Their signature dessert, called a volcano, consists of brownie and ice cream topped with a lit sparkler. Rainforest Cafe serves typical American chain restaurant fare, such as burgers, chicken, pastas, and seafood, with the addition of some Mexican food to reflect the tropical theme. These eight characters may be represented on children's menus, merchandise, or the company logo. These characters include Cha! Cha!, the red-eyed tree frog Iggy, the iguana Nile, the crocodile Rio, the macaw Maya, the jaguar Tuki, the elephant Bamba, the gorilla and Ozzie, the orangutan. Rainforest Cafe also has a set of animal mascots, called 'The Wild Bunch'.

A small water feature with the animatronic crocodile is located just outside the shop, in which visitors are invited to toss coins. Ī retail village is located in front of the dining area with an assortment of souvenirs that are rainforest-themed or are branded with the Rainforest Cafe logo, mostly printed by the Atlanta-based fashion apparel company Boxercraft Inc. The animals are manufactured by Russells Creative, LLC, of Apopka, Florida, formerly UCFab International. Tracy Tree, an animated tree face, sits inside the shop and provides rainforest facts.

A crocodile, and a snake are often located in the gift shop area to attract the attention of passersby. The restaurant is laid out so that these animals are set off the ground and are largely above diners' heads, not only allowing them to be seen from farther away, but making them appear larger as well. These include butterflies, elephants, gorillas, jaguars, and tigers, though this will vary by location. Rainforest Cafe at Disney's Animal Kingdom in September 2002.Īnimatronic animals are spread throughout the restaurant. Periodically, a simulated thunderstorm will occur every few minutes, with strobe lights and thunder effects through subwoofers. Fish tanks, also known as aquariums with tropical reef fish are spread throughout the restaurant and the gift shop space. The chain is known for its characteristic bar stools, made to resemble the legs of animals, designed and sculpted by the artist Glenn Carter. The bar area is situated under a gigantic mushroom, partitioned from the rest of the restaurant by a rain curtain. The ceiling above the center of the dining room features a simulated starry night sky, designed and manufactured by Fiber Optic Systems Inc., located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Paper Mache birds and butterflies are suspended from the trees, and other whimsical rainforest creatures are mounted, as though climbing on the walls or peeking through the foliage.

Often, there is a waterfall with a fountain in the dining area, with a statue depicting Atlas holding up the Earth to communicate a conservation message. Brick textures suggest ancient ruins, and support pillars are made to look like tree trunks. The ceiling and much of the walls are lined with artificial foliage, while lower areas and booth seating are decorated with faux rock. Įach Rainforest Cafe restaurant is designed to depict the atmosphere of a tropical rainforest, including plant growth, fog machines, waterfalls, and rainforest animals. Rainforest Cafe focuses on local tourism for a majority of their income. To date, the company owns restaurants in the United States, Canada, France, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Malta. In 2000, the Rainforest Cafe was bought by Landry's Restaurants Inc., a company specializing in dining, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming, based in Houston, Texas. In 1998, it was planned to build 12 additional restaurants in the United States, seven in Mexico, and five in the UK, for a total of 22 restaurants by 2008. The first international location opened in London, England in June 1997. By 1997, the chain consisted of six restaurants, all in the United States. The first location opened in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, on February 3, 1994.

Rainforest Cafe is a jungle- themed restaurant chain owned by Landry's, Inc., of Houston. An example of the canopy ceiling including artificial trees and foliage for the Rainforest Cafe at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 3, 2008.

Jungle ambience