Amigos Martin y Dylan,
Here's a very positive review of the South Coast Plaza RFC from the Press-Enterprise. You guys ever heard of that rag before?
Mall mayhem
by Orlando RamirezNov 28 1997 11:50PM CST, The Press-Enterprise Riverside, CA
Every 20 minutes a rainstorm rattles the jungle canopy. A herd of animatronic elephants trumpet at five-minute intervals. Once they settle down, an equally mechanical family of apes come alive in another part of the restaurant.
Where are we? Disneyland?
Close. It's the Rainforest Cafe at South Coast Plaza, a family-oriented "eatertainment" restaurant that, according to senior vice president Steven Schussler, "out-Disneys Disney."
Schussler spent 17 years developing the Rainforest Cafe concept and it's rocketed both nationally and internationally, with outlets at major shopping centers like the Mall of America in Minnesota and the Disney Marketplace in Orlando, Fla., as well as Cancun, Mexico and London.
The Costa Mesa location is the first in California, and another cafe is set to open at Ontario Mills Mall late in 1998.
The chain's motto is "a wild place to shop and eat," which is clear as soon as your party is issued a "passport" that includes a discount coupon for merchandise at the "retail village" where you can browse while waiting for your table.
The wait, particularly on busy shopping weekends, can be long, with the line just to place your name on the list taking 20 minutes or more. To keep the kids (and antsy adults) entertained, there is an exhibit of colorful macaws and Niles, a fake crocodile, outside the restaurant.
Once your party is called, the excursion into another reality begins. The portal is a 3,500-gallon saltwater aquarium stocked with colorful tropical fish swimming overhead where you wait to be seated by the efficient staff decked out in pseudo-jungle gear and electronic head sets.
Vines, moss, flowers and more hang from the ceiling, except where a big circle of the blue night sky shines with changing celestial patterns. In the canopy are various animatronic snakes and birds to keep the kids entertained.
On the mall side of the 16,800-square-foot facility is the Mushroom Bar, where the bar stools are carved in the shape of zebras, giraffes and other jungle fauna.
There is an extensive tropical drink menu like the Margarilla ($5.25), and orange-flavored margaritas. There are also nonalcoholic concoctions like the Rainforest Ricky, a mixture of pineapple, apple, strawberry, orange and grapefruit juices over ice.
Along the walls are groups of elephants and apes. The first few times their antics are amusing, but after the fourth or fifth blast from the elephants' trunks it becomes a tad annoying, particularly if you're seated directly in front of the mechanical beasts.
Despite all the distractions, the food manages to hold its own. All the items on the menu have goofy names with Caribbean references, but there is enough depth to satisfy the pickiest 5-year-old with a grilled cheese sandwich to dishes like Maya Pastalaya ($14.99) - linguine with chicken, shrimp, Andouille sausage in a Cajun-spiced sauce.
Bruschetta - toasted baguette with balsamic vinegar and Roma tomatoes - is the light side of the appetizer menu, which continues through quesadillas, salads, a chowder and chicken wings. Although they are familiar, each dish has a twist like chicken wings, which were flavored with herbs rather than the usual vinegary buffalo-style sauce.
Pieces of "Ate" ($7.99) are wraps of fried wonton skin containing strips of chicken breast, corn, black beans, roasted red peppers and a blend of four cheeses. The six-piece serving could have been an entree enough for two.
Big food is not always good food, but the cooks at the Rainforest Cafe are not timid when it comes to spices. The Jamaica, Me Crazy! ($14.99) is a silly name for jerked pork chops served over savory red beans with chunks of sausage and yellow rice. The pork chops were tender and moist and worked well with the two starches. The apple chutney on the plate seemed an afterthought and lacked much flavor.
The Amazon Burger ($7.99) was a juicy half-pound of beef. Too bad the bun was dry. Don't look for French fries. Waffle fries are served instead. There is also a good selection of pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches if you want something light before hitting the mall.
Of the six items on the children's menu, the Castaway Kids Pizza ($4.99) looked like the best bet. The smear of tomato sauce and melted cheese on a thin crust was just enough for a kid-sized appetite. Other choices include the Three Amigos, three mini-hot dogs, and the Jurassic Chicken Tidbits - chicken tenders cut in the shape of dinosaurs.
Desserts were all sweet and gooey and satisfying. The Gorillas in the Mist ($4.99) was a thick serving of banana cheesecake with sliced bananas drizzled with chocolate sauce, topped with whipped cream and garnished with strawberries.
All review meals are paid for by The Press-Enterprise.
Rainforest Cafe Where: South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Take the 91 Freeway west to the 55 freeway, then to the 405 north and exit on Bristol Street. The restaurant is located near Sears on the first level. Information: (714) 424-9200 Reservations: Not accepted Credit cards: All. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Entree prices: $8.95-$15.95 Alcoholic beverages: Full bar. Handicapped access: Yes. Vegetarian: Several items. Birthdays: Call ahead. Prices subject to change |
