Hi Mel,
Seems things are steaming along in Texas:
Yes, it's a jungle in there At Rainforest Cafe, the crowds
are as thick as the overgrown theme
by Dotty Griffith
Dec 13 1997 4:53AM CST, The Dallas Morning News
GRAPEVINE - The Dallas-Fort Worth area is considered one of the more
sophisticated dining markets in the country. You'd never know it by the lines of
customers waiting to get into the Rainforest Cafe at the new Grapevine Mills
megamall.
OK, you've got children - you've got an excuse. But what's everybody else
thinking? Why are they willing to stand in line for 45 minutes to put their names on
the waiting list and then wait another 45 minutes before being seated?
Eliminate the animated gorillas, life-size elephants trumpeting in your ear, Tracy the Talking
Tree, simulated thunder and lightning every 20 minutes, screeching birds, rain showers that
don't get anyone wet, saltwater aquariums, a lot of fake foliage, banyan trees and what do
you have?
A theme restaurant in a shopping mall serving mostly predictable menu items called by
ridiculous names.
The food's pretty good, actually - but not worth a wait longer than 20 minutes.
Portions are massive. Since prices tend to be steep for family dining ($8.99 for a grilled
cheese sandwich), finding items for kids to share is a good idea. Consider Amazon flat
bread ($7.99 as an appetizer) - what most of us think of as a four-cheese pizza. There are
also lower-priced Rainforest Rascals (those would be kids' plates).
The best thing tried was an appetizer, Amazon Bruschetta ($6.99), toasted slices of French
bread with a relish of balsamic vinegar and Roma tomatoes. It tasted so fresh and delightful
I wanted to stop right there. But, in deference to our safari guide (what most of us think of
as a server), I pushed along on my eating adventure.
Caribe Chicken Tenders ($6.99), several boneless fried chicken strips with a honey mustard
dressing, is a fail-safe choice. Who doesn't like fried chicken tenders?
Amazon Mushroom Burger ($8.50) was a big hunk o' meat, juicy and perfectly cooked
with sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions and Swiss cheese. Tasted just fine to me. But
I began to pick up the pattern: sweet, a taste of sugar everywhere.
Moving along to the Eyes of the Ocelot ($10.99) - Rainforest-speak for sliced meatloaf -
with the same caramelized onions and mushrooms and a mound of mixed roasted veggies.
Also mashed potatoes with (white?) gravy. That dry meatloaf begged for brown gravy or
tomato sauce.
But back to the pattern: Islands in the Stream ($14.99), a soy-mustard marinated salmon
fillet with more potatoes and veggies, also sweet. Cooked crisp-tender, the veggies tasted
as though sugar is the main seasoning agent in the kitchen.
Not overly sweet: the juice bar drinks, especially those made from fresh vegetables. Blue
Mountain Sunrise ($3.50), a combination of carrot, beet and apple juices, was fresh and
invigorating; ditto for the Medicine Man ($3.50), carrot, celery and apple juices. There also
are many flavored coffees, nonfat yogurt smoothies and blender drinks with alcohol.
Sandwiches, salads, pastas, pizzas, American bistro-style entrees and "comfort food" such
as Kalahari Safari Pot Pie (tastes like chicken 'cause that's what it is) make up the menu.
Desserts, like entrees, are big enough to share. Monkey Business ($4.99) is enough coconut
bread pudding to satisfy King Kong. And Rainforest Rick's Apple Crisp ($4.99) comes
with ice cream that melts into the warm baked apple dessert. You may not want to share
this one.
When you leave, you'll feel the same kind of relief you felt when the movie Jumanji was
over. Enough is enough when it comes to screeching in the jungle. But, like the movie, kids
love the jungle experience. So try it once, for the kids.
If you're determined - or "you promised!" - to try the Rainforest Cafe, be advised that
waiting times are shorter earlier in the week. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the heaviest
days, and the wait can be as long as 90 minutes.
Make the wait list station your first stop when you hit the mall; don't think you can put in
your name when you get hungry and get anything to eat before starvation sets in. No
reservations accepted.
And, although it isn't apparent, you can seat yourself at the juice bar without a wait if a seat
is available.
Rainforest Cafe
Food: III
Service: III
Atmosphere: IIII
Price: $$-$$$ (entrees $8.50-$19.99)
Address: Grapevine Mills, Highway 121, north of D/FW Airport
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Phone: (972) 539-5001
(end repost)
Best wishes to all,
Dennis
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