Rainforest Cafe

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Official Website: Rainforest Cafe
Location: Burlington Mall, Burlington, MA map
Specialties: Kid Friendly, Lunch, Dinner
Cost: $$

Others to Consider: Bonkers Funhouse Pizza, Fire + Ice, Bucky's Burritos

Visiting Rainforest Cafe is a unique dining experience - fun for kids. Your adventure begins as soon as you check in. Entering the dining area is like stepping into the jungle—there's a canopy of lush foliage overhead, wildlife along the way, and even a thunderstorm in the distance.

Inside you'll find everything from cascading waterfalls, giant salt water aquariums, life-sized jungle animals that move, and a fiber-optic starscape. Every 1/2 hour the entire restaurant starts to rumble and a cavalcade of animal sounds begins, from trumpeting elephants to giant gorillas beating their chests. It is quite a sight for kids.

It's fun, though a bit noisy and even overwhelming at times. Don't come here expecting to share an intimate family conversation. Often, overhead music competes with the sounds of the tropical forest and the effect can be a dull, and distracting, roar. Sensitive children may be a little overwhlemed at the animals, but mot kids think it is really cool.

The food is fine, but that's not really why you come - it's more for the show and the atmosphere. A fun diversion every once in awhile.

It's a little pricey for mass-produced food, but again you are there for the sheer entertainment value. At dinner, expect to pay roughly $100 for a family of four, without drinks, and at lunch, about $50 for a family of four.

Inspired by Mexican, Italian, Cajun, or Caribbean flavors, Rainforest Cafe's menu of American fare has something for most tastes from exotic to traditional. The Rainforest Rascals children's menu offers most of the 'normal' choices.

Hours
Monday - Thursday: 11:00am - 10:00pm (Retail opens at 10:00am),
Friday & Saturday: 11:00am - 11:00pm (Retail opens at 10am),
Sunday 11:00am - 7:30 pm

Lines can get long on weekends but there is a fun gift shop outside full of all sorts of safari trinkets, treasures and toys for kids to rifle through while you wait. You can still see the show inside and there are two giant fish aqauriums out front to gaze at.

A convenient stroller parking lot outside the restaurant (inside the mall).

Reviews

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Dinner, Mon 7 Apr 2008

Horrible. Service was poor. Pricy and the food was only average (looked nothing like the photo in the menu).

Don't Use The Stroller Parking, Wed 12 Dec 2007

The restaurant doesn't watch the stroller parking that is in the mall hall, not in the restaurant. Our's was stolen while we were inside eating - the management and corporate response was basically they take no responsibility because of their sign that states to park at your own risk. Please get the word out to Friends and Family - we don't want anyone else to lose their stroller!

Tips

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A little pricey, but overall a fun adventure. Small children may not think it is a nifty as older kids do - our 18 month old was terrified of the leopard up in the tree, but our 3 year old thought the whole place was all fantastic.
Burgers are super and the kids alfredo pasta is a pretty good bet too.