Karla News

Restaurant Review: Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida

Dining on a Budget, Downtown Disney, Rainforest, Rainforest Cafe

The Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida is a restaurant you don’t want to miss. I make it a point to visit Rainforest Cafe every time I come to the Orlando area. The Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney, Orlando, Florida is a unique restaurant. It’s as if you are actually dining in the middle of the rainforest while you eat. There is a gift shop attached to the Rainforest Cafe. The food is exquisite, and budget-minded, with large servings for each meal.

Downtown Disney is an area in Orlando which draws many tourists and locals alike. It has a few different sections, including one with Cirque Du Soleil. There is a nightclub area as well. Finally, you have my favorite part- the part that houses the Rainforest Cafe. Nearby to Rainforest Cafe, you will find a huge Disney store and a Ghirardelli Chocolates store that serves the best sundae I have ever eaten.

The Rainforest Cafe is a chain of restaurants, one of which is situated in Downtown Disney in Orlando. Other Rainforest Cafe locations include Baltimore, MD, San Francisco, California, San Antonio, Texas, and Burlington, Massachucetts.

The Rainforest Cafe in DownTown Disney is a must-visit restaurant in Orlando for many reasons.

Setting and Ambience

The main reason to visit this restaurant is the huge gorilla that actually moves, pounding its chest and making loud gorilla noises every so often. The setting of the Rainforest Cafe is like you are actually in the rainforest. You are surrounded by tropical-looking plants, hanging monkeys, huge gorillas, and even elephants. A couple of times per hour, the whole rain forest comes to life and you hear noises and see movement. At other times, a mist is sprayed just like a small shower in the rainforest. There are also fish tanks with exotic fish.

See also  How to Shop at the Mall of America - an Expert Guide for Tourists

If you want peace and quiet during your meal, this is not the place to come. If you want to be where there’s action, and get a unique-feel, then visit the Rainforest Cafe. It’s quite an experience.

Menu and Prices

The menu has a wide selection of items. Some entrees include pasta dishes, steaks, and chicken. My favorite entree is the rack of ribs, which is about $15. I also recommend any of the pastas.

My favorite appetizer is the coconut shrimp, called Safari Shrimp skewers. Other choices include deep fried calamari, pita quesadillas, and mozzarella cheese sticks. The salads are huge. You could order a salad and make it a whole meal, even just the house salad. I would recommend splitting it between two people as an appetizer or as an introduction to your meal.

If you don’t care for a full dinner entree, you could order a sandwich or wrap. The best wrap is the barbecue wrap with chicken and beef. The BBQ bacon cheeseburger is also a tasty pleasure.

Most entrees go for between $10 and $20. The appetizers and salads are under $10.

Now, for the desserts. You have to get a couple of people to go together and order the Volcano dessert. It’s huge, and will be enough for at least four people. It has large brownies made in the shape of a volcano, with ice cream in the middle and hot fudge running down the sides to look like lava. If you order it, especially for a birthday, the servers will make a big deal out of it and come out and sing to you. This is about $13.

See also  A Guide to Exploring Portland, Oregon

Service and Ambience

Although this is a great place to eat, sometimes you will wait awhile before seeing your server. The place is huge, and there are many servers, but it always seems to be busy when I go, no matter if it’s day or night, weekday or weekend. The servers are nice and very helpful when you are trying to decide what to order, but you may have to hunt them down for a drink refill.

The ambience can’t be beaten. I like to ask for a booth near the gorillas, but any table or booth works in this place. You’re going to have an incredible rain forest view wherever you sit.

Setting and Location

The location is great, because you are right in a glorious Disney shopping location. I enjoy walking through the Disney store, and looking at all the new Disney toys and souvenirs. If you want to take back Disney souvenirs from your trip to Orlando, you could purchase them here instead of in Disney itself. Then you don’t have to walk around all day carrying bags. After shopping, you could then enjoy a sundae from Ghirardelli’s. They also will give you a free chocolate sample if you walk into the store. Finally, you can go over to the other side of Downtown Disney and go to the nightclubs. You pay a set price and can get into various clubs.

Right inside the Rainforest Cafe is a gift shop beside the restaurant itself. There you will find men, women’s and children’s clothing, in rainforest style. They also sell sweatshirts and tshirts, hoodies, necklaces, mugs, and stuffed animals. They even have Rainforest Body Lotion, which is one of my favorite body lotions ever!

See also  Top Ten Restaurants in Orlando, Florida to Visit This Fall While Keeping the Budget in Mind

It is also easy to access this location. Downtown Disney is right near all the theme parks, such as Epcot and Magic Kingdom. You can stop here after leaving one of the parks, or spend a whole day in Downtown Disney’s area.

Overall Recommendation

I would recommend this restaurant to couples, adults and families, even with small children. Just make sure you don’t have children who are bothered by loud noises, or a date who would rather enjoy a quiet, peaceful evening. This restaurant is fun! It’s something different than just your usual atmosphere of dim lighting and romantic setting. The prices are reasonable, especially since you get such a huge plate (you could split the meal between two.) The menu has a wide selection, and the setting is near everything.

Reference: