LOL)! You reminded me tuloy of my being fanatic of Twilight Saga. How come I totally forgot to associate the place to Twilight?
the place actually looks like a scene in the music video of BEP on the song meet me half way.
.-= dong ho´s last blog ..dong bei dumplings binondo =-.
I had to google the video and watched it already. Yes, it reminds a scene from there.
we have a rainforest cafe here in jersey too, in atlantic city, but i have never eaten there!
have you received the postcard of lucy i sent before? i am very much looking forward to your new dubai postcard! thanks in advance! and you should try posting at litratong pinoy sometime, too!
.-= fortuitous faery´s last blog ..Litratong Pinoy #77:Kalikasan (Nature) =-.
No, I didn’t receive it yet. Baka natraffic lang. Lol. Try visiting the Rainforest Cafe there.
Wow, very magical! I might not enjoy my food there kasi I’ll be fascinated with the place all the time! Ganda! ?
.-= chyng´s last blog ..Pati Ba Naman Paper Cup? =-.
I actually spent more time in taking photos and videos and looking up and around.
uy ang galing naman. Nice place and very interesting
Hi Jeanny! How’s your stay in Sydney?
Hindi siguro ako makaka-in pag ganyan ang mga nasa paligid ko.
.-= BlogusVox´s last blog ..My Big Fat Pinoy Wedding =-.
Hindi makakakain dahil mesmerized sa environment or dahil iniisip na yung animals na nasa paligid ang kinakain? Heehee. Ganyan kase naisip ko nung hinihintay pa namin yung food.
walang binatbat ang Congo Grille!!! sana meron din gumawa niyan dito…
kung sakaling di man gaano masarap yung food, at least yung ambiance eh babalikan mo! 
.-= bursky´s last blog ..nag-a-adik sa pagsulat ng musika =-.
OO nga, Congo Grille can spice the place up some more. Pero alam mo, much better ang food sa Congo Grille.
you got the Rainforest cafe in Dubai too ? We got them here. It’s a real treat for the kids
.-= bw´s last blog ..COFFEE WARS =-.
Is it the same set of animals in their branch there?
That’s a unique place. The ambiance must really make you feel as if you’re dining in the middle of the rainforest. Galing!
.-= Rach (Heart of Rachel)´s last blog ..Inspiring Health and Wellness Site =-.
Have you seen the video? I’ve uploaded it after you commented yata. Jungle ang dating pag “nag iingay” ang animals. Gumagalaw galaw pa yung unggoy na nakalambitin sa puno.
Now that is original! And the concept was carried well. I wonder if they also sell exotic animal dishes?
.-= Rico´s last blog ..Singapore, Part 1 =-.
No exotic food. That would be an extra treat.
I’ve been to the Rainforest Cafe franchise in Orlando but I find the food not really worth it. Kids do love the jungle ambiance but that’s all there is to it.
.-= Nomadic Pinoy´s last blog ..Dream Destinations =-.
Food was good and reasonably priced. The ambiance markets the place.
Okay, now I’m salivating…
The place looks grand. Very Safari, I should say.
I was thinking they should have put a camel inside since it’s very representative of UAE. Pero, jungle/rainforest theme nga pala.
Ang ganda gandaaaaa. Super magical naman ng dating. Kakanta na ba ako ng Lion King songs? Hehehe.
Hahaha, pwede! That’s a nice idea. I noticed they aired some jazz and samba songs.